Montgomery County [Maryland] Public Schools (MCPS) Staff Response to Parent Statement That MCPS is Only Maryland School

System That Does Not Use Sports Concussion Forms Recommended in August 2011 By the Maryland State Department of Education [Redlined to Add Additional Context to MCPS Staff Response] FY 2014 QUESTION NUMBER: 54 QUESTION: Respond to the [January 17, 2013] testimony of Tom Hearn that states that MCPS is the only Maryland school system not using the concussion form recommended by the Maryland State Department of Education.1
On page 5 of his testimony, Mr. Hearn wrote: Below are several budget-neutral steps that MCPS could take to improve sports safety. 1. Concussion Forms Recommended by MSDE in 2011: In August 2011, the Maryland State Department of Education recommended that local school systems use two forms for schools to use when a concussion is suspected and for documenting a health professionals clearance for a previously concussed student to return to play. The MSDE forms were the product of a working group of physicians, neuropsychologists, and athletic trainers. The forms incorporated the essential gradual return-to-play concepts. They also incorporate the practice of notifying a schools nurse when a concussion is suspected. As shown on the linked map of Maryland counties, my survey in the last few months indicated that MCPS is the only one of Marylands 24 local school systems that does not use the MSDE forms. http://www.scribd.com/doc/120603284/Map-of-Maryland-Counties-Where-Public-School-Systems-UseConcussion-Forms-Recommended-by-MSDE-and-MPSSAA I first advocated for the MCPS Athletics Department to use the MSDEs recommended forms in February 2012 and again on June 14, July 30, and October 16, 2012. MCPS staff continue to use an outdated form that does not educate the reviewing physician, parents, or students about the role of gradual return to play. (A link to the MSDE-recommended forms and the outdated MCPS form is at this link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/120612867/Maryland-State-Dept-of-Education-Concussion-Forms-Used-byEvery-Md-local-school-system-except-Montgomery-County

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BUDGET PAGE REFERENCE: N/A ANSWER: The concussion form developed by MCPS preceded the form recommended by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The two forms are extremely similar, and both are derived from the same sources: The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and 1 http://www.scribd.com/doc/122566860/MCPS-2014-Operating-Budget-01-17-2013-Parent-
Testimony-to-MCPS-Supt-Starr-and-Bd-of-Ed-Re-Funding-for-Athletic-Trainers http://www.scribd.com/doc/120603284/Map-of-Maryland-Counties-Where-Public-School- Systems-Use-Concussion-Forms-Recommended-by-MSDE-and-MPSSAA
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National Federation of High Schools (NFHS)). Though fundamentally similar, the MCPS form is more streamlined and includes procedures and protocol specific to MCPS. MSDE has reconvened a comprehensive workgroup that has very recently generated a report to the Maryland State Board of Education on adjustments to current MSDE head injury forms, guidelines, and procedures. The report has not been distributed to school systems yet. The report includes adjustments to the current form that MSDE recommends. MCPS will adjust its form according to the findings and recommendations of the MSDE workgroup.

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