Prince George's Schools Announce 8th Day Of An Altered Schedule

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Schools will remain closed on Tuesday for students and staff. This is the eighth day that Prince George's County Public Schools have been closed due to the weather and road conditions.

Administrative offices will open two hours late. All central office employees are to report after the two-hour late start, as are 12-month school-based employees.

"Decisions regarding school operations are guided by one unwavering obligation: ensuring that no student, staff member or family member is placed in harm’s way. Today, PGCPS leadership joined county officials for an aerial assessment of conditions across the region. While our facilities teams have worked tirelessly to clear school parking lots and entrances, the aerial review confirmed significant safety concerns," the school district stated.

The district stated that not every sidewalk in the 500-square-mile area has been cleared, even with help from county crews.

"Prince George’s County is expansive with many schools embedded in neighborhoods with narrow roads and tight turns. With more than 40,000 students who walk to school and more than 1,000 buses operating daily, persistent icing on neighborhood streets and sidewalks continues to pose a serious safety risk," officials said. "This unprecedented weather event requires us to consider virtual instruction to maintain instructional continuity. Under Maryland regulations, formal virtual learning requires a minimum of four hours of daily synchronous (live) instruction."

Officials said they are in the process of finalizing a formal virtual learning plan that meets all state requirements and takes into account technology access for students. State law requires such a plan to be presented publicly, leaders said, so it will be proposed at an emergency board of education meeting Wednesday.

In the meantime, below is how the district plans to support families and keep students engaged during closures while the formal plan is finalized:

Academic Engagement: Starting Tuesday, grade-level instructional materials will be available for kindergarten through 12th grade students to use at home. "While this does not yet constitute formal virtual learning, it ensures continued learning and academic engagement," the district stated. Families will receive instructions via email on how to access these materials and students can use personal devices to log in.

Ensuring Equity: The district is currently assessing the need for PGCPS Chromebooks that families can sign out for temporary use during virtual learning. Parents and guardians can submit a request if a device is needed.

Food Distribution: If schools remain closed, grab-and-go meal service will resume Wednesday at select school sites to support students who rely on school meals for daily nutrition.

"We deeply appreciate the patience, flexibility and trust you have shown during this difficult period. Our goal is to return students to safe, welcoming school environments as soon as conditions allow. Until then, we remain committed to providing high-quality virtual learning as a bridge back to in-person instruction," the district stated.