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June 20, 2017 Statement from PGCPS High School Principals on Graduation Rates Allegations

For more than 20 years, Prince George’s County Public Schools has been caught in a political tug-of-war.

With eyes on our approximately $2 billion budget, elected officials and aspiring politicos have sought
control over the system – the largest recipient of county funds – by any means necessary.

The system has bounced between governance structures and leaders with little to no stability from year
to year. Not surprisingly, achievement has lagged. Chaos has been the only constant. Superintendents
have come and gone – some for school systems that prioritized teaching and learning over political
games.

The system has lost many parents who chose educational options beyond PGCPS. Now, just when the
system is gaining positive momentum, our schools, teachers, students and leaders are again a casualty
of unfair, ugly scrutiny. Ongoing conflict between the administration and a few school board members
threatens the entire system. Our schools are ground zero.

Our teachers, faculty and support staff do the hard work that gives parents confidence in our system.
They are the ones who work untold hours to make our programs thrive. It was through their efforts that
our academic progress steadily climbed, culminating in this year’s record-high graduation rates. There’s
nothing magical about our methods and no shortcuts to our success.

Here’s how we did it:

High schools have goals that support a laser-like focus on ninth-grade promotion and graduation rates.
Teachers and staff are using the proper systems and supports in place, such as our grading and reporting
policy, to promote student achievement. Neighboring school districts have had similar policies in place
for many years.

Our Multiple Pathways to Success program, also widely used by other school systems, allows learners to
have a second chance at mastering course content and earning required credits. Our systemic Quarter
Learning Modules give students who were close to passing a chance to be re-taught and reassessed on
course content. Principals monitor our student data through early warning indicators, which utilize
multiple sources of data to identify interventions and supports tailored to each student’s needs.

PGCPS developed and implemented specialized teams to closely monitor student withdrawal data, so
that we could help youth get through high school successfully. A high school diploma is why students
come to school and stay in school.

It is what they spend four long years working towards. It is a school system’s ultimate measure of
success. It is the gateway to better life outcomes. It is the evidence of ancestors’ dreams. A high school
diploma should never be used as a political pawn to twist the perception of an entire school system.

Parents who choose PGCPS do not deserve the constant barrage of negativity about their children’s
abilities and accomplishments.

Our students do not deserve a narrative that turns a skeptic's eye towards success, viewing it as an
anomaly rather than the expectation. These accusations are insulting to the professionals throughout
Prince George’s County Public Schools who have dedicated themselves to educating high school
students and supporting their success.

They cause unspeakable damage to our school system, far beyond an election cycle or the news of the
day. No one will remember the story that concluded allegations lacked substance, only the stories with
screaming headlines of scandal, corruption and lies. Any of us could have left Prince George’s County
schools a long time ago if we’d wanted an easier career path.

We’ve stayed because we believe in this work and in the people doing it. We’ve stayed because we
believe in the students and families we serve. When those elected to serve aim for higher office on the
backs of students, they bring down every school, teacher, faculty member and principal. They make a
mockery of the people behind the headlines. We deserve better treatment from those who claim to be
working on our behalf.

Students and families deserve representatives who care more about a child’s future than scoring
political points. For all of us in Prince George’s County Public Schools, especially our students, this tugof-
war must end. Sincerely, Prince George’s County Public Schools High School Principals, 2016-2017

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