[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6181764,"mediaKeyId","5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b","parentId",5112261,"title","Disability Issues Advisory Board presents preliminary report calling for policy, staffing and timeline changes","audioSeconds",205,"startMs",4570000,"endMs",4775000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b&start=4570&end=4775","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b/thumbnail_4570000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181764/Maryland/Disability-Issues-Advisory-Board-presents-preliminary-report-calling-for-policy-staffing-and-timeline-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181764-a0ccde50d0b23817276fa2d30efc19e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487183&Signature=Oh6nZNavhelv8wHLzomiuPg8MJsJl04IlRjzOT02Pq7z0FduCRNA1rHXd7cmx2PZeMWe0UkQuRBa4gknYxesPQEyWVBkq-~tRLBnzuY33zQL--4EHL~sOcKdRlXmf4uA3zl-deQDux2o0EhOcY~wgmZ6x~NGoDhP6KSKzFkGiPWZB1RhsktjiqUiqG3PONsX8ltsiqmd2-iMTCrpPjEsvB-uupfA4614Cw8MB1bCxFTizpmcCLMSdxHblSfdVEJ0fllZ4q3k5FbUpD2XJsQn28xS5KVH4mK4q0k-Qp5Fs8vvaXEmcTxD~Gz3SzmSELwuX17IGZa4zIVBJZpuhPYlIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince George's County Public Schools","date","2025-07-01T20:27:07.407Z","article","The Prince George's County Disability Issues Advisory Board (DIAB) presented a preliminary report on June 26 asking the school board to adopt several changes intended to improve access, family engagement and staffing for students with disabilities.

Theresa Smith, DIAB vice chair, summarized work across three subcommittees (staffing and operational practices, facilities accessibility and policy alignment) and offered recommendations that the advisory board said would better align district practice with a social model of disability and improve outcomes.

Major recommendations included renaming the advisory board to reflect inclusion and rights language (examples suggested: Advisory Council on Disability Affairs or Advisory Board on Disability Rights); expanding the board’s scope to explicitly include IDEA compliance, seclusion and restraint practices, and digital accessibility; and clarifying DIAB’s relationship with the state-mandated Coordinated Community Services/Case Management entity (CCAC). Smith said the group is not proposing authority over CCAC but urged collaborative engagement.

DIAB also called attention to operational delays in staffing and accommodations. Smith said reasonable-accommodation requests “are now averaging over 100 days” and urged that the district restore a 30-day processing timeline within six months and provide principals with authority for interim actions to support students while accommodation requests are processed.

The advisory board asked the school board to formally review the detailed report and to respond by Aug. 31, 2025, with questions or directions for next steps. DIAB requested a follow-up meeting with the policy and governance committee and support for creating a cross-reference guide of disability-related policies. The group also requested that staff address data-collection delays related to DIAB’s requests.

Why this matters: DIAB’s recommendations seek to reduce delays in accommodations, strengthen oversight and improve facility accessibility — changes that could affect students with disabilities across the district.

Next steps: the advisory board asked for a formal board response by Aug. 31 and for staff to hold a subsequent meeting to discuss findings in more detail.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Updated Board Of Education Business Meeting 6 26 25","oneSentenceSummary","The Disability Issues Advisory Board delivered a preliminary report to the school board with recommendations to rename and expand the advisory body’s scope, speed up reasonable-accommodation timelines and pursue facility-accessibility reviews. The board requested a formal response by Aug. 31, 2025.","taxTitle","Prince George's County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14202,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6181768,"Board renews Legends Public Charter; founders and parents cite rapid growth and student outcomes",5267,2865000,8132000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b&start=2865&end=8132","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b/thumbnail_2865000.jpg","/articles/6181768/Maryland/Board-renews-Legends-Public-Charter-founders-and-parents-cite-rapid-growth-and-student-outcomes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181768-e90a78f26de76313af50f6476d97b742/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487183&Signature=R4Xiw02tLWNBlWrVTpTN5gcOh1lucbqk4FrqRTaP3WjiEyOw4bGZkYDjuqvSA5cdNhPwngxYnfB3Xann1y330UaCVYz~LCcGG5U3ExibMrOVHRibOpzAlnClH0liDnAEtF5L8kr35IPHZJsUZDQLFV4l7elgYwinZlKN5YZ3V4GwnG~MLst~QAGh2psE0911VFTJ8D2RJ2bAqFGWA1b1lavcME38g5rnurKEmckM6tVzDlx8MLPaD7VZyW~q4TCUZAUPAv9Y8ZMux6iIeo~qoyeEAtUKKqoukDgx1nHg9RETp1ezpMpAojPCXC6WbOeL0w714~gpK~oCw3-T~aTlYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supporters of Legends Public Charter School filled the public-comment portion of the June 26 Prince George's County Board of Education meeting to urge the board to renew the school's charter. Later in the meeting the board voted to renew multiple charter schools, including Legends Public Charter School.

