Although Prince George’s County is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation, for over half of the students in the area, low expectations and poverty are still a reality. That is why New Leader Principals focus on students in high-need schools. More than 60% of students in schools led by New Leaders are eligible for free and reduced lunch, while 30% are eligible in the rest of the district.
Recently, there has been some encouraging upward movement in student achievement in Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). For example, during the 2009-2010 school year, 121 out of 162 elementary and middle schools saw major increases in math scores, with 26 schools earning double-digit gains. Still, only 44.7 percent of eighth graders are at proficiency.
The more than 30 New Leaders currently working in PGCPS know that there is still significant work to be done.
Since 2007, New Leaders has become the primary external provider of high-quality leadership for PGCPS, making up 15 percent of all school leaders in the district.
Because of our strong partnership with PGCPS and the Maryland State Department of Education, those who successfully complete our Aspiring Principals Program are granted the state-mandated Administrator and Supervisor I credential. Ours is the first partnership program in the state and one of the first in the country to be granted this type of authority – a strong validation of our innovative training model that documents our alignment with the Maryland Instructional Leadership Framework.
There is an urgent need for great leaders to join our effort and accelerate student learning in Prince George’s County.
Prince George’s County is one of two New Leaders program sites in Maryland. For information on our work in Baltimore, click here.
