Disability board questions whether Policy 1700 covers special education; votes to place purpose review on Feb. 18 agenda

Prince George's County Public Schools' Disability Issues Advisory Board debated whether its governing guidance, Board Policy 1700, should explicitly include special education (IDEA) issues and voted to add a formal review of the board's purpose and definition to its Feb. 18 meeting agenda.

The vote to place "DIAB purpose and definition" on the Feb. 18 agenda passed by roll call, 9-0. The board also adopted the Jan. 21 meeting agenda and approved minutes for Nov. 6 and Dec. 17 by unanimous consent earlier in the session.

Board Vice Chair Theresa Smith opened the discussion by saying, "Policy 1700 is pretty much our guiding light, for the work that we will be doing," and asking whether that policy adequately addresses cognitive and special-education issues as well as physical accessibility. "When you look at Policy 1700, I don't think it captures everything, such as some of the challenges that families have with special education," Smith said.

Board Member Britney Patrick said she shared Smith's concern. "Policy 1700 centers also around ADA, and does not make mention of IDEA at all or the quality of special education services," Patrick said, noting she previously proposed recommending revisions to the policy.

Janie Payne, identified in the meeting as the chair of the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (CCAC), described CCAC's federally required role under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). "CCAC's role is to be an advisory body to PGCPS on a broad set of issues for our children with disability," Payne said, adding that the committee works with the district on both individual and systemic problems and helped develop the district's action plan on special education.

District staff and CCAC representatives clarified how CCAC and DIAB overlap but have different origins and authorities. Tranel Bowman, a district staff member who participates in special education work, explained that CCAC is "required under the Individuals with Disability Education Act" and noted intersections with Section 504 and Maryland regulations (COMAR) when students' protections overlap.

Members also discussed practical next steps for the advisory board's work. Suggestions for subject-matter experts to consult included the district's human-resources or hiring leads, leaders from bargaining units (PGCEA, SEIU and others), the capital program team for facility access, vendor/contract managers for before- and after-school programs, and Robin Welsh for policy and governance administrative procedures. Board members asked staff to determine the formal process for requesting district data and whether some data might require a public-information or privacy review.

During the meeting the board noted several operational items affecting its work: the board is working to establish a dedicated email inbox and is waiting on the web team to finish the public-facing portion; there are current vacancies including an ADA position and seats for Districts 5 and 9; the District 9 member resigned and the reporting secretary role is open; and minutes from a Jan. 9 meeting were not available this evening due to the recording-secretary resignation.

The board agreed to gather historical context on Board Policy 1700 before deciding whether to seek formal revisions. Members asked staff and the board liaison, Robin Brown, to follow up with district leadership and with Dr. Felton Moss, chair of policy and governance, to clarify intent and the steps for proposing amendments. The board voted, by roll call, to add the "DIAB purpose and definition" item to the February 18 meeting agenda so members could receive those answers and consider a motion to revise or expand the board's scope.

The board closed by confirming its next meeting will be Feb. 18, 2025, at 6 p.m.