Founders, staff, parents and program leaders made a series of claims about Legends’ rapid growth and student outcomes. Atasha James, cofounder and CEO, said the school grew from 592 to about 900 scholars in five years and maintains a waiting list of families seeking seats. Principal Tanisha Dixon provided performance figures during public comment: “77% of our kinder through second grade scholars ended the year reading on or above grade level,” she said, and added that kindergarten math proficiency grew from 12% to 51% during the school year.

Speakers also highlighted the school’s financial-education program, with Equity Now’s Justin Devos and others describing a curriculum the school integrates from kindergarten through higher grades and reporting anecdotal examples of early student investing and savings activity. Several speakers noted the school employs Prince George’s County public school teachers, uses AmeriCorps members, and partners with families and community organizations.

Board members later took up charter renewals as separate agenda items. After discussion the board approved renewal recommendations for College Park Academy, CMIT Northeast, and Legends Public Charter School (agenda items 15.14–15.16). The board chair called the roll and announced the motion carried with nine affirmative votes.

What was clearly a public-comment advocacy effort was treated separately from the board’s formal renewal vote. Board staff said they plan to start future renewal work earlier (as soon as September 2025) and to update the renewal framework and timelines to give operators and the district a longer runway for review and collaboration.

Why this matters: charter renewals affect school options and district oversight. Supporters framed Legends as an example of rapid growth and an innovative curriculum; the board’s renewal keeps the school operating under its charter for the next term.

Next steps: the district said it will pursue a multiyear renewal framework, deepen cross-district partnerships and adjust application timelines to allow more time for renewals and operational improvement work.","After more than a dozen public commenters praised Legends Public Charter School’s academic gains and unique financial-education curriculum, the board voted to renew several charter schools including Legends. Speakers highlighted enrollment growth, reading and math gains in early grades, and a large waitlist.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6181772,"PGCPS outlines transportation action plan: driver hires, new parent app and hub-stop pilot",450,4994000,5444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b&start=4994&end=5444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b/thumbnail_4994000.jpg","/articles/6181772/Maryland/PGCPS-outlines-transportation-action-plan-driver-hires-new-parent-app-and-hub-stop-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181772-14ed07f6a8724cb0586925e87d6efcd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487183&Signature=hK6QcpvsPPMTROpygwDm5-FQwsjUEkS0L~Sh~VSJFW7YkEoXceYAVmiV-OZ-oqBMdyNTq6icUv0F0We-0TynC4wMunPgddIEoMCaFhYGW4BielquiI4EBfUcq-CNLFlFKloxlik4FJ-Q7R8iFr65Lo10pKz1oIb9L31DzAnXUHbnK7W1HY9Exp-S~SR1sR35nwkPBdaW2ILb7v7SHAovHu4Uq7MubDTl24T1NdolYugesvHMfUndje1fBO8Qlx1kVC9cCNsUDWXkm4MIQrDmtWzYPfgQ23cLVx9LSKhjUGPYGSPtzKuksPBSQmM0aOzMzh5AdioNfWtB6zXxFIZjFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George's County Public Schools presented an update to the board on June 26 on progress implementing Phase 1 of its transportation action plan and laid out Phase 2 steps intended to improve reliability, hiring and parent communications.

Chief Operating Officer Dr. Coleman and Director of Transportation Kiva Baldwin told the board the district eliminated more than 300 underloaded trips and consolidated over 3,000 stops to create a leaner routing system. Baldwin reported the district’s “current bus driver fill rate remains at 85%, with 137 full time equivalent positions still unfilled.” He also said about 129 routes remained uncovered and doubled up because of driver shortages.

To address the challenges, staff proposed a set of operational, staffing and technology changes. Key actions include doubling permanent communications staff from nine to 18 full-time positions (in addition to temporary communications staff of 30), hiring 25 additional non-CDL drivers and increasing the van fleet from 16 to 36 to provide routing flexibility. Baldwin said the district will also contract out certain specialized trips and expand customer-service training for phone-bank teams to handle high volumes of calls and transportation resolution-system requests.

