Reply to How do we advocate for the expansion of Specialty School programs?

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Reply to "How do we advocate for the expansion of Specialty School programs?"

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[quote=Anonymous]OP here.  Ok, I drafted something.  It was not as easy as I thought it would be and took a long time!!  Please feel free to use it and edit it as you see fit.

Dear  _______,

My name is (___________________) and I am a parent living in Prince George’s County.  Having heard about the county’s recent increase in revenue, I write to you today requesting that the Prince George’s County Public Schools set aside funds this year to further expand specialty programs.  I support school CEO Maxwell’s recent expansion of these programs but believe even more should be done.  Specialty programs provide some of the best opportunities for education in the county, and I am troubled that only a lucky few who win a “lottery” have these opportunities available to them.  For example, this year the waitlist number for kindergarten entry to Dora Kennedy French Immersion school reached 410.

County Executive Baker and other county officials have made it clear that one of their primary goals is for Prince George’s County to attract middle class families back into its school system. Specialty programs allow parents who are dissatisfied with their neighborhood schools an opportunity to find an acceptable public option in the county.  While I appreciate the incremental improvements in the school system in recent years, for many parents this is not enough.  Specialty schools provide an existing, proven model to build on.  Many parents who have the financial means and do not gain entry into a lottery program send their children to private schools or leave the County altogether.  An expansion of the specialty schools programs encourages these parents to remain in the school system and remain engaged.

It is also critical that specialty programs be expanded for middle and high schools.  The County’s middle and high schools suffer from a poor reputation in comparison with other school systems in the region.  Older students are more aware of their academic interests and would benefit more from specialized programs tailored to interests such as STEM or languages.

Specialty programs also present an opportunity for the County to fill neighborhood schools that are currently under-enrolled and may be closed under the County’s “Master Plan.”   Why not plan on incorporating specialty programs into some of these under-enrolled schools and give them a second chance to thrive?  As enrollment increases more of these facilities will be needed.

I thank you for your time and hope that you will consider these suggestions as we try to give children in this county the education they deserve.

Sincerely,

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