Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education Prince Georges topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents urge MSDE audit and intervention after repeated special‑education complaints in Prince George’s County
Summary
Parents and advocates during public comment told the State Board that special‑education systems in Prince George’s County have failed students, calling for independent audits of spending and hiring, enforcement of IDEA obligations, and MSDE intervention under state law.
Alida Jari Carter, a Prince George’s County mother of two children with disabilities, urged the Maryland State Department of Education to open an independent audit into special‑education spending and hiring practices, saying families have been repeatedly harmed by “predetermination” and insufficient oversight. “We need an audit by an independent neutral third party now,” Carter told the board during the public‑comment period.
Other parents and advocates described similar patterns: filing complaints with MSDE that they say go untracked, difficulty accessing due‑process remedies, and what several speakers described as use of procurement or contracted representation that favors districts in disputes with families. Paul Laemmle of the Maryland State Education Association also warned that proposed changes to teacher working‑time rules could disrupt negotiations central to implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
Speakers asked the State Board to enforce federal IDEA obligations and to consider using Education Article 2‑205 to intervene where local systems repeatedly fail to provide free appropriate public education. Commenters also urged a review of how local funds and state allocations are used for special education, including whether staff vacancies and contracting decisions are contributing to failures to deliver services on IEPs.
The board took the comments under advisement; MSDE staff said board members will follow up via Executive Director Hans about how to share petition materials and track public submissions.
What’s next: The board did not take immediate action but directed staff to accept written materials and promised follow‑up. Several speakers said they will continue organizing and seek further meetings with MSDE.
