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TRANSFORMATION 2026 STRATEGIC PLAN2023ANNUALREPORT
Our Superintendent | Strategic Plan FrameworkOverview of our SchoolsTable of ContentsPublic Data DashboardsFocus Area 1: Accelerating Achievement in MathematicsLooking Forward -- 2023-2024 Focus AreasPRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSFocus Area 3: Enhancing Social Emotional Learning & Mental HealthFocus Area 2: Improving Culture & Climate“Of all the schools in the state that showed the greatest improvement in ELA since the pandemic,more than ha lf were in Prince George’s County — a school system where 96% of the students arechildren of color and 70% live in poverty.”Former Maryland State Superintendent, Mohammed Choudhury
Our SuperintendentMillard House II was appointed Superintendent of PrinceGeorge’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), effective July 1,by Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.House comes to PGCPS from the Houston IndependentSchool District. During his two-year tenure with the largestschool district in Texas and the eighth largest in the country,he implemented HISD’s first comprehensive five-yearstrategic plan shaped and guided by community input.Millard House, II3PGCPS Strategic PlanIn 2020–21, the Board of Education and the leadership team initiated an inclusive process tobuild a five-year strategic plan that reflected as many voices as possible, guided by acommitment to ensure all schools support students equitably. The Transformation 2026 strategicplan guides the school system's decisions, priorities, resources, and work over the next fiveyears. It communicates the district's mission, vision, and core values, signaling to stakeholdersthe district's priorities and what it values. It also serves as a blueprint, setting outcome-orientedgoals and strategic imperatives to enable PGCPS to carry out adaptive change.This report includes the progress made on our strategic plan outcome goals, highlightsperformance on state-wide testing, captures staff, students, and families' perceptions of climateand culture, and shares strategies underway that will support our school district's growth. It alsoemphasizes our pillars of supporting student success, prioritizing data, and sharing our stories.As we begin our third year, PGCPS continues to increase educational services for students andfocus on innovation in the areas of research and collaboration. The strategic plan will continue tofuel our mission to provide a transformative educational experience anchored by excellence inequity; developing 21st-century competencies and enabling each student's unique brilliance toflourish.To see previous strategic plan progress reports visit:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1908ZoGJSC3cN_8aXomDmkAacflNhkq0h?usp=drive_link.
PGCPS OverviewBusinessPGCPS ProgramsCareer & Technical Education (CTE) ProgramsCareer Technical Education (CTE) provides students of all ages with the academic andtechnical skills, career-oriented exposure, and the knowledge and training necessary tosucceed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. PGCPS CTE programs includeLaw, Education, and Public Service; Global Studies; Consumer Services, Hospitality andTourism; Business and Finance; Graphic Arts, Media, and Communications; Health andBiosciences; Engineering and Science; Architecture and Design; Environmental Studies;Aviation and Transportation; Information Technology; and Homeland Security and MilitaryScience and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Program (JROTC).PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSPGCPS is home to several programs and a variety of school types including the Academyof Health Sciences at PGCC; Academy of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Technology;Charter Schools; Dual Enrollment; Even Start Family Literacy Program; Health Education;Immersion Programs; International Baccalaureate; International High Schools; MontessoriPrograms; Physical Education; Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten; Science andTechnology; Talented and Gifted; Advanced Placement; Advancement Via IndividualDetermination (AVID); Career and Technology Education; and Creative, Visual, andPerforming Arts.
