I joined in the Twitter chat last night and there were some interesting things that were brought up. One was that they requested 60 additional TAG MS seats for the FY-18 budget. They did not give any more details on where these slots would be and if it would mean a new Center in the Eastern part of the county like Bowie.

Anonymous wrote:I'll join the twitter chat to ask about addressing the need for more seats in the TAG middle school programs. If they did that so many more families would join PGCPS.

Me too! And I'm hoping to attend one of the open board meetings to bring up this issue. If they can expand language immersion they can expand TAG. I didn't see it in the budget this year but they really need to open a new TAG MS center.

I'll join the twitter chat to ask about addressing the need for more seats in the TAG middle school programs. If they did that so many more families would join PGCPS.

I got an email on Jan 5 from PGCPS:

STUDENTS OFFERED MORE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH SPECIALTY PROGRAMS

The 2017-2018 Application is available NOW through March 13, 2017. Click here to apply - http://specialty.pgcps.org/Home

Prince George’s County Public Schools offers several specialty programs that provide a range of unique subjects, activities and/or learning opportunities as an enhancement of choice for our community.

Through the PGCPS lottery process, parents and students have an opportunity to secure an available seat. Due to space limitations, admission is determined by a random placement lottery. Applications are available to all students who reside in Prince George’s County. Specialty programs have specific boundaries. All school assignments through lottery are based on a student’s home address.

Program choices and entrance criteria:

Program Name, Grade(s), Entrance Criteria

Creative and Performing Arts, K-5, Age 5 by September 1 (Kindergarten) or Age 6 by September 1 (1st grade)

French Immersion, K only, Age 5 by September 1

Montessori, Pre-K, Age 3 or 4 by September 1; K-8, Must be currently enrolled in a full-day certified Montessori school

Spanish Immersion/Dual Language, K only, Age 5 by September 1

Talented and Gifted, 2-8, Students must be TAG-identified before placement in a specialty program.

**Early entrance options do not apply to Specialty Programs.

Twitter Chat on Lottery Programs

Join PGCPS for a Twitter Chat on Monday, January 9 to learn about the district’s lottery application process. We will answer general questions about the specialty programs available to families and how the lottery process works.

The chat will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. You may submit questions before or during the chat. Contact communications@pgcps.org by Monday, January 9 (by noon) to submit questions in advance. We will answer as many questions as possible! Join the conversation on Twitter at #PGCPSLottery. If this is your first time participating in a Twitter Chat, please read this.
Tweet to spread the word: Join @pgcps to discuss the specialty programs lottery process on 1/9 at 6p #PGCPSLottery: http://bit.ly/2iETm3o