Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid sent the letter below to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) and the College Board. In the letter, Dr. Reid requests that the organizations adjust their notification practices for students recognized by NMSC designations. Adjustments would include sending electronic communications directly to students, their families, and school district offices. Currently, notifications from the organizations are sent by postal mail to high schools. 

January 18, 2023

Tim McGuire
President
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897

David Coleman
Chief Executive Officer
College Board
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281

Dear Mr. McGuire and Mr. Coleman,

I want to thank you again for taking the time to speak with me last week. Mr. Coleman, I appreciate your facilitation of the second conversation with Mr. McGuire. Since that conversation, I've given further thought to the notification practices of the students who have been identified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) and the intersection with both the College Board and the thousands of students and their families who count on all of us for timely notifications. I think we can do better.

I understand the 68-year traditions of the National Merit Scholarship program and I fully support student recognition for distinguished academic achievement. As a school division we pay for all eligible students to participate in the PSAT exam and we as a result have a vested interest in utilizing these results to their fullest outcome for each and every student. Therefore, I have directed our FCPS leadership and staff to press forward in reimagining the notification practices of students recognized by the NMSC designations, and I am again asking you to join me in this important work . We need a more comprehensive and contemporary approach to notification and communication as our school-based staff continue to have responsibilities added to their already abundantly full plates.

As stated in our phone call, I am requesting that both of your organizations collaborate with FCPS on a multi-layered notification communication solution. On your end, this would include use of existing technology and information to adjust your notifications to include electronic communications directly to students, their families, and school district central offices in addition to the notice to respective high schools currently done by postal mail. This is 2023 and I believe there is technology available to systemize a secure and timely notification process.

In reviewing the experiences of many of our principals regarding the delivery of information from NMSC, our FCPS leadership learned that those experiences were inconsistent and differed from the outreach process shared with me -- which may very well have been the process earlier in NMSC's 68-year history. Having met with our FCPS high school principals and directors of student services and given the evolving additive responsibilities of these roles today, they are absolutely supportive of a more centralized and modernized communication strategy from NMSC. These practices would be layered with updated and more consistent notification requirements here in FCPS. Like you, we want to make sure that communication and notifications of student awards are successfully completed for each and every student recognized. A layered communication and notification strategy benefits all.

While I am waiting to hear whether my request to meet with and present solutions to the NMSC Advisory Council -- comprised of high school officials and superintendents  from across the country -- will be honored, I am also encouraging you to join me in leading this much-needed change that will benefit thousands of students each year.  I believe we have a shared interest in ensuring all students  receive timely notification and recognition for their scholastic  achievements.

Finally, as I make this request, I am reminded of a quote that resonates with me every day, "Good organizations react quickly to change. Great organizations create the change." We have an opportunity to create change that will benefit everyone involved. I look forward to hearing from you before the end of January. Thank you again for reconsidering your role and our possible partnership.

Warmest regards,

Michelle C. Reid, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools

cc: Dan Domenech, Executive Director, AASA
Frances W. Ivey, Deputy Superintendent
John Foster, Division Counsel, FCPS