PGCPS OverviewBusinessWe have taken steps to enhance the transparency of PGCPS data by releasing twoplatforms that display districtwide data that corresponds with the PGCPS Strategic Plan.Most data highlighted in this report can be accessed through one of the two publicdashboards listed below.To learn more about these dashboards visit: https://sites.google.com/pgcps.org/sprm/strategic-planning?authuser=0.CSI Data DashboardEquity Data Dashboard
2022-23 Focus Areas7ACCELERATING ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICSIMPROVING SCHOOL CLIMATE AND CULTUREENHANCING MENTAL HEALTH & SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNINGAt the beginning of the school year, PGCPS leadership identified three areas offocus for the community to prioritize: the acceleration of math education, theimprovement of school culture and climate districtwide, and the continuedimplementation of social-emotional learning and mental health supports. Thesethree focus areas reflect a commitment to enhancing the overall educationalexperience of students in PGCPS. By strategically targeting these areas, schoolswill empower students with a well-rounded education, foster an inclusive andnurturing environment, and provide the essential tools for emotional resilience andmental well-being. The subsequent pages focus on some of the strategies teamsacross PGCPS developed, implemented, and monitored to improve progress inthese three focus areas.PGCPS saw a decline across every grade level and student group in mathematics proficiency scores on the 2021-22 MCAP, with elementary students experiencing the largest decline.PGCPS experienced a rise in disciplinary incidents within schools following the COVID-19 pandemic, with black students, males, and students with disabilities disproportionately suspended more than other student groups.PGCPS prioritized mental health and social-emotional learning because we recognized the impact these factors have on students' overall development, academic performance, and future success.PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DATA & STRATEGIES FOCUSED ON:ACCELERATING ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICSPRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSThe subsequent pages highlight our progress on the 2023 Math and Reading/Language Arts MCAP assessment. In addition, there is a highlight of some of the strategies used to improve math performance.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSPercent of Students Proficient on MCAP Math by Race/EthnicityBlack/African American11%White30%Two or more races21%Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander18%American Indian or Alaska Native10%Asian30%Hispanic/Latino of any race7%Focus Area 1: Accelerating Academic Achievement – MathematicsIncrease from SY22Decrease from SY22No change from SY22The goal is to increase the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAPMath assessment. Although we improved math performance, PGCPS did not meet our 2022-23 math targetsaligned with our strategic plan.12%12%10%53%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100.0%Students withDisabilitiesEnglish Learner ADA / 504 Male Female Gifted andTalented7%8%7%24%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100.0%EconomicallyDisadvantagedFARMS Title I Homeless Foster Care MilitaryConnected<=5%<=5%<=5%<=5%Percent of Students Proficient on MCAP Math by Student Group
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSPercent of Students Proficient on MCAP ELA by Race/EthnicityPercent of Students Proficient on MCAP ELA by Student GroupFocus Area 1: Accelerating Academic Achievement – ELAIncrease from SY22Decrease from SY22No change from SY22The goal is to increase the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAPELA assessment. PGCPS met every 2022-23 ELA target aligned with our strategic plan, except for Students withDisabilities.Two or more races57%White61%Hispanic/Latino of any race30%Black/African American42%Asian59%American Indian or Alaska Native41%Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander54%8%12%38%33%45%86%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100.0%Students withDisabilitiesEnglish Learner ADA / 504 Male Female Gifted andTalented32%33%28%21%25%56%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100.0%EconomicallyDisadvantagedFARMS Title I Homeless Foster Care MilitaryConnected
Strategy 1: Tutoring, Enrichment and Intervention OpportunitiesPGCPS partnered with TutorMe to provide academic support to students in the form oftutoring during the school day. TutorMe is an online tutoring platform that connects studentsto live tutors, 24 hours a day in over 300 subjects. Students using the TutorMe platform cancommunicate with live tutors using audio, video, and chat functions. All students who attendPGCPS are eligible to use the one-to-one tutoring program.TutorMe1748,99913,400Live student sessions Schools with at least one student enrolledTotal students enrolledCarnegie Learning Carnegie Small Group Tutoring provides high-dosage after-school tutoring that focuses on theskills at each grade level needed for mastery of grade-level content. A pre and post-assessment is administered at the beginning and end of the 10-week session to determinegrowth. On average, students showed between 50% - 64% growth from the pre to posttest. Carnegie Learning also provides on-demand tutoring sessions to students. This serviceallows students to log in between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to access one-on-onetutoring with dedicated math-certified tutors for grades 3 through 12. 