NOTE (11/23/2005): This guide dates back to 1999, and
as such contains some information that has changed. Please use it with that
understanding. The most recent list is not available electronically.
******************************************************************************
Dept of Communications, Public Information Office
Source: The Bulletin
May 17, 1999 A weekly newsletter for
and about Montgomery County Public Schools Vol. 41, No. 36
A guide to acronyms: when one word
will do
“The most valuable of all talents is
that of never using two words when one will do,” said Thomas Jefferson, a man
known as much for his eloquence as for his erudition. Eloquence can be the
first casualty, however, when the one “word” is an acronym, a distillation of
several words that can speed conversation, confound the unaware listener or,
when used incorrectly, make the speaker seem anything but erudite.
To help employees maintain both
their eloquence and their erudition, The Bulletin offers an updated list
of the acronyms and abbreviations heard in the hallways and offices of MCPS.
The list traverses the range of our shortcut language: acronyms that are so
well-used that the words they replaced are nearly forgotten, abbreviations
whose jumble of letters will never move gracefully on the tongue, and the
newest compilations that may lodge firmly in the local lingo—or may disappear
by next year.
Whatever the destiny of the
continually changing linguistic landscape, the effort to crystallize entire
titles or thoughts into one word might fit the economy of language revered by
A&S—Administrative and Supervisory
Staff
AA—Administrative Assistant
AAAS—American Association for the
Advancement of Science
AAEA—Asian American Education
Association
AAFAE—African American Festival of
Academic Excellence
AAHPERD—American
AAP/CEC—African American Parents/Community
Education Consortium
AASA—American Association of
School Administrators
AASL—American Association of
School Librarians
AASPA—American Association of School
Personnel Administrators
AAUW—American Association of University
Women
ABE—Adult Basic Education
ACA—American Counselors Association
ACB—American Council of the
Blind
ACCG—Advisory Committee on
Counseling and Guidance
ACEI—Association for Childhood
Education International
ACT—
Program
ACT-SO—Academic, Cultural, Technological
and Scientific Olympics
ACTFL—American Council on the Teaching of
Foreign Languages
AD—Athletic Director
ADD—Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD—Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder
ADL—Anti-Defamation League of B’nai
B’rith
AECT—Association for Educational
Communications and Technology
AERA—American Educational Research
Association
AFB—American Foundation for the Blind
AFT—American Federation of Teachers
ALEX—Automated Labor Exchange System
AP—Advanced Placement or Assistant Principal
APAH—Asian Pacific American Heritage
Council Inc.
APC—Advanced Professional Certificate
APEX—Advanced Placement Experience
(program at Walter Johnson HS)
AR—Administrative Review
ARD—Admission, Review and Dismissal
Process or Committee
ASBO—Association of School Business
Officials
ASCD—Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development
ASHA—American Speech, Language and
Hearing Association
ASL—American Sign Language
AVA—American Vocational Association
AWOD—A World of Difference (an
anti-prejudice program of the ADL)
BAT—Bilingual Assessment Team
BEKS—Blair, Einstein, Kennedy,
Springbrook consortium
BESC—
BIT—Board of Investment Trustees
BOE—Board of Education
BOEMAS—Board Of Education
Master Alert System
BOSS—Brotherhood of Super Stars
BRC—Board Review Committee
BROTHERS—Blacks Reaching Out To Help Each
Reach Success (at Einstein HS)
BSM—Building Services Manager
BST—Behavioral Support Teacher
CACFLHD—Citizens Advisory Committee on
Family Life and Human Development
CAD—Computer-Aided Design or
Computer-Aided Drafting
CADI—Committee on Assessment Design and
Implementation
CAP—Communication Arts Program (at
CARD—Central Admission, Review and
Dismissal Committee
CARTS—Computer-Assisted Routing
Transportation System
CASE—Coalition for Alternatives in
Special Education
CAST—Center
CATS—Cross-Age Teaching of Science
CCAPS—Concerned Citizens for the Arts in Public
Schools
CEASOM—Council of Educational
Administrative and Supervisory Organizations of
CEC—Council for Exceptional Children
CEEB—College Entrance Examination Board
CEEM—Council on Economic Education in
CESC—Carver Educational
CFO—Chief Financial Officer
CFR—Code of Federal Regulations
CFW—Commission for Women of the
CGCP—Comprehensive Guidance and
Counseling Program, K-12
CHADD—Children and Adults with Attention
Deficient Disorders
CI—Continuous Improvement
CIP—Capital Improvements Program
CIRF—Conflict Intervention, Resolution
and Follow-up
CIS—Cafeteria Information System
CISMC—Community in Schools
Montgomery County, Inc.
