Prince George’s County Public Schools: A Districtwide Approach to Language Access

Prince George’s County Public Schools serve one of the most linguistically diverse student populations in the country. The district is home to more than 131,000 students, of whom more than 25% are multilingual learners, making it the 15th-largest English Language Development (ELD) program in the nation. The international student population represents 153 countries and speaks 197 languages. Every school in the district enrolls multilingual learners, so the Language Access Office helps ensure families feel welcome and understood from the moment they walk through the door.

Supporting that work is Dr. Melissa Kanney, the district’s English Language Development Supervisor, who oversees K–12 English language development instruction, assessment, professional learning and family engagement. When schools within the district began expressing interest in purchasing Pocketalk devices, Dr. Kanney and Dr. Jennifer Love, the district’s Director of Language Access, who oversees the district’s language access services, evaluated how Pocketalk could strengthen the district’s broader support system. “We wanted to make sure that the tools we chose supported students and families,” Dr. Kanney said.

Removing Barriers for Students in School Health Offices

Before Pocketalk, language barriers prevented students who did not speak English from explaining their symptoms or health concerns to a school nurse as well as participating in vision and hearing screenings. For a child who was sick, in pain or navigating a sensitive issue, sharing private details in front of peers added unnecessary stress. Dr. Kanney and Dr. Love wanted to be able to align resources to support these confidential health situations. “Students were bringing classmates to communicate a health concern, and that is not ideal when you are not feeling well or something personal is happening,” she said. “Pocketalk gives nurses a direct way to talk with students in their language, which protects privacy and helps them feel more comfortable.”

Pocketalk also met the district’s security and compliance requirements. Every interaction is protected by enterprise-level safeguards, including HIPAA, GDPR, COPPA, and FERPA standards. Pocketalk does not store translation data or leverage conversations to train AI systems, which gives staff confidence to use the devices in sensitive student conversations. These key benefits led the district to equip every nurse with a Pocketalk device.

Growing Schoolwide Adoption

Once Pocketalk devices began circulating, staff across the district saw how easily they could support multilingual families. Schools soon began purchasing additional units for their front offices, security teams and counselors. Dr. Kanney and Dr. Love’s teams manage 229 devices centrally, while individual schools have purchased many more, bringing the total well above 500 devices in active use.

Pocketalk is now used throughout the school day in informal family and student-support interactions where clear communication is essential, but calling an interpreter was not a practical resource. These include arrival and dismissal needs, health and safety questions, office check-ins and counseling support. Now staff can communicate quickly, efficiently and in the family’s preferred language. In the first year, the centrally managed devices facilitated 5,834 communicative instances, despite being used only in designated support roles.

Using Data to Strengthen Family Engagement

Ventana, Pocketalk’s administrative dashboard, allows the district to monitor which devices, locations, and roles use Pocketalk most frequently. Dr. Kanney and Dr. Love’s teams use this data to identify training needs, understand school-level trends, and ensure that staff who engage most often with multilingual families receive consistent support.

“Families want to feel welcomed from the moment they arrive,” Dr. Love said. Pocketalk helps support that goal by giving staff a simple way to initiate communication in the family’s home language. That first interaction sets a tone of respect and inclusion and helps families feel more confident as they navigate the school environment.

Part of a Layered Language Access System

Pocketalk complements the district’s existing language services, including its phone-based interpreter line and professional interpreters. Staff now use Pocketalk for the informal interactions that do not typically warrant calling an interpreter but still require prompt communication. Dr. Love said, “This device is about adding to the district’s language access cadre of resources, not replacing the critical human element.” Other services remain available for situations that require more comprehensive communication or formal support. This layered approach ensures students and families receive the right type of support at the right moment. The district trains staff on how and when to use each tool in its language access system and developed a guidance document to create a streamlined approach for utilizing this resource effectively. The result is a stronger, more intentional structure that supports both immediate communication needs.

A Thoughtful, Equity-Driven Rollout

The initial Pocketalk implementation was funded through Title III, and the district continues to explore how to expand access through school budgets and community school funding. Dr. Kanney and Dr. Love emphasized that their commitment to language equity remains strong, even as the district navigates broader financial uncertainties. Schools that adopted the devices have embraced them fully. Staff frequently share how Pocketalk has helped them support students and families, honoring language with clarity.

Helping Families Feel Seen, Heard and Supported

Pocketalk has helped Prince George’s County Public Schools uphold its core values of access, equitable engagement and inclusion. Staff can communicate informally with students and families immediately and confidentially,  which builds trust and creates more welcoming environments for multilingual learners and their families. Dr. Kanney summarized the impact simply. “Pocketalk gives our staff a direct way to talk with students and their families in their language, which helps them feel more comfortable and welcome.”

That comfort matters. It strengthens connections, removes unnecessary barriers and gives multilingual learners and their families a school experience where they feel understood. With Pocketalk in place, Prince George’s County Public Schools can welcome every family, honor every home language and serve every student with care and respect.