184 schools had at leastone student enrolled.To learn more about this strategy visit: https://www.pgcps.org/offices/curriculum-and-instruction/tutoring.4,655>92%K – 12 students enrolled in Carnegie Learning programsRate of surveyed students that said small group sessions were helpful“…Tutoring programs will greatly support and develop young minds that will one day lead this economy & country.”Parent, Samuel Ogle Middle2022 Climate & Culture Survey
Strategy 2: School Performance PlansPGCPS creates School Performance Plans (SPPs) that allow for a transparent and collaborativeschool improvement process that focuses on teacher/adult practice and student achievement.Through the successful utilization of the SPP, schools can assess, plan, and monitor targetedimprovements in challenging areas. The SPP has at least two SMART Goals, one of which ismathematics. The school performance planning process includes three formal Plan, Do, Study,Act (PDSA) cycles that support progress toward SMART Goals and performance targets. 100%of the 15 schools in the University of Maryland Network Improvement Community (NIC)completed at least one PDSA cycle. The data below highlights the rate of cycle completion forthe 186 schools outside of the NIC community:PGCPS has prioritized classroom observations and learning walks in math classrooms. The Curriculum & Instruction Team identified mathematical focus areas – Central Office teams report that school teams are adopting processes and structures to support strategies outlined in their school-based math goals or targeted areas of improvement identified through performance indicators or assessment data. To learn more about this strategy visit: https://www.pgcps.org/offices/curriculum-and-instruction.Strategy 3: Math Classroom ObservationsSchools completed three PDSA cycles.39Schools completed two PDSA cycles.Schools completed one PDSA cycle.4751Percentage of schools completing learning walks85%“…I love my school because I learn so much like math and reading and have fun with my friends.”Student, Thomas Johnson Middle2022 Climate & Culture Survey
Strategy 4: Parent AssessmentBenchmark PortalThe PGCPS Pearson Access Parent Portal is a platform that allows parents and families ofPGCPS students to access the Individual Student Report (ISR) results for completedBenchmark (Math, RELA, Science, and Social Studies) scores. On April 11, 2023 all familieswith registered emails in Schoolmax were emailed directions on how to register for access tothe portal.75,0002,500Families invited to register to the Parent Assessment PortalFamilies enrolled in Parent Assessment PortalTo learn more about this strategy visit: https://www.pgcps.org/offices/curriculum-and-instruction.“Teachers can dig the student performance data out of Pearson/TestNav, however it requires Excel acrobatics to put the data in a form the students might be able to read, understand and reflect on. ”Teacher2022 Climate & Culture Survey
DATA & STRATEGIES FOCUSED ON:IMPROVING SCHOOL CULTURE & CLIMATEPRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSThe subsequent pages highlight our data on school climate and culture during the 2022-23 school year. In addition, there is a highlight of some of the strategies used to improve school safety districtwide.
Stakeholders indicated more concerns with school safety and bullying on the 2022 PGCPS Climate Survey. Ourgoal is to increase feelings of safety and to decrease negative perceptions of bullying.Focus Area 2: Improving School Culture & ClimatePercentage of stakeholders agreeing that [they/their child] feels safe at school/workPercentage of stakeholders agreeing that bullying isnot a problem at (their/their child’s) school56%2022-2358%2022-23Increase from SY22Decrease from SY2272%2021-2269%2021-22Percentage of stakeholders agreeing that students at [their/their child’s] school feel welcome at the schoolPercentage of stakeholders agreeing that students at [their/their child’s] school feel connected to the school68%2022-2357%2022-2382%2021-2269%2021-22Percentage of stakeholders agreeing that students at [their/their child’s] school like school59%2022-2372%2021-222022 Climate/Culture Survey Perceptions on School Safety and Belonging
Focus Area 2: Improving School Culture & ClimatePercent of Students Suspended by Race/Ethnicity3.7%2.5%3.1%6.9%1.4%2.6%3.2%0.0%5.0%10.0%Two or More RacesWhiteNativeHawaiian/OtherPacific IslanderAfrican AmericanAsianAmerican Indian orAlaska NativeHispanic3.2%7.8%5.4%0.0%5.0%10.0%Limited EnglishProficiencySpecial EducationFARMS4.1%6.0%0.0%5.0%10.0%FemaleMalePercent of Students Suspended by Student Group and GenderIncrease from SY22Decrease from SY22Suspension rates for most groups increased except for American Indian/Alaska Native students, FARMS, and SpecialEducation students. The goal is to decrease the percentage of students receiving at least one in/out-of-schoolsuspension.
