The deception was that MCPS administrators certified to the USDA that recess was never used as punishment in MCPS.
That deception was investigated by the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The OIG found 13 elementary schools where recess was denied as a form of punishment.
In the OIG's October 1, 2012 Report, it is revealed that MCPS told the Inspector General that regulations would be developed to address the use of recess as punishment.
Has that happened? Of course not.
Hey, once you deceive the federal government what's another fib to the local Inspector General! MCPS has already got the $66,000 grant from the USDA! Who cares if they actually deserved it?
A Complainant alleged that when all MCPS elementary schools applied for a grant from the USDA, the application stated that the schools did not deny recess to students as punishment for misbehavior. The complainant provided information indicating that two elementary schools did deny recess as punishment. The OIG found that 13 MCPS elementary schools denied recess as punishment, according to their policies posted on the internet.
MCPS responded that staff were reviewing local school discipline policies, that steps were being taken to remedy inconsistencies with Board of Education policy and MCPS regulations, and that guidelines regarding recess would be developed.
