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Appeals

The Office of Appeals supports and undergirds the priority goals of the Prince George’s County Public Schools.
14201 School Lane
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Meeting table
Phone No.
Fax No.
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Reports To:

Contact Information

Email: appeals.office@pgcps.org

Note: if you are appealing a decision that the Office Of Appeals has made please send appeal to board.appeals@pgcps.org.

The Office of Appeals is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Robyn Seabrook, Esq.
Senior Hearing Administrator
Amana Simmons, Esq.
Hearing Administrator
Joeday Newsom, Esq.
Hearing Administrator
Anthony Boyd
Court Liaison
Melissa Covington
Case Manager
Patti Phillips
Secretary III

About Us

The Office of Appeals supports and undergirds the priority goals of the Prince George’s County Public Schools. The largest percentage of program operations support the Quality Schools Program Strategic Plan Goal 4: All students will be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug free, and conducive to learning. The Office seeks to provide the leadership and objective, impartial decision-making necessary to uphold Board of Education policies and school Administrative Procedures related to its functions.

The Office of Appeals:

  • hears and renders decisions on many types of student appeals, and certain personnel matters ; 
  • represents the Chief Executive Officer at appeals before  the Board of Education; 
  • processes requests for expulsions and rescissions of expulsions; and
  • maintains statistics on all cases.

Note: The Office of Appeals does not process appeals of short-term suspensions and 2.0 QPA waivers.

Learn More

Expulsion Process

Below is a list of the Level V infractions for which an expulsion can be requested.

  • Arson/Fire
  • Bomb threat
  • Physical Attack on an another student  with serious bodily injury
  • Physical Attack on an adult
  • Distribution of alcohol, drugs or prescription drugs
  • Group Fight which results in serious bodily injury or a substantial disruption to the school day
  • Physical Attack on Prince George’s County Public Schools employee
  • Possession, Use, or Distribution of Explosives (does not include small fireworks)
  • Possession or Use of Weapons or Instrument Used as Such
  • Sexual Attack
  • Threat of mass violence

If the decision is made to request expulsion of a student, the parent/guardian will be contacted by the school. If there are sufficient grounds to consider expulsion, the student and his/her parent/guardian will be invited to an expulsion conference. At this conference, the principal will present evidence to support the expulsion request. The student and his/her parent or guardian will also have the chance to present evidence, both in writing and by witness testimony,  providing reasons why the student should not be expelled. The student may be represented by an attorney. Following the conference, the Office of Appeals, as the Chief Executive Officer’s  designee, will issue a written decision.

If the parent/guardian disagrees with the CEO’s decision, a written appeal may be filed within ten (10) days with the Prince George’s County Board of Education via U.S. mail at 14201 School Lane, Room 121, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772 or via email at board.appeals@pgcps.org

Make-up Work

A student must be provided with daily class work and assignments  while serving suspension, unless other educational options are provided. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to make arrangements for the receipt and return of all assignments. 

Transfer Request Denied by the Office of Student Records and Transfers

If the Office of Student Records and Transfers denies a transfer request, the parent or guardian may appeal the decision in writing to the Office of Appeals, acting as Designee of the Chief Executive Officer.  The Office of Appeals must receive an  appeal within five (5) days’ of the date of the decision letter from the Office of Student Records and Transfers.  The appeal should state the reason for seeking a review of the decision and should include any additional information for consideration. The Office of Appeals will conduct a review of the matter and issue a decision on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer. 

If the Office of Appeals denies the appeal, the parent or guardian may appeal the decision to the Board of Education.  The appeal must be made in writing and received by the Board of Education office within ten (10) days’ of the decision letter from the Office of Appeals.  If there is additional information in the appeal to the Board, the Office of Appeals will be given an opportunity to respond in writing, and shall provide a copy of its response to the parent/guardian, before the Board considers the appeal. The Board of Education’s decision will be rendered in writing.