Aug. 7, 2026, U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a resolution letter to Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) in Maryland after investigating a complaint involving a student with an individualized education program (IEP).
OCR styled the complaint as OCR Complaint No. 03-23-1279 and investigated the following allegation filed by the parent:
“[T]he District failed to make a reasonable modification to its policies when it denied the Student the opportunity to play on the School’s basketball team due to his grades, which were impacted by his disability.”
Before OCR completed its investigation, PGCPS expressed interest in resolving the complaint. The district voluntarily signed a resolution agreement with OCR Aug. 6, 2026. The agreement states that it “does not constitute an admission of liability, non-compliance, or wrongdoing by the District.” However, the agreement requires PGCPS to take specific actions.
What Happened
During the 2022-23 school year, the student received special education services under an IEP for specific learning disabilities.
According to OCR, “At the time of filing, the Complainant asserted the Student’s academic performance was on or about the [redacted content] grade level in reading, writing, and math.” The parent also told OCR that the student’s low grades were affected by his disability and prevented him from playing basketball.
The student’s February 2022 IEP said he loved basketball and spent much of his free time playing. Notes from a March 2023 IEP meeting said he wanted to raise his grade point average so he could play sports.
The family asked PGCPS to set aside its academic rule and let the student play. The principal denied the request because of the student’s academic standing. The parent said that happened around Nov. 15, 2022.
PGCPS told OCR that it hadn’t allowed any student who failed to meet the academic rule to take part in athletics.
The Academic Eligibility Rule
At the time, PGCPS Administrative Procedure 5122 required high school students to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average to take part in school sports and other activities.
The procedure allowed no exemptions, waivers or probation periods. A family could appeal only by challenging a course grade.
Administrative Procedure 5146 said students covered by Section 504 had the same chance to take part in activities as other students. It said a student’s 504 plan could include needed accommodations. It also states that “Students with disabilities must meet the same academic eligibility requirements as their non-disabled peers…”
The Grades Weren’t the Whole Story
During the same school year, the family raised concerns that PGCPS wasn’t adequately addressing the student’s needs under his IEP. The family filed a complaint with Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) alleging the district had denied the student a FAPE.
PGCPS voluntarily agreed to resolve that complaint by providing 60 hours of reading instruction and 30 hours of instruction and tutoring in math and written language. The family accepted the offer. The state considered the complaint resolved as of Feb. 28, 2023.
OCR specifically noted that the information it reviewed in the student’s March 2023 IEP “did not indicate whether the Student’s grades were impacted by any potentially denied FAPE services or if the grades were adjusted after the Student received compensatory services.”
