Montgomery Schools Chief Plans Parent Meetings

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- Montgomery County's new schools superintendent, Joshua Starr, is inviting parents to get to know him at two upcoming town halls and 10 public meetings.

Starr plans to answer questions about his plans for the school system beginning with his first "Listen and Learn" event on Sept. 6 at Northwest High School in Germantown.

Starr tells WTOP Radio that he wants to see more rigorous standards for students nationwide. He says he supports Montgomery County's gifted and talented program but feels the label has been applied too broadly. He says the idea that 40 percent of county students are "gifted and talented" doesn't jive with the research.

Starr also says he's not a fan of merit pay strategies for teachers. He says such strategies haven't been shown to work.

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