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Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO Survey, Deadline, Today, 5 PM

The deadline is TODAY, 3/31/23 at 5:00 PM

Prince George’s County is interested in your input for a new Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO. This survey is designed to gather your perceptions of the school district and the importance of various characteristics found in effective superintendents. The information will be used to find the desired characteristics of the next Superintendent. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. The survey is conducted by a search firm, which ensures that your individual responses are kept anonymous and confidential.

The survey can be found here. The deadline is 5 PM today.

Saturday Enrichment Academy – Give Your Children a Powerful Edge in Academic Acceleration

The Councty has announced this exciting , free Saturday Enrichment Academy. Give your child(ren) a powerful edge in English Language Arts (ELA) and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). In this 3-hour fun experience, instructional coaches will use creative ways to meet the learning needs and styles of participants to promote academic acceleration.

After School Reading Clinic Proposed at Hollywood Elementary – Public Hearing is Tomorrow

Hollywood Elementary School

Tomorrow at 7 pm, the Prince George’s County School Board will hold its annual budget hearing.

The Board will take public testimonies about a new reading program, which is currently proposed to be piloted at the Hollywood Elementary School for the upcoming school year (September 2023-June 2024)

According to the proposal, the University of Maryland Institute for Literacy and Equity (MILE) will offer an afterschool reading clinic at Hollywood Elementary School in Prince George’s County that will address three critical needs in PGPCS:

1. Address teacher shortage by building a pipeline from educator preparation programs at UMD, Howard, Bowie, and PGCPS Community College;
2. Build high-quality science of reading instruction delivered onsite by trained tutors, para-educators and teachers; and
3. Create a Residency Model by delivering nationally accredited science of reading training and coaching to PGCPS teachers, tutors and para-educators, thereby building the capacity of both pre-service and in-service reading specialists within PGCPS.

The Project will:
● Establish PGCPS as the first LEA to partner with the Maryland Institute for Literacy and Equity at the University of Maryland;
● Train current PGCPS teachers in grades k- 5 teachers in science-based reading programs;
● Recruit and retain highly trained tutors from UMD/Bowie/Howard/PG community college programs to deliver SOR high-dosage tutoring and small group instruction;
● Build a pathway for SOR certification for PGCPS teachers, special educators and para-educators;
● Provide research from MILE to help demonstrate the success of the pilot and a roadmap to replicate success throughout the district, including middle and high school programs; and
● Create opportunities to train parents and other care providers to re-teach concepts to their children.

You can submit written or video testimony to this email: testimony@pgcps.org.

College Park Students to Get Free Online Tutoring

Early this year, as part of the current budget discussion, I had the opportunity to request funds in the FY23 budget for an online tutoring program for College Park’s students.

In my request, I wrote “The COVID-19 has given our school students the opportunity learn school lessons online. The PGCPS also has provided our students laptops for the online learning. The City has also taken initiative to add supplemental in-class tutoring at one of City schools. Building on these initiatives, we now have unique opportunities to provide supplemental after school online tutoring classes to College Park students. The City could partner with an established online tutoring program”.

Thanks to my City Council colleagues, $30,000 was approved in the budget for an online tutoring program for College Park students outside of regular school hours.

A representative from Imagine Learning presented to the Education Advisory Committee (EAC) at its meeting on 8/15/2022. The EAC supports the City considering implementation of Imagine Learning’s online tutoring offerings for College Park students. Aaron Cole, Account Executive from Imagine Learning, will present and provide information on the available programs to the Mayor and Council. The proposal for the City of College Park from Imagine Learning includes a math platform with on-demand support for grades 3 and up, and a reading platform with individualized support for grades K-12.

The MyPath reading platform identifies each student’s essential skills to catch up, keep up, and move ahead. It creates personalized learning paths using research-based, developmentally appropriate lessons to meet students exactly where they are. MyPath creates personalized learning paths based on each student’s content area knowledge and grade to deliver age-appropriate instruction for all learners.

Representatives from the “Imagine Learning” and the EAC will discuss the online platform at tomorrow’s Council meeting.

[City of College Park]

Apply for Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit

Maryland offers an income tax credit for residents making eligible undergraduate and/or graduates education payments on loans from an accredited college or university. To be eligible, you must claim Maryland residency for the 2022 tax year, file 2022 Maryland state income taxes, have incurred at least $20,000 in undergraduate and/or graduate student loan debt and have at least $5,000 in outstanding student loan debt upon applying for the tax credit. More details are available here.

Apply online here; applications must be submitted by Thursday, September 15th.

President Joe Biden has also announced this week that the Department of Education will be canceling $10,000 in student loans and $20,000 for those receiving Pell grants. Eligible recipients must have an income below $125,000 a year. Additionally, there will be a monthly cap for repayments of 5% of the individual’s yearly income. The decision made by the administration on Wednesday comes after several extensions to the student loan moratorium that is to end on January 2023.

