DFER DC Statement on the Mayor’s Proposed FY2024 Budget

WASHINGTON (March 23, 2023) — In response to Mayor Bowser’s proposed Fiscal year 2024 Budget, Jessica Giles, Executive Director of Democrats for Education Reform D.C. (DFER D.C.), released the following statement:

“We applaud Mayor Muriel Bowser for funding all of DFER D.C.’s FY 2024 budget priorities, including:

• 5.05% increase to the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula foundation;

• 3.1% increase to the public charter school facilities allotment;

• Salary increases and retroactive payments for D.C. public charter school teachers; and

• Investments in school-based behavioral health, Out of School Time, safe passage, restorative justice, and High-Impact Tutoring programming,” Giles stated.

Giles continued, “We are concerned, however, that the proposed budget does not include increased investments that will ensure all K-5th grade educators are trained in structured literacy, all high school students have access to dual enrollment opportunities who want them, and all public charter school educators receive salary increases and retroactive payments.”

“We need increased investments in these areas for several reasons. Only 26% of students performed at or above the NAEP Proficiency level in 2022, compared to 30% in 2019. Only 8 out of 100 9th-grade students will now complete postsecondary within six years of high school graduation compared to 14 pre-pandemic. And, as proposed, D.C. public charter schools do not receive equivalent funding to D.C. Public Schools to support their students and educators,” Giles said.

“In the coming weeks, we will continue to work with all our elected officials to ensure the FY 2024 budget is just and equitable,” Giles said.

Read our full priorities here. For questions, contact: dferdc@dfer.org.

About Democrats for Education Reform D.C.

DFER D.C. is dedicated to eliminating racial inequity and discrimination in the D.C. public education system by supporting leaders who champion student-centered policies. More information can be found on our website at www.dferdc.org.