The goal is to decrease the percentage of students who are chronically absent with a focus on 9th graders. Chronicabsenteeism rates in PGCPS are still high post-pandemic, particularly in high school grades.Focus Area 2: Improving School Culture & Climate0%10%20%30%40%50%Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May JuneSY22 SY23Percent of Students Who Are Chronically Absent by Month53%43%35%31%28%27%27%25%28%30%49%43%39%45%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100.0%PreK Kinder 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Percent of Students Who Are Chronically Absent by GradeIncrease from SY22Decrease from SY22
Strategy 6: Professional LearningRestorative practices, an alternative discipline approach focused on repair rather thanpunishment, has attracted the attention of school districts throughout the United States. Asmounting evidence demonstrates the long-standing system of punitive discipline to be notonly ineffective in reducing behavioral incidents but to be detrimental to young people,particularly those of color, districts are increasingly turning to the research-supported practiceof restorative justice.Restorative ApproachesCultural CompetencyPGCPS staff engaged in several sessions throughout the year to support our district's journeytoward becoming a more culturally responsive school district that ensures a welcoming, safe,and affirming environment for all students, families, and staff. Staff began the year learningabout National Origin and Cultural Awareness and completed the year with the EquitySummer Learning Series focused on Black and Latino boys.To learn more about this strategy visit: https://www.pgcps.org/offices/curriculum-and-instruction/tutoring.Number of PGCPS staff trained in Restorative Approaches course47389%Rate of staff that feels confident in delivering cultural-responsive instruction63%Rate of staff that believes PGCPS provides enough equity professional learning“This training made me understand my immigrant students more, and I felt the value of my part as an educator in their lives.”TeacherFeedback from Professional Learning
Strategy 7: Family & Community PartnershipThe Family Institute is designed to support the Learning Guardians of students in PGPCS i.e.,families, educators, caretakers, and the community. The Institute has been developed toassist families in supporting their children’s academic success and social emotional well-being. Courses included dual enrollment, state and district testing for the 2022-23 school yearand supporting students’ executive functioning skills.Family InstituteFamily & Student Focus GroupsPGCPS staff facilitated family and focus groups this spring to follow-up on trends highlightedin the Climate & Culture Survey. In several family focus groups, Parents insist that PGCPSimprove family engagement in a way that treats parents as valued partners in their child’seducation. Multiple parents stress the importance of communicating updates regardingstudent successes, safety concerns, and improving accessible two-way communicationmethods for families with barriers such as their home language.To learn more visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FZ6xC1Kz01exmpxaHjVWAR0btaS0rRFg/view.12Number of Family Institute modules facilitated throughout the 22-23 school yearNumber of Parent Engagement Assistants serving in schools83Number of family focus groups4Number of student focus groups4“…When I went to a school-sponsored event, there was no interpreter, so I used my little bit of Spanish to try to connect parents to where their grade level was located. The idea of the event was wonderful, but I'm like, ‘You don't even have what the parents need for them to communicate in order for them to learn how to support their kids at home...”Parent2023 Family & Student Focus Groups
Strategy 8: Innovative Learning SpacesPGCPS opened the doors to six new state-of-the-art schools for the 2023-24 school year,underlining historic investments in modernizing rapidly aging school buildings and addressinggrowing enrollment. Known as the Blueprint Schools, they include four building replacements— Drew-Freeman Middle School in Suitland; Hyattsville Middle School; Kenmoor MiddleSchool in Landover; and Walker Mill Middle School in Capitol Heights — and two newschools, Sonia Sotomayor Middle School at Adelphi and Colin L. Powell Academy in FortWashington. Overall, the schools will provide capacity for 8,000 students in PGCPS.PGCPS is committed to hiring top-quality talent and building a diverse workforce that reflectsthe diversity of Prince George’s County students. PGCPS analyzed student demographicdata on race and ethnicity to shape its recruitment strategies, particularly for hiring Hispanicand male teachers and school leaders. Hiring strategies underway include diversity hiringfairs, collaboration with colleges serving high concentrations of Hispanic students, andpathway programs to encourage support personnel to become teachers. The graph belowoutlines the rate of diverse instructional staff in PGCPS last year.To learn more about Capital Improvement in PGCPS: https://offices.pgcps.org/cip/index.aspx?id=230181.Strategy 9: Hiring Diverse TalentINSTRUCTIONAL STAFF0.7%21.4%0.4%61.2%8.2%0.4%5.9%76.8%23.2%NON-INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF0.2%11.7%0.2%78.3%1.7%0.7%7.3%62.1%37.9%8,000Added student capacity that the six schools will provide to PGCPSNumber of major projects underway this school year4
Strategy 10: Gathering FeedbackOver the past three years, we have continuously increased the number of stakeholders we arehearing from which has allowed us to gain insights into how different stakeholders feel about howwe are meeting their wants and needs.To learn more about Capital Improvement in PGCPS: https://offices.pgcps.org/cip/index.aspx?id=230181.010002000300040002020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023Students Families StaffClimate & Culture Survey Stakeholder Responses78%71%53%81%71%72%92% 92% 90%......provide [me/students] withopportunities to work in smallgroups....challenge [me/(my) students] tothink critically....[provide/offer students in my classroom] a relevant curriculum…Students Families StaffHow Stakeholders Feel About Instruction400%Increased participation in climate and culture survey across all stakeholder groupsNumber of respondents in SY23/2410,000
DATA & STRATEGIES FOCUSED ON:PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSENHANCING MENTAL HEALTH & SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNINGThe subsequent pages highlight data and strategies utilized to increase mental health and social-emotional learning in PGCPS.