Technology changes include phasing out the Stopfinder parent app and phasing in a new parent-facing app called Chipmunk, which the district said is integrated with a routing and operations product called Bus Planner. Staff said Chipmunk will be phased in: special education routes will pilot the new app in the first semester, with full deployment scheduled in the second semester. Baldwin acknowledged Chipmunk would initially not be correlated to the driver device GPS events on all buses but said further phasing would add real-time driver-device integration.

Staff also announced a hub-stop pilot in partnership with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) for three specialty schools — Overlook Elementary, Maya Angelou French Immersion and P.E. Williams Elementary — to create centralized pickup locations at community centers. The district said the pilot aims to reduce ride times, improve on-time performance and simplify routing for specialty programs. Staff said the district had surveyed families at targeted schools and planned continued community engagement and safety reviews for proposed hub locations.

Board members asked operational questions about app timing, driver training and hub-stop security. Baldwin said the new app is called Chipmunk and the special education pilot will begin in the first semester, with full roll out in the second semester. He said the district would provide driver and parent training and run both routing systems (Transfinder/Stopfinder and Bus Planner/Chipmunk) in parallel during the transition.

Why this matters: transportation reliability affects student access to school, on-time arrival, and family communications. Staff said the combined approach — more staff, targeted hiring, tech modernization and hub-stop pilots — is intended to reduce missed trips and improve parent transparency.

Next steps: staff will move forward with the hiring plan, the Chipmunk pilot for special education trips and the hub-stop pilot while continuing community engagement and safety reviews. The board asked for FAQs and parent training opportunities ahead of the app rollout and for early notice before the second-semester wide deployment.","District staff presented Phase 1 results and Phase 2 strategies to address driver shortages, launch a new parent-facing app called Chipmunk, and start a hub-stop pilot in partnership with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission for three specialty schools.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6181778,"Prince George's County Board adopts FY 2026 operating budget amid cuts and advocacy warning",742,8064000,8806000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b&start=8064&end=8806","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b/thumbnail_8064000.jpg","/articles/6181778/Maryland/Prince-Georges-County-Board-adopts-FY-2026-operating-budget-amid-cuts-and-advocacy-warning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181778-2b4cf62e17d8f881b83ec5bf80393f6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487183&Signature=Kl0SIbYksqs-T7nwZmFGl6RKi77gPrtlwd4tT~vaDoSOtYc-hCxKzt1NVZOZRTY88mtNkGS9uQXPyK8mgkrZnZJDE6xFuaj0uFXS5ZM8h1yOWR4auiw8zGXPVddTbWZL8Abb5x0Y68aysNGn5yl~QKitNpc0yI7KVpAvWn55PgBxAGpcpzwhrXDqCI5IWM~gT-m8tjACxMn8cR8zm~YHgsLgdh3rqJN-eG2q6AlU2ldwweQIAOYHQbddDNw9S25NT2GugzlBL0d4WtuwtAGyGeOvd4yO9l5mLAuP5I8kTVFQlSLLOwWxWYa2DOnpa5WpsWj0lLlDTaZqwZdo~bI3dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Prince George's County Board of Education unanimously approved the district’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget on June 26 after a period of negotiations and scrutiny of revenue assumptions and service priorities.

Board member Zakiyah Lawrence McCance moved adoption of the FY 2026 budget and members voted in favor on a roll call. McCance thanked staff and highlighted the long process that led to the final document.

Board discussion focused on revenue reductions and program impacts. Chief financial staff said federal funding for the district has decreased by more than $4 million compared with prior allocations and noted that several restricted federal grants are expiring. Members also flagged a $3.6 million reduction in the local-share portion of Blueprint for Maryland schools funding and a county-level reduction of roughly $6.5 million for certain district line items, which staff said required reallocations inside the requested budget.

Board member Pamela Boosier Struthers emphasized the public-policy element of budget work and the need to continue advocacy in Annapolis: “We stopped the worst of that bill but we haven't stopped it for the next couple years and that work continues,” she said, urging continued engagement with state lawmakers.

Other board members asked about federal funding types. Staff replied that the district’s federal receipts are predominantly restricted entitlement grants (Title I–IV and special education) and that much of the district’s operational spending is funded from unrestricted local and county revenue. Staff also said they had reconciled the budget transmitted by the county and that the board packet included a reconciliation summary showing where the approved county contribution differed from the district request.

The board recorded nine affirmative votes and the chair announced the motion carried. Board members and staff said next steps include continued legislative advocacy to protect state and county education funding and follow-up work on contract negotiations that will affect total personnel costs.

