Board Policy 5114.1 - Students Exiting Before Attainment of Diploma or Certificate

I. Policy Statement

1. The Board of Education of Prince George’s County (Board) is committed to providing every Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) student with a premier education characterized by innovative, relevant, and accessible learning and development opportunities that build 21st-century competencies.
2. Maryland’s compulsory attendance law requires students to attend school until they reach age age 18. Whenever a student, 18 years of age or over, expresses an interest in terminating their formal education and withdrawing from school prior to graduation, the Board directs staff to make every possible effort to determine the underlying reason for the withdrawal and to encourage the student to remain enrolled in school or to participate in other educational options.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines that follow the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) for the withdrawal of students from PGCPS.

III. Definitions

1. Age of compulsory attendance – Each child who resides in Maryland and is 5 years old or older and under 18 shall attend a public school regularly during this entire school year.
2. Withdraw(al)/Drop out – A student who, for any reason other than death, leaves school before graduation or the completion of a Maryland-approved educational program (including a special education program), is not known to have enrolled in another school or State-approved program during a current school year and is over the age of compulsory attendance.

IV. Standards

1. Students will only be withdrawn from PGCPS in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Maryland Student Records System Manual, subject to COMAR and other applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
2. A school that learns of the intent of a student, who is at least age 18, to withdraw permanently shall implement the following steps:
   1. Provide the student with tiered interventions and supports to address the student’s individual needs;
   2. Encourage the student to remain enrolled in school or to participate in other educational options programs; and
   3. Conduct an educational exit interview with the student who intends to withdraw/drop out and/or their parent(s)/guardian(s) to verify the reason(s) for the student dropping out of school and ensure the parent(s)/guardian(s) is informed.

V. Implementation and Responsibilities

1. The Board directs the Superintendent to develop an administrative procedure to implement this policy.
2. The Superintendent shall submit an annual report to the Board by December 31 which includes the number of students who have withdrawn/dropped out of PGCPS during the previous school year and the reasons for the withdrawals/dropouts.

VI. References

1. LegalMD. CODE ANN., EDUC. 7-301
   Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.08.01.07
2. Other Board Policies
   Policy 5113 – Student Attendance, Absence, and Truancy
3. Other
   Maryland Student Records System Manual

I. History

Policy Adopted 5/20/71

Policy Amended 5/16/03

Policy Reviewed-No Revisions Required 11/9/04

Policy Reviewed-No Revisions Required 9/22/05

Policy Amended 4/29/10

Policy Amended 10/26/2023

About This Policy

Updated October 26, 2023.

Documents

• Board Policy 5114.1 - Students Exiting Before Attainment of Diploma or Certificate.pdf