PGCPS: AIB approves Blueprint components; WestEd analyzing FY25 resource allocation and will deliver data visualizations

Prince George's County Public Schools officials told the Policy & Governance Committee on Feb. 25 that the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) approved the district's Blueprint components on Jan. 30, 2025, and that the AIB signaled it would release fiscal year 2025 Blueprint funds after approval.

Dr. Kara Libby, director of PGCPS's strategic initiatives office, told the committee the district submitted all required Blueprint components (the LEA plan, question 23 budgetary attestation, career ladder documentation, literacy plan, and related memoranda of understanding) and that AIB approval opened access to FY25 funds. “We finally received approval for all of our components and our plan on Thursday, 01/30/2025. And AIB said that they would release our FY '25 funds,” Dr. Libby said.

PGCPS is working with five strategic partners under AIB-funded technical assistance. Tara Bergfeld, project director at WestEd, described the WestEd team's work on resource-allocation analysis, including a fall FY25 minimum-funding analysis, staffing-by-building trends, and data visualizations the district can use in public communications. Bergfeld said WestEd's grant-funded technical assistance is scheduled to run through June 30, 2025, and that WestEd intends to position recommendations to inform the FY27 budget cycle rather than drive last-minute FY25 changes.

“Our team is working on…evaluating the current budget and expenditures for fiscal year 25 as it aligns to the requirements in the blueprint,” Bergfeld said. She described analyses of whether schools meet the law's minimum funding levels, how funds flowing through the student-based budgeting formula reach school buildings, and how staffing and program mixes vary across schools. WestEd said it will provide charts and draft communications materials and has developed draft FAQs and community-engagement templates for the district to use.

Dr. Libby and presenters also described partnerships supporting specific Blueprint pillars: University of Maryland and PGCEA on the career ladder; City Works, Employ Prince George's, and Prince George's Community College on career-counseling implementation in grades 6–12; ACM Strategists on coordination for college and career readiness; and WestEd on resource allocation and community-engagement planning. Dr. Libby noted PGCPS is one of two Maryland LEAs piloting level 4 of the career ladder.

Board members asked whether the district should “stay the course” if state legislation in Annapolis reduces or changes funding models. When asked directly, Dr. Libby urged continuity: “Yes. Stay the course,” and she described how some state bills change the distribution model for career-counseling funds but do not eliminate career counseling itself. WestEd and PGCPS staff told the committee that implementing the Blueprint's minimum funding levels and staffing shifts will be multi‑year work and that shifting money “on paper” is not a substitute for delivering resources to schools and students.

No formal committee action (motions or votes) on Blueprint implementation occurred at the Feb. 25 meeting. Committee members asked presenters to return with the WestEd data visualizations and recommended the district continue to press for strategic-partner continuity if AIB funding is not renewed beyond June 30.

Next steps identified in the presentation: WestEd will finalize its FY25 analyses and data visualizations; the district will use draft communication materials and FAQs to brief principals, staff and community; and PGCPS will incorporate WestEd recommendations into multi‑year planning for FY26–FY27.