Friday, October 14, 2022
Washington, D.C.—The D.C. State Board of Education (State Board) will hold its monthly public meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. The public meeting will be held in-person in the Old Council Chambers in the Marion S. Barry, Jr. Building (441 4th Street NW), and streamed live via District Knowledge Network (DKN). Materials for the State Board meetings can be found on our website.
The State Board welcomes a panel on public safety in the District to discuss the safety of students and communities—and the need for direct, immediate action by the District to address these issues. The State Board will expand upon its discussions from its September 7 and October 12 Working Sessions. At this time the State Board has confirmed the following expert panelists:
- Dan Davis, Chief Student Advocate, Office of the Student Advocate (OSA)
- Allen James. Section Chief for Violence Reduction, Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
The State Board also calls on students to testify on the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) recently shared proposal to stagger the community service hours requirement, make accommodations for transfer students, and to more clearly define what is meant by “community service”. Any student who wished to testify should notify Board staff in advance by phone at 202-741-0888, email at [email protected], or by form no later than 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
The State Board will also consider the following resolutions:
CR22-30, Recognizing National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month honors the courage and resilience of survivors and the dedication of advocates and service providers working to help prevent and address domestic violence and create a culture that refuses to tolerate abuse. The State Board recognizes and observes National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and works towards promoting quality preventative education in all levels of school to raise awareness and thwart continued instances of domestic violence.
CR22-31, Recognizing Dyslexia Awareness Month
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month provides the nation the opportunity to turn its attention to the one in five students who learn differently because they have learning and/or attention difficulties and helps to raise awareness among school leaders, educators, parents, and communities about how to create and foster a world where children with learning disabilities are understood, valued, and able to thrive. The State Board recognizes and values the importance of the universal design for learning; providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression for all learners to be and feel included and successful.
CR22-32, Recognizing National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month provides resources and education to schools and communities to prevent childhood bullying and encourages unity through acceptance, inclusion, and kindness. The State Board recognizes and observes National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month and works to inform preventative education to create safe-learning environments and increase community safety among youth.
CR22-33, Celebrating National Principals Month
Each October, state and local leaders, teachers and other school-based staff, students, parents, and community members come together to celebrate and honor the tireless work and dedication principals provide in the pursuit of ensuring a quality education for every student. The State Board recognizes National Principals Month—and all of the hard working principals that serve our schools, students, and communities.
SR22-8, On Amending Committees & Appointments
The State Board will consider the appointment of SY22–23 Student Representatives to its standing committees, as well as the appointment of Ward 2 Representative Allister Chang to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) Literacy Taskforce.
SR22-9, Recommendations on Strengthening Teacher Retention and Workforce Data
Since 2018, the State Board has prioritized the issue of teacher retention through several reports, surveys, legislation, and advocacy and has pushed for better and more accessible teacher data, as there is still no publicly-accessible statewide data system that tracks information on all teachers in District schools. Such data would allow school leaders and policymakers to identify teacher retention and attrition patterns, and to develop solutions that address both system-wide issues and individual school needs. The State Board calls on the Council of the District of Columbia to adopt the “Statewide Educational Data Warehouse Amendment Act of 2021” (B24-0355) to ensure that data relevant to understanding the nature of teacher retention across the District’s public schools are available annually and publicly.
SR22-10, On the Timely Settlement of the WTU Contract
Research shows that teaching longevity is positively associated with student achievement gains throughout a teacher’s career, and that a teacher’s effectiveness increases at a greater rate when they teach in a supportive and collegial working environment. The State Board urges a prompt resolution be negotiated between the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) and DC Public Schools (DCPS) based on the values of centering students, improving teachers’ working conditions, and supporting teacher retention. The State Board will continue to advocate for school-wide conditions that support student learning, such as ensuring teachers have a fair living wage and adequate planning time, and ensuring schools are well-resourced.
SR22-11, On Submission of Letter to D.C. Education Research Collaborative
The State Board strongly supports independent research on the District’s schools and education. Over the past few years, the State Board has amplified and led work related to understanding teacher retention, ensuring culturally-inclusive social studies standards, engaging stakeholders on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), amplifying student voice and the effects of the COVID pandemic on them, and unpacking perceptions about the District’s system of education governance. The State Board urges the D.C. Education Research Collaborative to include a focus on early reading instruction, and especially on the implementation of the Council of the District of Columbia Bill 23-150 into its work and 5-year research plan and to include a focus on evaluating COVID-19 recovery efforts and learning acceleration into its work and 5-year research plan.
Public Meeting Agenda
Please note that the agenda may be altered, modified, or updated without notice.
I. Call to Order
II. Announcement of a Quorum
III. Approval of the Agenda & Retreat Minutes
IV. Comments from the President of the D.C. State Board of Education
V. Comments from the State Superintendent of Education
VI. Public Safety Panel
i. Dan Davis, Chief Student Advocate, Office of the Student Advocate
ii. Allen James, Section Chief for Violence Reduction, Office of the Attorney General
VII. Public Comment
i. Kichelle Coleman
ii. Allyson Criner Brown
iii. Scott Goldstein
iv. Samantha Bertocchi
VIII. Administrative Items (VOTE)
i. CR22-30, Recognizing National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
ii. CR22-31, Recognizing Dyslexia Awareness Month
iii. CR22-32, Recognizing National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
iv. CR22-33, Celebrating National Principals Month
v. SR22-8, On Amending Committees & Appointments
vi. SR22-9, Recommendations on Strengthening Teacher Retention and Workforce Data
vii. SR22-10, On the Timely Settlement of the WTU Contract
viii. SR22-11, On Submission of Letter to D.C. Education Research Collaborative
IX. New Business
X. Adjournment
About the D.C. State Board of Education
The D.C. State Board of Education is an independent agency within the Government of the District of Columbia that advises the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the District’s state education agency. The State Board is made up of nine elected representatives, each representing their respective wards, with one member representing the District at large, and four appointed student representatives. The State Board approves statewide education policies and sets academic standards, while OSSE oversees education within the District and manages federal education funding. More information about the SBOE can be found at sboe.dc.gov.
The Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education serves as an external, impartial resource for current and prospective public-school students and their parents or guardians in the resolution of complaints and concerns regarding public education in a way that furthers the students’ best interest. The Ombudsman’s Office uses conflict resolution strategies, including coaching, facilitation, and mediation, to assist families and schools experiencing disagreement or conflict.
The Office of the Student Advocate supports students, parents, and families in their advocacy through parent education, one-on-one coaching, resource supports, and trainings in order to amplify the voices of families and communities in processes and decision-making; to provide avenues for access to resources and understanding systems; and to support power families and communities already possess. Contact the Office of the Student Advocate Monday through Friday at (202) 741-4692 for questions or support with charter and neighborhood schools.
Contact: Milayo Olufemi
202-710-4641