Rally Thursday To Focus On Pushing PGCPS to Hire More Educators, Improve Student Outcomes

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Parents, educators and students with Prince George's County Public Schools will be meeting Thursday at 4:30 p.m. outside the Sasscer Administration Building at 14201 School Lane to watch contract negotiations live on a big screen and hold a rally. Event organizers are calling for leaders to "accelerate the shift from pandemic response to delivering on the promise of a bright future for all our students."

Delegate Alonzo Washington, school board candidate Branndon Jackson, Highland Park Elementary School educators, parent and school board candidate Dannine Johnson, parent and educator Kendra Russell, student speakers from the International School at Langley Park, PGCPS parents and others will be in attendance.

According to the Prince George's County Education Association, the group has been "advancing its platform to ensure better student outcome, which includes reducing crushing workloads and ensuring children and educators have access to a healthy and safe learning environment, as well as fair compensation for highly trained educators."

PGCEA has been calling on the school district to recruit and retain more educators by tapping funds outlined in the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, legislation passed in 2021 to raise pay and standards across the state, the association noted.

Maryland State Delegate Alonzo Washington will speak specifically to the historic funding for public schools and how this opportunity "has been squandered by Prince George’s County officials while nearby districts invest in students’ futures."