Among the proposed $150 million in cuts for the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget are programs that impact Greenbelt. The proposed cuts would include an assistant principal position and a professional school counselor position at Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS), the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at middle schools, the Chinese language immersion program at Greenbelt Middle School, high school language immersion options that might have served students from the Chinese program at Greenbelt Middle or French immersion students graduating from Dora Kennedy French Immersion school in Greenbelt and the Summer Bridge program for students entering the Science and Technology program at ERHS.
Science and Tech Positions
The FY 2027 Operating Budget Snapshot on the PGCPS website highlights a proposed cut of a professional school counselor position and a program assistant principal position at each of three schools: ERHS, Charles Herbert Flowers High School and Oxon Hill High School, all listed incorrectly under the subheading of aeronautics at time of press. Meanwhile cuts at DuVal, which has an aeronautics program were listed under science and tech. The snapshot projects $1 million savings under science and tech and $0.3 million under aeronautics.
The reduction of an assistant principal and professional school counselor at ERHS aligns with the information Principal Dr. Portia Barnes has received, she told the News Review. However, District 2 Board Member Jonathan Briggs told the News Review that the PGCPS administration had committed to no layoffs and Briggs also said Interim Superintendent Shawn Joseph stated that staff will, at most, be moved to other roles if they are impacted.
Summer Bridge
The Summer Bridge program is a mandatory three-week course for students entering the county’s rigorous STEM-focused high school programs. According to a 2025 PGCPS press release they served nearly 700 incoming ninth graders in aerospace, engineering and aviation technology, and in science and technology. “The program blends academic preparation with peer connections and real-world STEM exposure, laying the groundwork for a confident transition into high school,” said a PGCPS description in August 2025. The programs emphasize hands-on experience and high school readiness, with guest speakers from the fields.
Last year’s Summer Bridge program culminated in the Innovators of Tomorrow Competition at the University of Maryland (UM), “where students pitched prototypes and took on engineering challenges amid a backdrop of school spirit,” with “real-world problems in challenges designed and judged by UM engineering students. Their solutions showcased the collaboration, creativity and critical thinking sharpened during Summer Bridge,” according to the PGCPS website. ERHS took home the top honors at last year’s competition.
“The Summer Bridge program continues to show strong outcomes, with attendance rates nearing 96 percent, measurable academic growth from pre- to post-assessment, and a notable boost in student confidence,” reported PGCPS last year, quoting one participant who said, “Without it, I would’ve been lost my freshman year.”
AVID
AVID is a college preparatory elective course offered to selected students to reinforce organizational and study skills, critical thinking, inquiry and collaboration. Students receive academic help from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities that make college access possible.
Immersion Program
The budget proposes a transition out of Chinese Immersion at Greenbelt Middle School. Rising grades 7 and 8 students will be able to continue as the final cohorts of the program. The high school immersion programs at Largo will accept no new students this fall so immersion students from other PGCPS schools will be unable to continue their program at the high school level. For more on the proposed cuts to immersion programs see the February 4 issue.
Remaining Timeline
The budget timeline has violated PGCPS policies that state it should have been presented in December (see the February 11 issue). The final public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for February 19, in a meeting combined with a board worksession, and the board is set to vote on the budget on February 26.