Fall 2022 ESL Classes for Adults

ESL Classes, beginner/intermediate level, on Tuesdays at 9:30am and 7:00pm at the College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave. Fall session begins September 27. Classes are free; Textbook is $25. To register, send a text to 301-801-2071 (English or Spanish)

Fall 2022 ESL Classes (adult beginning/intermediate English)
Classes will begin September 27, 2022 and will continue for 10 weeks
(No class on Voting Day, November 8, 2022)

Community Library
Church of the Nazarene (lower level—down the stairs)
9704 Rhode Island Ave., College Park MD 20740

Two classes
 Tuesday mornings, 9:30 – 10:45am
 Tuesday evenings, 7:00 – 8:15pm
— Class size 10 – 15. Classes will be held if there are ten or more registrants. —
For registration details, please text or email the instructor:
Nancy – 301-801-2071
NJallchin@gmail.com
Cost – $25 for the textbook: The Oxford Picture Dictionary, Second Edition
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Clases de ESL de otoño de 2022 (inglés principiante/intermedio para adultos)
Las clases comenzará el 27 de septiembre y continuará durante 10 semanas.
(No hay clase 8 de noviembre)
Dos clases
 Martes por la mañana, 9:30 – 10:45 am
 Martes por la tarde, de 7:00 a 8:15 p. m.
— Tamaño 10-15. Las clases se llevarán a cabo si hay diez o más inscritos.–
Para obtener detalles de registro, envíe un mensaje de texto o envíe un
correo electrónico al instructor:
Nancy – 301-801-2071
NJallchin@gmail.com
El costo es de $25 para cubrir el costo del libro de texto:
The Oxford Picture Dictionary, Second Edition

“If I Were Mayor” Essay Contest

This Maryland Municipal League-sponsored (MML) event begins in January of each year. College Park’s mayor visits fourth-grade students at participating local public and private elementary schools to provide a face-to-face connection with municipal government, so they can learn what it is like to be mayor. Fourth graders are invited to participate in the “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. In March, Youth and Family Services staff collected the essays from each school, along with the school’s identification of the school winner. The Mayor and Council recognized both school and MML District winners at a May City Council meeting.

Congratulations to our student winners:

School Winner: Tatiana Guevara, Hollywood Elementary
District 9 Winner: Erick Argueta Rivas, Paint Branch Elementary
Semi-Finalist: Alexander Rivero, Paint Branch Elementary
Semi-Finalist: Akeim Harris, Paint Branch Elementary
School Winner: Maryam Saleh Mohamed, Al-Huda School
School Winner: Rafiq Amir, Al-Huda School
School Winner: Bilal Hijazi, Al-Huda School
School Winner: Stephen Trynosky, Holy Redeemer School

Free Tutoring Program for College Park’s Middle School Students

The Every Child Project (TECP)

The Every Child Project (TECP)

At tomorrow’s meeting, the Council will consider approving a partnership with The Every Child Project (TECP) during the 2022-2023 school year to provide virtual tutoring to a minimum of 10 College Park students at the Greenbelt Middle School.

TECP is based at the University of Maryland and its mission is to support equitable access to high-quality academic support (specifically in foundational/core subjects) for K-12 students across Maryland. TECP’s tutoring model provides one-on-one virtual tutoring over Zoom in math, reading and writing, science, and social studies. Some tutors are also able to provide tutoring in Spanish. Services are free for students.

The Education Advisory Committee requested consideration to provide TECP with $3,000 for the tutoring services. Representatives from TECP presented to the Education Advisory Committee on 2/28/2022.

The proposed budget of $3000 would include background checks for tutors, estimated at $300 for 5 tutors. Additionally, $200 would be provided for supplies, and tutors would be provided a $250 stipend for each semester.

Scholarship Resources for Students

County Councilman Dernoga’s office has released a list of fantastic resources on how to get scholarships. Please see that below:

This is a busy time for students who have completed the college application process and now must decide which school to attend. Having put two children through college, I understand the anxiety that might come with making financial decisions about how to pay for education beyond high school.

Looking ahead and thinking about the needs of your young student, consider resourceful college savings accounts with Maryland 529 through the State of Maryland.

If your student is preparing to attend college in the fall, a comprehensive list of grants and scholarship opportunities is provided below. I hope you and your family will find the information useful.

Our students have access to additional financial aid, up to $5,000, through the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship Program, which is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 academic year.

The program is open to applicants who graduated from a Maryland high school or General Educational Diploma (GED) recipient who is planning to enroll, or is currently enrolled, at a Maryland community college as a candidate in:

  • a credit-bearing vocational certificate;
  • a credit-bearing certificate;
  • an associate degree program;
  • a sequence of credit or non-credit courses that leads to licensure or certification; or
  • a registered apprenticeship program.

To learn how to apply for a Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship, click here.

State and Local Scholarship Opportunities

There are many state and local scholarships available to Prince George’s County students. The Prince George’s County Public School System provides a comprehensive list of scholarships available here. Additionally, the Maryland Higher Education Commission maintains a list of scholarships from programs and grants across the state, click here to review the list. The Prince George’s County Community College also has a list of scholarships for first-time and returning students here.

Other scholarships are available from our State Senators and Delegates. Please click here to find your representative.

More scholarships and programs are available through the state.

Other helpful scholarship databases including the following:

Interested in Trade School? Click here to learn how to apply for Skilled Trade School through the Prince George’s County Community College. See below for scholarships for high school students and adults, and information about applying to be a firefighter.

Hollywood School needs HELP

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