Submit a Student Appeal
STUDENT APPEALS
Serving as the Superintendent's designee, the Office of Appeals and Hearings is authorized to adjudicate appealed cases when a decision has been issued by the primary decision-making central office. The Office of Appeals and Hearings reviews an appeal in order to determine whether:
1) an alleged violation of established policy or procedure has been demonstrated or
2) whether the circumstances surrounding the appeal would present a unique hardship on the student or family that would necessitate an exception to policy or procedure.
Unique hardship: A unique hardship for a student transfer typically refers to extenuating circumstances that significantly impact a student that may include a natural disaster, specialized educational needs, and unique medical or health needs. Challenges that are common to large numbers of families do not constitute a unique hardship.
The Office of Appeals and Hearings is not a policy-making entity and will not subvert procedures as written without just cause.
Early Entrance to Kindergarten
Administrative Procedure 5111.1 Administration to Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and First grade addresses early entrance to kindergarten.
- Early entrance will only be considered for children turning five (5) years of age between September 2 and October 15, of the school year for which they are requesting early entrance. Students with birthdates after October 15 will not be considered.
- Early entrance does not apply to lottery programs.
The Early Chilhood Learning Office is responsible for testing and evaluating students for early entrance. Their decision may be appealed to the Office of Appeals and Hearings.
Enrollment & Residency
Administrative Procedure 5111 - Registration and Withdrawal of Students addresses residency with respect to school enrollment and required documentation to register a student and provide residency.
All disputes involving school enrollment or residency must be addressed by the Office of Pupil Accounting and School Boundaries (pasb.enrollment@pgcps.org) prior to appeal by the Office of Appeals and Hearings.
Kinship / Informal Care Arrangements
Kinship / Informal Care Arrangements
Administrative Procedure 5118.1 - Informal Care Arrangements and the Enrollment of Non-Resident Students provides guidance on the kinship application process and requirements.
The Office of Pupil Accounting and School Boundaries (PASB) is responsible for the review, approval and/or denial of Informal Kinship Care applications. To appeal, a denial from PASB office is required.
“Informal kinship care” defined by Maryland Senate Bill 32, means a living arrangement in which a relative of a child, who is not in the care, custody, or guardianship of the local department of social services, provides for the care and custody of the child due to a serious family hardship. This bill provides for the funding of the education of a child in an informal kinship care relationship due to a serious family hardship.
A child who is a resident of this state may attend a public school in Prince George’s County if the child lives with a relative providing informal kinship care in the county and the relative verifies the informal care relationship through a sworn affidavit.
The affidavit shall be accompanied by supporting documentation of one or more serious family hardships and, where possible, the telephone number and address of any authority who is legally authorized to reveal information which can verify the information in the affidavit.
Serious family hardship means:
- Death of a parent or legal guardian of the child;
- Serious illness of a parent or legal guardian of the child;
- Drug addiction of a parent or legal guardian of the child;
- Incarceration of a parent or legal guardian of the child;
- Abandonment by a parent or legal guardian of the child;
- Assignment of a parent or legal guardian of a child to active military duty.
Lottery Process
Administrative Procedure 6148 - Lottery and Audition Administration and Selection Procedures governs the lottery process in PGCPS.
Determinations regarding eligibility and placements under this administrative procedure are be made by the Department of Pupil Accounting and Schools Boundaries.
Important:
- The Office of Appeals and Hearings will not advance any student who is on a waiting list for a specialty school.
- Transfers are not permitted between specialty programs. Refer to the administrative procedure for changes in residence.
Specialty Program Withdrawal
PGCPS offers a spectrum of specialty programs, and students may be subject to removal from program for reasons to include academic standing, behavior or attendance. A parent may appeal the withdrawal of their child from a specialty program. Included are:
AP 6142.1 - Career and Technical Education
The Chief of School Support and Leadership or designee makes determinations on removing a student. A parent/guardian may appeal this determination to the Office of Appeals and Hearings, as the Superintendent's designee.
The determination to remove a student from one of the aforementioned programs is made by the Principal and School Program Coordinator. This decision may be appealed to the Director of Speciality Programs and The Arts, the Chief Academic Officer and then to the Office of Appeals and Hearings.
