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PGCPS outlines plan for high‑school public safety pathway to bolster cadet pipeline
Summary
Prince George's County Public Schools staff presented a proposed public-safety/high-school cadet pathway that would offer dual enrollment, industry certifications and apprenticeships, modeled on the district's fire-cadet program and built in partnership with county law enforcement and Prince George's Community College.
Prince George's County Public Schools staff briefed the Education Workforce Development Committee on a proposed high‑school public‑safety pathway designed to prepare students for law-enforcement and corrections careers through classroom instruction, hands‑on training and dual enrollment.
Pamela Smith, coordinating supervisor for career and technical education, said the pathway would span grades 9–12 and combine "criminal justice, ethics, community policing, corrections, and specialized electives" with apprenticeships and industry‑recognized certifications. "This pathway will allow children, our scholars, to go into multiple pathways of public service," she said.
The presentation positioned the program as similar to the district's existing fire cadet academy: students would receive simulations, physical‑fitness training and placements "at local police departments and community" to provide real‑world experience. Smith said the district will partner with Prince George's Community College to offer college credit and dual‑enrollment options and will seek mentorship opportunities with law‑enforcement practitioners.
Committee members pressed staff for details about where programs would be sited and how students from different parts of the county would access them. Smith listed existing CTE sites that host related offerings—Parkdale, Bowie, Potomac and High Point among them—and said a public‑safety academy currently operates at Surrattsville High School. She added that Crossland High School is a district CTE hub with 19 programs and that the district is planning a second hub at the proposed New Northern High School.
Officials said recruitment will begin earlier, at the middle‑school level, to build interest and pipelines into high school. Smith described a two‑pronged approach to gauging student interest: "we worked with a company called Hanover, and they conducted a survey to both parents, students, and staff" and the district will repeat the survey to collect more student responses.
The briefing did not include a formal vote or a final siting decision; staff said next steps include internal planning, pupil‑accounting review to identify suitable locations, and development of a sustainability model prior to any replication or systemwide expansion.
