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State Board of Education President Testifies at DC Council in Response to PERAA Report Findings

Monday, June 22, 2015

Contact: Jack Jacobson, President, (202)741-0888

(Washington, DC) - Jack Jacobson, President of the DC State Board of Education, testified at the June 22 DC Council Committee on Education’s hearing regarding the findings of the DC Auditor report An Evaluation of the Public Schools of the District of Columbia: Reform in A Changing Landscape. President Jacobson’s testimony is part of a larger roundtable hosted by the DC Council’s Committee on Education, continuing a conversation on the Summative Evaluation of Public Schools in the District of Columbia as required by the Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007 (PERAA).

The report evaluated the multifaceted landscape of the District’s public education system, commended the progress that has been made since the 2007 passage of PERAA, and made actionable recommendations to ensure continued success in making data available to stakeholders, ensuring equity, and measuring instructor effectiveness.

President Jacobson testified alongside the Ombudsman for Public Education, Joyanna Smith, whose office is housed under the State Board. President Jacobson praised the work of the Ombudsman’s office in resolving parent complaints since the office was reintroduced last year. Both Jacobson and Smith agreed that recommendations in the report are a high priority.

President Jacobson’s testimony went on to clarify the State Board’s responsibilities and autonomy from the Office of the State Superintendent, in response to an error in the report. He also cited the Board’s crucial role in the District’s Race to the Top grant, and adoption of both the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

The roundtable was held at 11 am in Hearing Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. For members of the general public who were unable to physically attend the hearing, a livestreamed video of the hearing will be made available here.