PGCPS athletics office defends transfer, eligibility and residency rules after public complaints

Prince George's County Public Schools officials told the Policy and Governance Committee on May 13 that transfers, eligibility and residency reviews for high-school athletes follow state rules and system procedures and are enforced even when complaints arrive late in a season.

The discussion grew out of public comments from parents and boosters who said late anonymous complaints and inconsistent application of shared-housing rules have cost student-athletes playoff opportunities. Committee members heard a detailed presentation from the athletics office explaining procedures, timelines and the role of state athletic rules.

Dr. Carletta Morrow, associate superintendent of high schools and nontraditional programs, said the system 'along with the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association'requires schools to verify residency and cohort eligibility. Shirley Diggs, coordinating supervisor of interscholastic athletics, described the paperwork and review steps: transfer packets must include principal and athletic director signatures from both sending and receiving schools; the athletics office has 10 business days after receipt of complete documents to decide on participation; and parents may appeal to the superintendent's appeals office.

Public commenters pressed the committee on the effect of late complaints. Yolanda Brown, identified as speaking for an Athletic Booster Club associated with a Wise High School program, said the 'shared housing' form 'is confusing' and noted a parent affidavit that asks whether a student 'is residing with me or us on a full time basis.' Reneta Pace, an individual commenter, urged a moratorium on eligibility challenges close to championships, saying anonymous complaints were being filed too close to postseason play. Lisa Hargrove, another commenter, said she provided video evidence that a student lived with family members but felt the athletics office did not follow up consistently.

Diggs told the committee the athletics office investigates potential violations 'regardless of when an allegation is reported' and applies penalties consistent with MPSSAA (Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association) and local rules. She said the office has increasingly tracked cohort years and eligibility because some students have reclassified or attempted to extend eligibility; Diggs said recent cases numbered ''"4 to 5 cases' since 2022. She also noted the office is working with Pupil Accounting, registrars and athletic directors to improve consistency in residency verification and to require annual renewal of shared-housing documentation.

Committee members asked the athletics office to return with specific recommendations to tighten procedures and training for registrars and athletic directors. The committee did not take formal policy action on policy 51-22 at the meeting; the athletics staff said they will draft recommended changes for the committee to review later.

Members and staff said the office will add more parent information sessions and compliance supports, and the athletics office plans to include parent and student advisors when revising the policy. The committee also discussed the system's appeals timeline and agreed further work is needed to reduce the number of late-season investigations that can remove students from competition.