ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

[photo, Sasscer Administration Building, 14201 School Lane, Upper Marlboro, Maryland]

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Educational matters that affect Prince George's County come under the control of the Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-401 through 4-403).

Sasscer Administration Building, 14201 School Lane, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, October 2004. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Formerly composed of fourteen members, the Board of Education's membership changed effective July 1, 2024 (Chapter 793, Acts of 2023). Since that change, the Board has consisted of ten members: nine of them elected by the voters to four-year terms, and one student member, selected by the Prince George's Regional Association of Student Governments, who serves a one-year term (Code Education Article, secs. 3-1002 through 3-1004). The County Superintendent of Schools serves as executive officer, secretary, and treasurer of the Board (Code Education Article, sec. 4-102).

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Prince George's County Public School System is governed by the County Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-126). In addition, through the review and approval of the annual operating and capital budgets, Prince George's County government exercises authority over the County Public Schools. Moreover, through the establishment and monitoring of various financial and academic policies and regulations, the State Department of Education also has considerable oversight of county public schools. Indeed, under Maryland law, the State Department of Education works with county public schools to comply with requirements and mandates of federal law.

Among the 24 public school systems in Maryland, Prince George's County public schools rank 2nd in student enrollment with 128,777 students enrolled in Fiscal Year 2021. The County has 207 schools: 24 high schools, 24 middle schools, 121 elementary schools, 12 combined schools, 9 charter schools and 17 other schools, including vocational and special education schools, alternative centers and programs.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
From 1916 to 2013, the Superintendent of Schools administered the Prince George's County Public School System; however, effective April 9, 2013, the Chief Executive Officer assumed these responsibilities (Code Education Article, secs. 4-102; 4-202 through 4-206; Chapter 147, Acts of 2013).

From a list of three nominees recommended by the Search Committee, the County Executive selects the Chief Executive Officer. After contract terms have been negotiated, the Board of Education appoints the Chief Executive Officer to a four-year term (Code Education Article, sec. 4-201.1; Chapter 147, Acts of 2013).

A Search Committee was convened in 2013 and again in 2019.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Founded in 1958, Prince George's Community College is based in Largo. College extension centers, however, are found throughout the County: at University Town Center in Hyattsville, Laurel College Center in Laurel, and Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs.

BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES

The Board consists of eight members. Seven are appointed to five-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. A student member, elected by the College student body, serves a one-year term. The President of Prince George's Community College serves as secretary/treasurer to the Board (Code Education Article, sec. 16-414 through 16-417).

MEMORIAL LIBRARY SYSTEM

Established in 1946, the Prince George's County Memorial Library System is the public library for Prince George's County. The System includes nineteen branch libraries: Accokeek (1953), Baden, Beltsville, Bladensburg, Bowie, Fairmount Heights, Glenarden, Greenbelt (1955), Hillcrest Heights, Hyattsville (1964), Largo-Kettering, Laurel (1967), Mount Rainier, New Carrollton, Oxon Hill (1967), South Bowie (2013), Spauldings (1987), Surratts-Clinton, and Upper Marlboro.

Upper Marlboro Branch Library, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, 14730 Main St., Upper Marlboro, Maryland, September 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Baden Branch Library. In Brandywine, the Baden Branch Library was renovated in 2023-24, nearly doubling the size of the original library next door. At 13601 Baden Westwood Road, the newly renovated library reopened in February 2024.

Bladensburg Branch Library. This Library formerly housed the Bladensburg Elementary School from 1925 to 1978.

Hyattsville Branch Library. The first Library in the County to be built by the County, the Hyattsville Branch Library also holds the Library System's administrative offices.

Laurel Branch Library. The Stanley Memorial Library is the Laurel Branch Library. Opened in 1967, it was named after the family of Charles H. Stanley, who served as a member of the Laurel Board of Commissioners (1880-82), as Mayor of Laurel (1891-93), and as Comptroller of Maryland (1911-12).

Spauldings Branch Library. Located in District Heights, the Spauldings Branch Library also serves Capital Heights, Forestville, and Suitland. In 1947, it opened in the basement of the Presbyterian Church on Gateway Boulevard. At its present site on Old Silver Hill Road, it opened in 1987.

Upper Marlboro Branch Library. Library holdings are housed in the former Town Post Office (1931-90), which closed in 1990, and was renovated for use as the Library.

[photo, Bowie Branch Library, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, 15210 Annapolis Road, Bowie, Maryland]

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES

Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the seven members of the Board of Library Trustees serve five-year terms (Code Education Article, secs. 23-401; 23-403 through 23-407; County Code, secs. 2-127 through 2-128.01).

Bowie Branch Library, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, 15210 Annapolis Road, Bowie, Maryland, September 2017. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

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