On Friday, January 17, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Superintendent Millard House II shared a statement of commitment to “safe and supportive schools,” and though it did not mention the incoming president or the inauguration, his accompanying video message spoke of “a new chapter ahead for our nation,” and the written statement spoke of standing on “the brink of change,” “transition” and “uncertainty,” while clearly seeking to address the fears of immigrant families. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that every child – regardless of background, language or country of origin – receives a high-quality education in a safe, welcoming environment,” stated House, who also said, “at this time, schools remain considered secure locations under federal law,” and “we do not anticipate Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity on school grounds.”
PGCPS stands in solidarity with families who “feel unsettled right now,” read the statement. “It is important for our families to know the following: Every child has the right to a free public school education, regardless of immigration status. Our commitment to this fundamental principle is unwavering. PGCPS does not track the immigration status of students or their families.
Our schools are safe spaces for all children. Families can feel confident sending their children to school each day, knowing that PGCPS is committed to protecting their right to learn in a secure, supportive environment.”
The school board has had proactive conversations about coming changes since the fall, said District 2’s Board of Education Member Jonathan Briggs. Speaking to the News Review toward the end of the fall semester, Briggs said, “We have a significant Latinx population and them feeling safe in schools with the possibility of a lot of challenging policies that may be coming their way, there’s a deep focus there.” The Census Bureau’s population estimate for July 1, 2024, shows Greenbelt as 17.1 percent Hispanic or Latino and 28.0 percent foreign born. PGCPS student demographics as of September 30, 2023, report 52,606 Hispanic/Latino students, who make up 40.7 percent of the student population. According to Briggs, for District 2, of which Greenbelt is part, over half the school population is Latino/Hispanic. “We were already dealing with a number of families that were not necessarily undocumented but that were just not feeling comfortable coming to the school because of … policy stances.” Briggs said the school board wants to ensure enrollment trends don’t decrease, expressing some concern about what the coming year could look like.
Briggs also noted another potential consequence of a new administration with an anti-immigration platform is less willingness among families to provide information, which can in turn impact schools’ funding. Schools receive federal financial assistance to support low-income students under the Title I program, for example. “As you think about the federal dollars that schools receive, whether it’s Title I funding or other protected populations that are covered by federal dollars, making sure that … families feel comfortable providing that information so that schools get those dollars [is a priority],” said Briggs. “Because as the state is faced with the budget shortfall, the last thing we need is schools not getting all the necessary funding … especially based on their student population, because people are fearful of submitting documents … because they’re scared of … being identified and having family members that might be deported or things like that.”
Asked what he’d say to those afraid that school enrollment and official documentation could be dangerous for a family or make them more vulnerable to deportation, Briggs replied, “I know for a fact that the superintendent, the school board and our elected officials in Annapolis are all aligned on supporting some of our most vulnerable residents, and whatever may happen at the federal level, we still have a lot of power to determine what happens in the state of Maryland. I know that that’s really the goal … at all levels of government, everyone’s working at: to support those that are most in need.” The school district had been having those discussions during their Legislative Day on November 8 with a number of elected officials at the municipal, county and state level, said Briggs, “and we continue to have those discussions as a school board, with the superintendent.” Briggs suggested the district can consider best practices from states that have already navigated challenges with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or an influx of immigrant families, whether it be school board policies or advocacy at the state level. Briggs would like to see a thoughtful and well-prepared set of protections for those who may be concerned about what could happen next.