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PGCPS expands multilingual family engagement pilot; district eyes school-level leadership for parent consortium
Summary
District officials described a first-year pilot of a Family English Literacy program, the return of an International Parent Leadership Consortium, and plans to shift some district-run family leadership work to school-level ownership while continuing central support.
Prince George's County Public Schools said Monday that multilingual family engagement efforts this year included a pilot Family English Literacy program, an active International Parent Leadership Consortium and expanded translation and hybrid participation options; district leaders said they intend to move some leadership to the school level while maintaining central supports.
"Family engagement is the cornerstone of student success," said Simone McQuaidge, elementary reading language arts supervisor, summarizing the district's multilingual family engagement priorities and noting language and cultural barriers faced by multilingual families.
Why it matters: district officials said stronger family engagement is intended to increase parental leadership and influence on school programs, improve communication around services for multilingual learners and help families navigate special-education processes.
District staff said schools reported 39 family-engagement events this school year (self-reported) and that 56 families participated in the spring Family English Literacy pilot, which started at two schools and expanded to four. The International Parent Leadership Consortium — restarted this spring after a COVID hiatus — engaged about 27 families in district-led leadership roles, the district said. Presenters emphasized translation and the option to attend events in person, virtually or in hybrid formats as key to increased participation.
Officials said they have not finalized a detailed plan to transfer the consortium to school-level control but plan to provide templates, resources and coaching so schools that wish to lead locally can do so; a central office consortium would remain for schools that cannot host their own local program. Community Schools staff and parent-engagement assistance were identified as partners to help scale and sustain school-level programming. No new funding formulas or staffing changes were voted on at the meeting.
