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DC State Board of Education Announces Release of the 2014 Annual Report for the Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Jesse B Rauch, Executive Director, 202.741.0884

DC STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF THE 2014 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

Washington, DC -- The Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education announces the release of the 2014 Annual Report, which is publicly available on the State Board of Education website located at http://sboe.dc.gov/annualreports. The Report includes insights and data gleaned from the 150 cases that the office has resolved during its first six months of operation.

The recently re-established Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education is responsible for resolving complaints from students and their families regarding the District of Columbia's traditional public schools and public charter schools. In addition to addressing constituents' concerns, the Ombudsman’s office is also responsible for reporting on trends in the complaints received in order to help improve the delivery of educational services and inform policy solutions.

Some of the highlights of the Annual Report's recommendations include:

  • Schools should welcome parents as partners: Parents need to know that school staff welcome their participation in their children’s education and value their opinions.
  • Schools should share more information with parents and the community: Parents need full information about school policies, especially regarding the special education and discipline processes.

“The Ombudsman for Public Education is a great resource for students and parents trying to navigate the school bureaucracy and resolve any problems with DC schools,” said Judith Sandalow, Executive Director of Children’s Law Center.

“We are excited about the opportunity to share some of the work that we have done over the last six months of operation, and we look forward to our continued work within the education community,” said Joyanna Smith, the Education Ombudsman. “We encourage parents, students, and families to reach out to us with any concerns they may have about public education here in the District of Columbia.”

To submit a concern or complaint, contact the Office of the Ombudsman at 202.741.0886, or via email at [email protected]. Complaints also can be submitted through the State Board of Education’s website at www.sboe.dc.gov/ombudsman.
 

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