Lori Danley’s Testimony at DC’s State Board of Education Public Meeting
Lori Danley
Community Member
Education Reform Now Advocacy D.C.
Public Meeting
Good evening DC State Board of Education (SBOE) Representatives. My name is Lori Danley, and I live in Ward 6. I’m here as a community member for Education Reform Now Advocacy D.C., a non-profit organization fighting for a just and equitable public education system for all D.C. students. Today, I’m here to advocate for the State Board of Education to introduce a resolution to expand secondary college and career pathways, which are crucial for our high school students.
From my experience as a community member, I’ve seen how the lack of opportunity after high school contributes to undesirable situations within my community. This stems from a loss of hope in our youth and feelings of disenfranchisement after high school.
Every student wants to succeed, but most do not know how. If the path to success is unclear for them, life after high school becomes less inspiring. With no way to progress in sight, he or she is now vulnerable to eventual extreme hardship. I believe the answer to student success and the success of my community is dependent on providing secondary pathways for our youth.
Preparation to enter society as a fully functioning and capable adult is vital. We must provide opportunities for our students that help them see a way forward after high school. Dual enrollment provides an entryway to college, which lays the foundation for the successful completion of secondary education. When one sees a way to success that they perceive as achievable, they are motivated to strive for it.
Not all students will want to go to college, but this does not mean that they are any less capable of acquiring the skills needed to earn a good living. These opportunities should be provided while in high school, and our communities need them. When you see a way forward, you are inspired and driven to strive for this success. Having a pathway that will equip our students to enter the workforce in high-demand and high-earning positions makes a difference. It not only makes a difference in the lives of the students but also the lives of the community.
If you have two students, one with a clear path to a solid productive future and one who does not see a positive future ahead, we have failed the latter. We have done our communities a disservice and consciously contributed to a future community of disenfranchised citizens. We must be a part of the solution by providing optimal opportunities for our students, they are the future of our community.
Here’s what’s happening right now:
Only 18 out of 100 ninth graders in D.C.’s 2011-12 cohort completed a postsecondary degree within six years of high school graduation.1
Approximately 7% (1300) of our students are participating in dual enrollment.2 There are 19,625 students in grades 9-12 who could benefit. We must ask ourselves why and solve this problem.
Washington D.C., the nation’s capital, is in the lower ranks with regard to dual enrollment access. Again the question is why?
Failing to provide secondary pathways to college and career for our students contributes to issues we do not want, such as having higher unemployment and a population of people who feel disenfranchised which sometimes leads to depression as they begin to grapple with not having opportunities to provide for themselves after high school.
Here are the steps we suggest:
Looking ahead to next year, we must begin to address the inequities in our public education system regarding preparing students for life after high school. That’s why we’re asking the SBOE to provide our high school students with a positive way forward by providing secondary pathways in high school. This plan will:
Tell more students and families about these programs so they know they can join.
Set aside money to help colleges offer these classes to high school students either at their schools or on college campuses.
Keep track of how students do in these programs to make sure they’re working.
Incentivize employers to hire DC students in high-demand, high-wage careers by establishing a fund for employers to receive support for hiring DC students and allowing them to earn points towards the First Source law.
We are urging the D.C. State Board of Education to introduce a resolution that will create secondary pathways for the students of Washington, D.C. Having opportunities to receive formal education and on-the-job training provides a firm foundation for our students as they head out into the world. Thank you for considering this important issue. I’m ready to provide any additional details or help needed.
###
1: DC Policy Center. Coffin, Chelsea and Julie Rubin. State of D.C. Schools, 2022-23: Challenges to pandemic recovery in a new normal. 8 March 2024. Source: https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/state-of-dc-schools-2022-23/.
2: Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education. “Strengthening Student Access and Success in Dual Enrollment in Washington, DC: Report and Recommendations.” December 11, 2023. Source: https://dme.dc.gov/publication/strengthening-student-access-and-success-dual-enrollment.
