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Talia Richman

Talia

Talia Richman is the Montgomery County education reporter at The Banner. She previously covered schools for The Dallas Morning News, where she wrote about shoddy teacher preparation programs, discipline disparities and the lingering impact of COVID-19 on children. The Education Writers Association has recognized Talia as among the best education beat reporters in the nation. Prior to her time in Texas, she covered schools and City Hall for The Baltimore Sun. Talia is a Dallas native who made her way to the East Coast to study journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The latest from Talia Richman

‘Crisis level’: How Montgomery County schools are responding to the immigration crackdown
County school leaders say they are trying to give children from immigrant families the help they need, but lack the resources to meet the growing demand.
Montgomery County Public Schools have fewer staffers who focus on immigrant children than they did two years ago.
These are the books families opted out of after Supreme Court fight
Montgomery County Public Schools recently finished its first semester since the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a group of parents who sought the right to opt-out of lessons with LGBTQIA+ themes.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 22: Protesters in support of LGBTQ+ rights and against book bans demonstrate outside of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on April 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. Supreme Court Justices heard arguments for the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor where a coalition of parents from Montgomery County, Maryland, say that a school requiring their children to participate in classes that include LGBTQ themes violates their religious beliefs and thus their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion.
What’s the cost of transparency in Montgomery County’s public schools?
Officials say public records requests have not only increased in number but in complexity.
The Montgomery County Public Schools headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Rockville.
Snow squall? Blaring weather alert wakes Marylanders hours into 2026
The early-morning phone blare was an unwelcome surprise to families who had toasted the new year just a few hours prior.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 5, 2025 - Light snow in Suitland, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC, on Friday.
These 5 charts help explain Maryland schools’ enrollment decline
Maryland public schools shrunk this year – and state leaders are trying to understand why the decline was so steep.
Books in Mrs. Park’s classroom at Lamont Elementary School in New Carrollton, Md. on April 25, 2024.
A store with no price tags gives Montgomery College students the gear they need
Montgomery County’s relative wealth can mask the financial struggles faced by many of the young people enrolled at its community college.
Student Sophia Dizon tries on a jacket as she peruses items with other students in the SPIFFY Closet at Montgomery College in Rockville.
Montgomery County schools still struggle to get students to show up to class
Already this year, roughly 15% of Montgomery County students are considered chronically absent.
Already this year, roughly 15% of Montgomery County students were considered chronically absent.
5 things to know about the proposed Montgomery County schools budget
Superintendent Thomas Taylor said tough economic conditions and declining enrollment will keep spending tight.
Thomas Taylor, superintendent of schools, during a Montgomery County Board of Education work session in September.
Maryland public school enrollment is shrinking, and leaders are scratching their heads
The state’s public schools have lost more than 11,000 students since last school year, a troubling sign for local education leaders whose funding is tied to how many students they serve.
A drop in immigrant students could be driving the losses in some school districts, like Montgomery County.
Your guide to the changes coming to Montgomery County’s public schools
Montgomery County Public Schools are in for some massive changes. This guide summarizes the school system’s plans, and we’ll refresh it regularly to keep you posted on how they evolve and when the public can weigh in.
Montgomery County Board of Education members during a work session Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Montgomery County’s only charter school will fight closure effort
Superintendent Thomas Taylor wants to close the Mecca Business Learning Institute, but the charter school’s officials are appealing to the Maryland State Board of Education.
Mecca Business Learning Institute leaders hoped to launch this fall in a newly renovated Germantown campus, but construction delays meant they had to instead start the year in an old Montgomery County Public School building in Bethesda. The two campuses are about 20 miles apart, leading to transportation issues and enrollment declines.
Maryland public schools lost over 11,000 students this year
Enrollment for Maryland public schools saw a much steeper decline than early estimates showed.
Seventh grade students line up for lunch at Robert Frost Middle School in Montgomery County, which lost more than 2,000 students this year.
Why a principal celebrated the 67th day of school
You can tell kids to stop shouting “6-7!” — or you can lean into it.
Superintendent pushes for closure of county’s only charter school
The move comes after months of trouble for the beleaguered charter school.
Superintendent Thomas Taylor will recommend closing Montgomery County’s only charter school.
‘Gross mismanagement’: Superintendent puts Montgomery’s only charter school on notice
MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor threatened to revoke Mecca Business Learning Institute’s charter if leaders don’t fix problems.
Mecca Business Learning Institute leaders hoped to launch this fall in a newly renovated Germantown campus, but construction delays meant they had to instead start the year in an old Montgomery County Public School building in Bethesda. The two campuses are about 20 miles apart, leading to transportation issues and enrollment declines.
Montgomery County schools superintendent apologizes after 2-hour delay
So how does the district make decisions on weather-based delays and closures?
Thomas Taylor, superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, apologized to families via email for Tuesday morning’s two-hour school delay.
Do you speak like a public school administrator? Take our quiz to find out
Public school administrators tend to speak their own language. Can you decode it?
Public school administrators tend to speak their own language. Can you decode it?
How one community will honor a hidden piece of Maryland’s Black history
The stout, white building off Jerusalem Road sits on what’s known as, somewhat ironically, the “Beauty Spot.” It's actually an important piece of Maryland's Black history.
The Rosenwald School in Poolesville has been transformed into an office for the DOT facility. The floors have been removed but the original walls and some of the eight-foot windows remain.
Montgomery County school board advances campus upgrade plans
Superintendent Thomas Taylor warned of hard decisions.
During a Montgomery County School Board meeting in Rockville on Thursday evening, families from different parts of Montgomery County urged the school board to prioritize their local campuses as they consider future construction projects.
Montgomery County school board to vote on major facilities plan
Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s plan includes funding for several major projects over a six-year period.
Rachel DuBois points out damage as she leads members of the public, press and other officials with Montgomery County Public Schools on a tour of MCPS warehouse and operations in Rockville, Maryland. MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor is asking for $2.7 billion to repair the school district’s aging infrastructure.
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