CITE—Creative Initiatives in Teacher
Education
CITO—Chief Information Technology
Officer
COE—Cooperative Office Education
COI—Council on Instruction
COMAR—Code of
CPDE—Continuing Professional
Development Experiences
CPF—Central Production Facility
CPU—Central Placement Unit
CRB—Connection Resource Bank
CREATE—Center for Research on Educational
Accountability and
Teacher Evaluation
CRI—Criterion Reference Inventory
CRT—Criterion-Referenced Test
CSAAC—Community Services for Autistic
Adults and Children
CSMP—
Mathematics Program
CTBS—
Skill
CTE—Career and Technology Education
CWE—Cooperative Work Experience
CWS—Child Welfare Services
DAHPE—Division of Aesthetic,
Health and Physical Education
DAP—Department of Academic Programs or
Department of Alternative Programs
DARE—Drug Abuse Resistance Education
DARTS—Developing Arts and Reading
Techniques and Strategies (Interrelated ARTS program)
DCPS—Department of Comprehensive Pupil
Services
DCTE—Division of Career and Technology
Education
DEA—Department of Educational
Accountability
DECA—Distributive Education Clubs of
DEFP&CP—Department of Educational
Facilities Planning and Capital Programming
DESC—Developmental Evaluation Services
for Children
DESO—Division of Employment
Standards and Operations
DHHS—Department of Health and Human
Services
DHMH—Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene
DHR—Department of Human Relations
DI—Department of Information
DIME—Dual Independent Map Encoding File
DISATT—Distributed Attendance
System
DISP—Department of Instructional Support
Programs
DJJ—Department of Juvenile Justice
DOL—Dimensions of Learning
DOT—Division of Transportation
DPAS—Division of Placement and
Assessment Services
DPS—Department of Personnel Services or
Division of Programs and Services
DPST—Diagnostic and Professional Support
Team
DPT—Diptheria/Pertussis/Tetanus
DSE—Department of Special Education
DSS—Deputy Superintendent of
Schools
E&S—Evaluation and Selection
EAP—Employee Assistance Program
EBP—Employee Benefit Plan
EBS—Event-Based Science
EC—Executive Committee
ECAP—Early Childhood Assessment Pilot
ECE—Early Childhood Education
ECIA—Education Consolidation and
Improvement Act
ED—Emotional Disabilities
EEEP—Extended Elementary Education
Program
EEP—Educational Empowerment
Program (run by the Housing
Opportunities Commission)
EII—Enriched and Innovative Instruction
EIIP—Early Identification and
Intervention Program
ELC—Elementary
ELI—Educational Leadership Institute
ELL—English Language Learners
EMT—Educational Management
Team
EPIC—Evaluation Procedures Imprinted on
Computer
ERIC—Educational
ERIP—Early Retirement Incentive Program
ESAA—Elementary School Administrators
Association
ESIP—Elementary Science Integration
Project
ESMP—Elementary School Math
Project
ESL—English as a Second Language
ESOL—English for Speakers of
Other Languages
ESY—Extended School Year
ETI—Experienced Teacher Institute
ETS—Educational Testing Service
FAPE—Free and Appropriate Public
Education
FARMS—Free And Reduced-price Meals System
FBLA—Future Business Leaders of
FC—FirstClass
FERPA—Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act
FFA—Future Farmers of
FHA—Future Homemakers of
FIS—Financial Information System
FLES—Foreign Language in the
Elementary School
FRS—Functional Remediation System
FSA—Flexible Spending Account
FTA—Future Teachers of
GAC— Guidance Advisory Committee
GESP—Global Ecology Studies Program (at
Poolesville HS)
GAT—Global Access Technology
GED—Graduate Equivalency Diploma
GESA—Generating Expectations for Student
Achievement
GRE—Graduate Record Examination
GT—Gifted and Talented
HAZMAT—Hazardous Materials
Response Team
HEA—Hispanic Employees Association of
MCPS
HEEA—Home Economics Education Association
HELP—Help Elementaries Lead
Prevention
HHMI—Howard Hughes Medical
Institute
HHT—Home and Hospital Teachers
HOIS—Higher Order Intellectual
Skills
HOPE—Hispanic Organization of
Parents and Educators Inc.