Why this matters: the budget sets spending priorities for more than 100,000 students in Prince George’s County and determines how the district balances instructional needs, transportation, facility maintenance and personnel while state and county revenues fluctuate.

The board asked staff to provide further reconciled detail as needed and to continue outreach to state and county officials about restoring or protecting educational funding.","The Prince George's County Board of Education approved the fiscal year 2026 operating budget on June 26. Board members and staff described cuts to federal and local support and urged continued legislative advocacy to protect school funding.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6181784,"Board approves one-year interim superintendent contract for Dr. Shawn Joseph",780,6940000,7720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b&start=6940&end=7720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112261-4d5818f4378875ef85fc1f6a37464d0b/thumbnail_6940000.jpg","/articles/6181784/Maryland/Board-approves-one-year-interim-superintendent-contract-for-Dr-Shawn-Joseph","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181784-1be10855efd29eba3228a8bab5bdcd9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487183&Signature=df4Sz4LoQD6l5QGJ4tuLTJExBi~8kJ-zHcpvJy7Q7XmQAG0hLv~w2Oa22UvzSfRZ6MrKZTUdu5JOuycX5GWkDNaB1bg3dpi4n9lgLdopTHa5t9Cloy3OWfWk6oIjixLbweze76WwHTkW0KX4~VaFTKFv8YXPE2oFQfLwHMNdIH0tg5pYQcC6IrnG-TNAYuvy-hMb7D31yuPmwBF3rzzb-AtDwiDT7xS~YzjuPeXwO4kVSa-sbqVnw8uzDW86IqrIRYo8Trjv18I6-Gg7StCtgBjXbYEmpRNAssAWd~Jo5Bv8~hVxsoA0tOpU-CbuSNE8oswSbGov8cb6z35oD0TRzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Prince George's County Board of Education on June 26 approved a one-year interim superintendent contract for Dr. Shawn Joseph, a move board leaders said was needed to restore the superintendent's signing authority for financial and operational decisions. The motion passed with the majority of members voting in favor and two members abstaining.

Board approval was prompted by what staff described as an immediate operational need. Arthur Horn, legal counsel, told the board the process is governed by Maryland law and explained the legal framework for making an interim appointment: “This situation is set forth in the Maryland Education Annotated Code section 4-201.1,” he said, describing the authority to fill a superintendent vacancy and the need for certain confirmations tied to the appointment.

The contract was presented as a bridge: Chief Operating Officer Dr. Coleman said the district lacked a superintendent in the days after the prior leader’s departure and that absence was creating operational constraints, including the inability to execute purchase requisitions and contracts needed for capital improvements and transportation. Coleman said the district needed an interim superintendent “to exercise the fiscal authority needed to move critical work forward.”

Board discussion mixed procedural concerns and support. Board member Pamela Boosier Struthers said she would abstain, citing the lack of an inclusive vetting process and concerns about democratic practice: “This has not been democratic,” she said, explaining her decision to withhold a yes vote. Board member Robin Brown also abstained, saying she had received the contract only that day and needed more time to review it before voting.

Other members urged prompt action to avoid further operational disruption. Board member Lalita E. Walker, who voted in favor, said the district needed leadership in place immediately to allow contracts and other actions to proceed: “We need somebody inside of this seat now,” she said, adding that accountability to the board could follow.

On roll call the board recorded a majority in favor and two abstentions; the chair announced the motion carried. The contract covers the interim appointment through June 30, 2026. Board members and staff said the district conducted background and financial checks before finalizing the arrangement and that legal counsel advised the board on statutory requirements.

Why this matters: without an authorized superintendent the district said it could not sign contracts or move money needed for schools, transportation, and capital work. The contract gives the superintendent authority to act while the process for a permanent superintendent advances under applicable law.

Board next steps include implementing the interim superintendent's responsibilities immediately and continuing the required processes for a permanent appointment under Maryland law. The board did not take additional formal actions on the full-time superintendent search during the June 26 meeting.","The Prince George's County Board of Education voted to approve a one-year interim superintendent contract for Dr. Shawn Joseph to ensure continuity of authority for fiscal and operational actions through June 30, 2026. The vote passed with several abstentions amid concerns about process and timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Disability Issues Advisory Board presents preliminary report calling for policy, staffing and timeline changes

Board renews Legends Public Charter; founders and parents cite rapid growth and student outcomes

PGCPS outlines transportation action plan: driver hires, new parent app and hub-stop pilot

Prince George's County Board adopts FY 2026 operating budget amid cuts and advocacy warning

Board approves one-year interim superintendent contract for Dr. Shawn Joseph