Prince George's County Literacy Commission Meeting - September 16, 2026

The Prince George's County Literacy Commission met on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 2:02 PM to 3:02 PM. Chair Dr. Felton Moss presided. The meeting focused on high-leverage strategies to boost literacy outcomes, with presentations from commission members and a report on the July 17 Literacy Summit. Seven members were present at initial roll call, later ten after technical issues were resolved.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes from the July 15, 2026, meeting were approved by unanimous consent with no corrections or amendments.

Discussion Items

• Literacy Summit Report (Pastor Clarence Crawford): Crawford presented on the Literacy Summit held July 17, 2026, at Suitland High School. The summit had 400 RSVPs and a waitlist of 50; registration closed July 1. 569 books were collected and donated to the library system. Keynote: Delegate Martinez. Panel included Dr. Collins, Megan Sutherland, and others. Summit objectives: establish a grassroots initiative to transform literacy across Prince George's County's 130+ elementary schools. A phased approach was outlined: Phase 1 (now to early 2027) to set up a hub structure and advocacy; Phase 2 (early 2027) family engagement; Phase 3 (summer 2027) literacy ecosystem and district chapters.
• Presentation by Ellen O'Neal and Michelle Koopman: Koopman, a teacher, presented on high-leverage phonics strategies, specifically "body coda blending," which reduces cognitive load for early readers. She emphasized teacher buy-in and training as critical for transformation.
• PGCPS Presentation (Simone McQuage and Dr. Dean Collins): They identified tier one instruction as the high-leverage strategy, focusing on early identification, teacher-student-family partnerships, and quarterly literacy events at every elementary school. They also highlighted "Parent University" sessions and the need for equitable summer programming, especially for families with limited transportation.
• Dr. Bowser (University of Maryland): Discussed tutoring at three Title I schools (Hollywood, Kingsford, Rosa Parks) using science of reading. He described a "Food for Thought" program at Thomas Stone Elementary targeting multilingual families, and work on adolescent literacy including writing and AI implications.
• Megan Sutherland (Library System): Reported that the summer reading program had 5,300 registrants, over 2.17 million minutes read, and more than half completed the program. The "Books from Birth" program (Dolly Parton Imagination Library) saw 800 new registrants in August, with 120 opting for bilingual titles.
• Dr. Ashanti Bryant Foster (Prince George's Community College): Highlighted adult education strategies: flexible scheduling, individualized intake assessments, and contextualized instruction blending literacy with career pathways (e.g., healthcare, construction).
• Commissioner Candace Perkins: Noted the need for a public-facing platform to connect all resources across entities to avoid the perception of silos. Commissioner Allie Oliver Kruger echoed the importance of collaboration.

Key Outcomes

• The commission will submit preliminary recommendations to the County Council by September 30, 2026, based on initial discussions. Final recommendations are due December 15, 2026, with a vote at a future meeting.
• The commission's initial term expires December 31, 2026.
• Three remaining meetings are scheduled for October, November, and December to synthesize themes, refine strategies, deliberate, and vote.
• Members who did not present were asked to send their notes and comments to staff for inclusion in the preliminary report.
• No further business; the meeting was adjourned at 3:02 PM.