HRC—Human Relations Commission of the
HRIS—Human Resources Information System
HS—Head Start
HSMP—High School Math Project
IA—Instructional Assistant
IAC—Interagency Committee for
Public School Construction or
Induction Advisory Committee
IAF—Independent Activity Funds
IAJE—International Association of Jazz
Educators
IB—International Baccalaureate program
ICATS—Instructional Computers and
Technical Services
ICB—Interagency Coordinating
Board
IDEA—Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act
IEL—Institute for Educational
Leadership
IELC—
IEP—Individualized Education Program
InterACT—Interdisciplinary Augmentative
Communication Team
Interrelated ARTS—Arts Resource Teams in Schools
IRA—Instructionally Related Activity or
Independent Reading Activity
IRT—Interdisciplinary Resource
Teacher
ISAO—International Student Admissions
Office
ISEF—International Science and
Engineering Fair
ISM—Instructional System in Mathematics
IST—Instructional Support Teacher
ITEA—International Technology
Education Association
ITPS—Integrated Test Processing
System
ITV—Instructional Television
JEBC—Joint Employee Benefit Committees
JETS—Junior Engineering and Technical
Society
JROTC—Junior Reserve Officers
Training Corps
JSA—Juvenile Services Administration
JTPA—Job Training Partnership Act
LAN—Local Area Network
LCC—Local Coordinating Council
LD—Learning Disabled
LD/GT—Learning Disabled/Gifted and
Talented
LDAMC—Learning Disabilities Association
of
LEA—Local Education Agency
LEP—Limited English Proficiency
LMCAPS—
Automated Processing Services
LRE—Least Restrictive Environment
LRH—Learning Resource Hub
LSST—
LTI—Leadership Training Institute (at
Kennedy HS)
LULAC—League of United Latin
American Citizens
M-NCPPC—Maryland-National
MABE—
Boards of Education
MAC—Medical Advisory Committee of the
Board of Education
MACP—
MADD—Mothers Against Drunk
Driving
MAEA—
Association
MAEUC—
MAEOE—
MAHPERD—
MAPS—MCPS Automated Payroll System
MARC—
MASCD—
MASF—
MCAASP—
Association of Administrative and
Supervisory Personnel
MCABSE—
MCAEA—
MCAHIC—
Association for Hearing Impaired
Children
MCBETA—Montgomery County
Business Education Teachers
Association
MCC—Mathematics Content/Connections
MCCCEC—Montgomery County
Chapter of the Council for
Exceptional Children
MCCIRA—Montgomery County
Council of the International Reading
Association
MCCPTA—Montgomery County
Council of Parent Teacher
Associations
MCCSSE—Montgomery County
Council of Supporting Services
Employees
MCEA—Montgomery County Education
Association
MCEMSA—Montgomery County
Educational Media Specialists
Association
MCFT—Montgomery County Federation of
Teachers
MCGATE—Maryland Coalition for Gifted And
Talented Education
MCIE—Maryland Coalition for Integrated
Education
MCITP—Montgomery County Infant and
Toddlers Program
MCJC/MCR—Montgomery County Junior
Council/Montgomery County
Region, Maryland Association of
Student Councils
MCMTA—Montgomery County
Mathematics Teachers Association
MCPEC—Montgomery County Public Employees
Council
MCPPWA—Montgomery County
Pupil Personnel Workers Association
MCPS—Montgomery County Public Schools
MCPSER/PS—Montgomery County Public Schools
Employees Retirement/Pension Systems
MCPSPA—Montgomery County
School Psychologist Association
MCPSSAA—Montgomery County Public Secondary
Schools Athletic Association
MCR—Montgomery County Region, Maryland
Association of Student Councils
MCRTA—Montgomery County Retired Teachers
Association
MCTFCU—Montgomery County
Teachers Federal Credit Union
MEC—Montgomery Education Connection or
Minimum English Competency
MEL—Montgomery Exceptional
Leaders
MEMO—Maryland Educational Media
Organization
MENC—Music Educators National Conference
MEPN—Maryland Equity Programs Network
MEQ—Master’s Equivalency
METEC—Modern Educational Technology Center
Inc.
METS—Multidisciplinary Educational
Training and Support Program
MFMT—Maryland Functional Mathematics
Test
MFRT—Maryland Functional Reading Test
MICCA—Maryland Instructional
Computer Coordinators’ Association
MIRN—Maryland Instructional Resources
Network
MLC—Model Learning Center
MMAP—Monitoring Minority
Achievement and Participation
MMEA—Maryland Music Education
Association
MMS—Materials Management System
MOSCK—Maryland Observational Screening
Checklist for Kindergarten
MOVE—Mobility Opportunities Via
Education
MPSSAA—Maryland Public Secondary Schools
Athletic Association
MRB—Management Review Board for
Computer Technology
MSAP—Maryland Student Assistance Program
MSB—Maryland School for the Blind
MSD—Maryland School for the Deaf
MSDE—Maryland State Department of
Education
MSI—Montgomery SUCCESS Inc.