AP 6143.1 - Admission to International Baccalaureate Programmes
The Chief of School Support and Leadership shall make determinations regarding removal from IB Programs. A parent or guardian may appeal this decision to the Office of Appeals and Hearings within 10 calendar days of the written decision from the Chief of School Supprt and Leadership.
AP 6144 - Language Immersion Programs
The route to dispute a withdrawal from a Language Immersion Program includes the Director of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Chief Academic Officer, and the Office of Appeals and Hearings. Please reference the administrative procedure for the timeframe to submit an appeal to each office in the hierarchy.
The Chief of School Support and Leadership shall make determinations regarding removal from CPA and VPA programs under this Administrative Procedure. If the parent or guardian requests further review, tthey may appeal to the Office of Appeals and Hearings within 10 calendar days of the written decision.
Removal from P-TECH is decided by the Principal. A parent may appeal this decision to the Chief Academic Officer within ten days of the withdrawal decision. A parent may appeal the decision of the Chief Academic Officer to the Office of Appeals and Hearings.
AP 6165 - Entrance, Monitoring and Exit Procedures for 3D Scholars Program
If a parent/guardian disagrees with the decision to remove a student from the 3D Scholars Program, the parent/guardian may submit a written appeal to the Office of College readiness within 10 calendar days of the withdrawal decision. If a parent disagrees with the decision of the Supervisor of the Office of College Readiness, the parent may appeal the decision within 10 calendar days to the Associate Superintendent of the Department of Student Services. This decision may be appealed to the Office of Appeals and Hearings within 10 calendar days of that decision to the Office of Appeals and Hearings.
AP 6192 - Montessori Program Monitoring and Exiting Guidelines
The Chief of School Support and Leadership shall make determinations regarding removal a Montessori Program. A parent or guardian may appeal this decision to the Office of Appeals and Hearings within 10 calendar days of the written decision from the Chief of School Supprt and Leadership.
All decisions of the Office of Appeals and Hearings may be appealed to the Prince George's County Public Schools Board of Education at board.appeals@pgcps.org.
Student Transfer Denials
STUDENT TRANSFER DENIALS
A parent or guardian may appeal a student transfer denial issued by the Office of Student Records, Transfers and Archival Services within ten days of the date of denials. The appeal should be submitted via the Student Appeal Intake Form. All relative documentation should be uploaded.
Student transfers are governed by Administrative Policy 5110.3 - Student Transfers.
Important Notes:
- No transfers to a specialty school where entrance is through the lottery or audition program will be considered (e.g., Creative and Performing Arts, Visual and Performing Arts, Montessori, Charter, Talented and Gifted, etc).
- Transfers for pre-kindergarten programs are not permitted.
- Consideration of student transfers outside of the designated student transfer window will only occur for cases involving a unique hardship.
A hardship for a student transfer typically refers to extenuating circumstances that significantly impact a student's ability to attend their current school or require them to transfer to another school to include a natural disaster, specialized educational needs, and unique medical or health needs. Challenges that are common to large numbers of families do not constitute a unique hardship.
- Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation: The Department of Student Services is responsible for the review and approval of student transfer requests in the area of bullying, harassment and intimidation. Transfer requests to a specific school may only be granted if the circumstances are warranted through an investigation and space is available at the requested school. In cases where school transfers are granted, transportation is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Requests may be made via email to studentservices.br@pgcps.org.
Talented & Gifted: Identification and Nomination
Administrative Procedure 6142.2 - Talented and Gifted Student Program
AP 6142.2 Attachment 1 - TAG Identification Procedures.pdf - establishes the procedures and criteria for the identification of students.
Other Student Appeals
Any decision of a central office or school may be appealed. The Office of Appeals and Hearings is not involved in the grade appeal process or the retention, promotion of students. Please refer to AP 5116 - Grade Change Authorization and Appeals
Other Student Appeal Types:
Home and Hospital Teaching Services
Administrative Procedure 5011 - Home and Hospital Teaching
Language Immersion Reciprocity
Administrative Procedure 6144 - Language Immersion Programs
McKinney Vento Program (Homeless) Denial
Administrative Procedure 5010 - Homeless Children and Youth-School Access and Services
Parents have a right to appeal a denial of Homeless Education.
Montessori Reciprocity
Administrative Procedure 6148 - Lottery and Audition Administration and Selection Procedures (see page 10)
Student Records Access / Amendment
Administrative Procedure 5125 - Individual Student School-Based Records