Pillar 3
Outcomes for Pillar 3:
- Provide students with equitable opportunities to become CCR ready and meet standards at an equal rate
- Keep students on track to meet CCR standards
- Implement CCR pathways
- Provide high-quality career counseling and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs
Instruction is aligned to college and career ready (CCR) standards and PGCPS will expand its offering of post-CCR pathways which include Career and Technical Education (CTE), dual enrollment in college courses, and other college preparatory options for all eligible students. Students will have opportunities to engage in college courses early and/or rigorous technical education leading to apprenticeships, industry-recognized credentials, and high-paying jobs.
A few highlights from the approved Prince George’s County Public Schools 2024 Blueprint Plan are listed below. For more information, read the entire College & Career Readiness section (pages 42-68).
The focus of Pillar 3 is on mathematics, literacy, and college and career readiness. PGCPS will also build staff capacity and expertise through career coaches, curriculum, resources, technology-based programs and interventions, and training and professional development from state and national experts.
Literacy
- Implementing the Science of Reading (SoR) kindergarten - grade 3 (K-3) to improve early literacy. SoR is a collection of research, over time, from multiple fields of study that confirms theories on how children best learn to read.
- Every prekindergarten - grade 3 (PreK-3) teacher and administrator trained in the SoR
- Comprehensive PreK-12 Literacy Plan submitted to MSDE in June 2024.
- PGCPS had a Literacy Review from Higher Education (University of Maryland and Morgan State University in school year 2023-2024); received commendable feedback on implementation and resources; recommendations provided for further, ongoing teacher support and use of data to address students’ needs at their individual levels.
Mathematics
- PGCPS has had an emphasis on mathematics in the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Strategic Plan for the past two years, based on data; PGCPS is working closely with the Maryland State Department of Education as they provide more guidance for mathematics in this school year.
- A draft Comprehensive PreK-5 Mathematics Plan was developed and was submitted to MSDE in September 2024, for review. The final plan will be available in July 2025.
- Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy (JHU-IEP) will collaborate with MSDE Mathematics Branch to provide feedback and support the implementation of the local education agency Comprehensive Mathematics Plans.
- Comprehensive Mathematics plan for PreK-12 is due in June 2025.
College and Career Readiness
- Initiative from the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB)- partnerships with local community college and workforce development board to provide college and career counseling in every PGCPS middle and high school.
- Partnership with Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) and Employ Prince George’s (EPG) - the local workforce development board
- Access to career exploration prior to high school
- Individual and group interaction with career counselors who are in every middle and high school, to help identify educational pathways for all students. They assist students and job seekers in finding suitable career paths, provide insights into personal career preferences, and help students make informed decisions about their education and career planning.
- Finding Your Pathway to College guidance
- One-on-one coaching for students provided by the career counselors at each school site