MSMP—Middle School Math Project
MSPA—Maryland Scholastic Press
Association
MSPAP—Maryland School Performance
Assessment Program
MSPP—Maryland School Performance Program
MSRS—Maryland State Retirement System
MSSHC—Maryland State School
Health Council
MST—Media Services Technician
MSTA—Maryland State Teachers
Association
MTCS—Maryland Test of Citizenship Skills
MWT—Maryland Writing Test
NAACP—National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
NAAPAE—National Association for Asian and
Pacific American Education
NABSE—National Alliance of Black School
Educators
NAD—National Association of the
Deaf
NAEA—National Art Education Association
NAEP—National Assessment of Educational
Progress
NAESP—National Association of
Elementary School Principals
NAFEO—National Association for Equal
Opportunity in Higher Education
NAPE—National Association of Partners in
Education
NASSP—National Association of
Secondary School Principals
NAVAE—National Association for Vietnamese
American Education
NBA—National Braille Association
NBPTS—National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards
NCES—National Center for Education
Statistics
NCLR—National Council of La Raza
NCME—National Council on Measurement in
Education
NCSM—National Council of Supervisors of
Mathematics
NCTE—National Council of Teachers of
English
NCTM—National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics
NEA—National Education Association or
National Endowment for the Arts
NEH—National Endowment for the
Humanities
NFB—National Federation of the
Blind
NFUSSD—National Federation of
Urban-Suburban School Districts
NIH—National Institutes of Health
NIMH—National Institute of Mental Health
NIST—National Institute of Standards and
Technology
NPP—Non-Public Placement
NSBA—National School Boards Association
NSF—National Science Foundation
NSTA—National Science Teachers
Association
NTE—National Teacher Examinations
NTTI—National Teacher Training
Institute
OASIS—Older Adult Service and
Information System
OCA—Organization of Chinese
Americans
OCR—Office for Civil Rights
ODT—Organizational Development Team
OEA—Outdoor Education Association
OFM—Office of Financial Management
OGAT—Office of Global Access
Technology
OIPD—Office of Instruction and
Program Development
OM—Odyssey of the Mind
OPCS—Office of Pupil and Community
Services
ORBIT—Organized Resource Bank for IEP
Text
OSA—Office of School Administration
OSS—Office of Supportive Services
OT—Occupational Therapist
PAC—Parent Advisory Committee
PADI—Program of Assessment, Diagnosis
and Instruction
PDEI—Professional Development and
Educational Improvement Committee
PDK—Phi Delta Kappa (honorary
association in education)
PDT—Professional Development and
Training Committee
PEARLS—Parent Education and
Responsive Life Skills program
PEO—Plant Equipment Operator
PEP—Preschool Education Program
PI—Project Independence
PIBS—Parent Involvement in Basic Skills
PIP—Planned In-service Program
PISCES—People for Inclusive
School and Community Education
Services
PITC—Parent Information and Training
Center
PLAR—Planned Life-cycle Asset
Replacement
PO—Purchase Order
POS—Program of Studies
POSE—Parents for Options in Special
Education
PPW—Pupil Personnel Worker
Project BASIC—Businesses and
Schools Investing in Children
Project IMPACT—Increasing the
Mathematical Power of All Children
and Teachers
Project SHARE—Students Help And Reach Elders
PSAC—Pilot School Advisory Committee
PSAT—Preliminary Scholastic Assessment
Test
PSSAM—Public School Superintendents
Association of Maryland
PST—Public Schools Television
PSTEB—Professional Standards and Teacher
Education Board
PT—Physical Therapist
PTA—Parent Teacher Association
PTSA—Parent Teacher Student Association
QIE—Quality Integrated Education
QMC—Quality Management Council
RAISE—Recognize Achievement with Incentives
for Students’ Efforts
RC—Resource Counselor
RICA—Regional Institute for Children and
Adolescents
RT—Resource Teacher
RTSE—Resource Teacher in Special
Education
SADD—Students Against Drunk
Driving
SAFE—School Accountability Funding for
Excellence
SAG—Spending Affordability Guideline
SAIL—Students Achieving Independence in
Learning
SALT—School Assessment Leadership Team
SAP—Student Assistance Program
SARD—School Admission, Review and
Dismissal Committee
SAT—Scholastic Assessment Test
SBLC—School-Based Learning Center
SCAT—School Community Action Team
SCB—School Community Based
SCBP—School Community Based
Program
SCC—State Coordinating Council
SCE—State Compensatory Education
SCIS—Science Curriculum Improvement
Study Program
SDA—Service Delivery Area
SDC—Staff Development Coordinator
(local school level)
SDFS—Safe and Drug-Free Schools
SED—Serious Emotional Disturbance
SEDS—Special Education Data Systems
SEIA—Special Education Instructional
Assistant
SEIU—Service Employees International
Union
SERT—School Energy Rebate Team