PGCPS staff are gaining confidence in their ability to deliver socio-emotional learning strategies and trauma-informed instruction in the classroom, but there are differences in how students, families, and staff feel about theirschools.Focus Area 3: Enhancing Mental Health & Social Emotional Learning5Percentage of instructional staff agreeing that they are confident in their ability to incorporate social-emotional learning strategies into classroom instruction80%84%2021-22 2022-23Percentage of instructional staff agreeing that they are confident in their ability to deliver trauma-informed instruction62%70%2021-22 2022-2355%41%37%71%65%64%79% 79%76%...feel welcome at [school/work]. ...like school. ...feel connected to the school.Students Families StaffHow Stakeholders Feel About Their SchoolInstructional Staff Confidence in Incorporating Supports into InstructionIncrease from SY22Decrease from SY22
Strategy 11: Wellness WednesdaysTo learn more about this strategy, visit:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyrgGY-qeL4RnSeLpGw2jMQg8VFBpjwX1PGCPS organized Quarterly Wellness Wednesday Parent Sessions covering topicsto address climate and culture in PGCPS. PGCPS hosted sessions centered onthemes such as mental health, bullying, depression, school attendance, social media,and fentanyl. The sessions aimed to raise awareness about the significance ofpreventing bullying and ensuring safety in our school system. Parents noted that theypreferred a hybrid approach instead of solely virtual sessions for better engagement.The videos are now available on the PGCPS YouTube Channel offering ongoingaccessibility to the school community. Next year, PGCPS plans on creating a podcastseries to allow increased engagement with the content.6Total number of Wellness Wednesday sessionsNumber of views on the PGCPS YouTube channel1,200“…I'm also very excited that the school system enacted the two mental health days for our students, one per semester....”Parent, Samuel Ogle Middle2023 Family & Student Focus Groups
Strategy 12: Social Emotional Learning AcademyPGCPS enrolled staff members into the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Academy tocultivate certified SEL teachers who will effectively bolster the adoption of strategies aimed atenhancing the capability of adult personnel to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and providecomprehensive student support. Staff members are now certified in SEL through collaborationbetween Mt Holyoke and the National Network State Teachers of the Year. Additionally, asecond cohort of SEL district steering committee meetings has become certified in SELLeadership and Character Development.This year, PGCPS focused on expanding mental health services via telehealth for studentsphysical and mental health needs. In partnership with the Prince George’s County PublicHealth Department, the Hazel Telehealth platform allows school staff to connect students witha health care provider within minutes or a therapist for a scheduled appointment. Telehealthvisits have been prevalent, primarily addressing issues like anxiety, sadness, family concerns,motivation, and academics.To learn more about this strategy visit: https://my.hazel.co/pgcps/infoStrategy 13: Hazel Telehealth45Number of PGCPS staff members now certified in SELPercentage of PGCPS educators confident in integrating social-emotional learning strategies85%63Number of PGCPS schools equipped to access Hazel in health rooms Total physical health visits at school and in homes1,026”..Social Emotional needs more attention...students can not focus on academics if dealing with emotional needs. I begin each class with a journal of how are you feeling, light soft music and a minute or two of relaxation breathing, grades improve, behavior is perfect...”Staff, Northwestern High2022 Climate & Culture Survey
Looking ForwardAccelerating Achievement with a focus on MathImproving Climate & CultureOur district is committed to providing additional support to unique student populationsthat need it most. Our focus areas remain the same with 23-24 focus areas specificallytargeting these populations. PGCPS will focus on all academic areas but continue toemphasize mathematics.PGCPS will improve educational outcomes in all subject areas with a focus on mathematics and target two groups: multilingual learners and students with disabilities. PGCPS will increase outcomes for Kindergarten Readiness, 9thgrade on track, and graduation rates. Enhancing Social-Emotional Learning & Mental HealthPRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSPGCPS will reduce overall rates of chronically absent students, particularly students in grade 9. PGCPS will ensure equitable TAG enrollment for Hispanic/Latinx students and increase the recruitment of male and Hispanic/Latinx staff. PGCPS will also reduce suspensions for students with disabilities.PGCPS will work to ensure that students who use mental health supports have improved academic outcomes and create inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments where bullying is not a problem and students, families and staff feel safe and welcome.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSPGCPS Strategic Planning TeamVanessa WeatheringtonDirectorRashida TylerSupervisorColin WelchSpecialistEmail: strategicplanning@pgcps.orgContact Us: “PGCPS is making strides to improve the culture and climate in all schools. Work still needs to be done, but I see progress, and the work must continue to reach the goal. Stay encouraged!”Teacher, Drew-Freeman Middle School2022 Culture & Climate Survey