Prince George's County Literacy Commission Meeting

On May 22, 2026, from approximately 1:15 PM to 3:07 PM EDT, the Prince George's County Literacy Commission held its second meeting virtually. Dr. Arun Barack, Director of the Education and Workforce Development Committee, opened the meeting. Chair Dr. Felton Moss (District 7 Board of Education member) presided. The meeting focused on high-level literacy data, the science of reading, and presentations from partner organizations. Key discussions emphasized building a countywide literacy ecosystem spanning birth through adulthood.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of April 22, 2026 Meeting Minutes: The minutes were approved unanimously by a show of hands, with no corrections.

Discussion Items

• High-Level Literacy Data Presentation: Dr. Arun Barack presented key data points:
  • Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA): 34% of Prince George's County kindergartners demonstrated readiness in 2023-2024 (range across Maryland jurisdictions: 34%–79%). Language literacy is one of four domains assessed.
  • MCAP ELA Proficiency (Grades 3-8 and high school): PrGe gor ge County's K-12 proficiency hovers around 40% (range across Maryland LEAs: 31.2%–68.5%).
  • English Learner Enrollment: Over 33,000 students in PGCPS as of 2024, the second-highest in Maryland.
  • Adult Literacy: Prince George's County ranked fourth from the bottom in the 2017 PIAAC adult literacy scale score survey.
  • Prince George's Community College (2024-2025): 450 students enrolled in adult basic education (primarily GED) and 2,247 in English language acquisition courses.
• Science of Reading Overview: Chair Moss explained the evidence-based framework (word recognition and language comprehension) and emphasized explicit, systematic instruction. Dr. Bolger added the importance of writing and contextualizing the science for diverse populations (e.g., English learners). Simons and Dr. Collins noted PGCPS's comprehensive literacy plan and professional learning, including training provided through MSDE-approved coursework (LETRS, SUNY, AIMS).
• Partner Perspectives:
  • PGCPS (Dr. Collins and Simone): Presented the district's new strategic plan, "Forward by Design, Acceleration 2029," which prioritizes student success, staff/leaders, equity, family partnerships, and organizational culture. They outlined a literacy vision focused on developing strong readers, writers, speakers, and thinkers, with collaboration across schools, families, and community partners.
  • Prince George's County Memorial Library System: Represented by a staff member who highlighted:
    • Over 643,000 cardholders, 19 branches, 1.5 million visits, 3.5 million circulations in FY2025.
    • Books from Birth program (Dolly Parton Imagination Library): distributed over 1.3 million books since 2018.
    • Story times using Every Child Ready to Read (talking, singing, reading, writing, playing).
    • LINK accounts allowing all PGCPS students free access to library resources.
    • Kids Achieve Club (homework help and reading practice) at six branches.
    • Seasonal reading challenges (Winter and Summer).
    • Spanish literacy classes for adults via partnership with Sinai.
    • Books by Mail for homebound residents.
  • Maryland Initiative for Literacy and Equity (MILE) – Dr. Bolger: Described MILE as the state's research and technical assistance hub, a partnership between University of Maryland and Morgan State University. Work includes evidence-based tutoring (Milestones), professional learning for educators (e.g., science of reading conferences, dual language educator conference), assessment practices analysis, and community engagement (e.g., library programs, parent support for Latinx families).
• Commissioner Comments and Requests:
  • Senator Washington requested data on PGCPS teachers trained in science of reading and baseline data on implementation of the 2019 state law requiring universal early literacy screening, supplemental instruction, progress monitoring, and parent notifications.
  • Senator Washington also asked for the number of teachers per school with science of reading training.
  • Pastor Crawford emphasized focusing on early grades (K-3) to prevent later problems, citing that two-thirds of students are not reading at grade level by third grade and the 2028 potential retention law. He advocated treating the issue like a business process failure.
  • Candace Perkins requested a public-facing progress dashboard showing how schools move from "yellow" (concern) to "green" (performance goals) to help community stakeholders track improvement.
  • Ellen O'Neill asked if the county has data on community college students needing remedial reading upon entry, noting it could show dropout rates.

Key Outcomes

• Data Requests: Commission staff will follow up on requests for teacher training numbers, implementation of the 2019 state law, and potential additional data points (remedial reading at community college, progress tracker dashboards).
• Next Meeting: Scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026, virtually at the same time (1:15 PM EDT).
• Upcoming Deliverable: Members are asked to submit, prior to the next meeting, their perspectives on: 1) priority challenges and gaps impacting literacy outcomes in their sectors, 2) how their organization can specifically impact those areas, and 3) how their organization can collaborate with others to close gaps.
• Community Convening: Pastor Crawford announced a community event on July 17, 2026 (8:00 AM – 2:00 PM) at Suitland High School, sponsored by Chair Moss. The event will focus on system-wide change, family support, engagement with decision makers, and coordinating community groups to support PGCPS. Details and flyer to follow.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 3:07 PM EDT.