Jessica Giles’ Testimony to the DC Council Committee of the Whole’s Budget Oversight Hearing

Jessica Giles
Executive Director, DC
Education Reform Now Advocacy

DC Council Committee of the Whole’s Budget Oversight Hearing on:

• State Board of Education (including Student Advocate and Ombudsman)

• District of Columbia State Athletic Association

• Public Charter School Board

• Deputy Mayor for Education (Government Only)

• University of the District of Columbia

Good morning, Chairman Mendelson, Members, and Staff of the Committee  of the Whole. My name is Jessica Giles. I am a ward seven resident and the Executive Director of the D.C. Chapter of Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), an organization fighting for a just and equitable public education system for all students. With limited time today, I want to discuss two topics. 

Equitable Funding for Students

At ERNA, we prioritize students’ needs—no matter where they live or which school they attend. That is why we are particularly concerned about subtitle (IV)(A), which delays equitable funding between DCPS and public charter schools until fiscal year 2029 and subtitle (IV)(K), which repeals the public charter facility allowance after fiscal year 2025.

Subtitle (IV)(A) – Funding for Public Schools and Public Charter Schools Increase Amendment Act of 2024
This subtitle sets a bad precedent for the next four years and reverses DC Council’s incredible work last year to provide the same level of funding for schools across sectors. We urge you to strike this language.

Subtitle (IV)(K) – Charter School Facility Allowance Amendment Act of 2024
This subtitle repeals the public charter facilities allowance after next year. All students need safe, well-maintained buildings in order to learn. The facilities allowance helps schools make needed renovations and keep up with rising costs and inflation. We urge you to strike this language. 

Strengthening Student Supports at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC)

As D.C.’s only public university, UDC is a critical partner in ensuring residents are able to earn an affordable degree and launch a career that allows them to thrive. With low student enrollment (3,855 – Fall 2024, compared to 5,1188 – Fall 2014) and completion rates (35% combined for bachelor and associate degrees), it is imperative that UDC strengthen its student support services.1 ERNA’s affiliate organization, Education Reform Now DC released a report last November titled, “D.C.’s Quiet Crisis in College Access & Completion.”2 It enumerates several recommendations UDC should adopt and we are pleased that the University’s strategic plan is aligned with them.

• Launch a support model to incentivize on-time degree completion. 

• Provide grant-based aid sufficient to move part-time students to full-time status. 

• Provide student advising services that include fully utilizing early warning systems to target supports to students at risk of getting off track.

• Reduce student debt by eliminating loans for first-year students. 

• Establish articulation agreements within the University (Workforce Development & Lifelong Learning to associate to bachelor’s) and between the Community College and other local universities, so that students can transfer their credits and earn a bachelor’s degree or credential.

• Provide free corequisite courses with wraparound support.

• Immediately end the practice of withholding student records and transcripts. 

• Deepen dual enrollment investments.

The Mayor’s proposed budget includes three student-first investments that are important, and we hope to hear more discussion about them today:

• $1.65 million to maintain a scholarship program at the University of the District of Columbia for residents who seek a career pathway within behavioral health

• $1.1 million for UDC to bolster student success and outcomes 

• $4 million in capital improvements for a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that will enhance the University’s ability to attract, enroll, retain, and graduate the District’s residents

We would also like to hear more from UDC about their efforts to expand dual enrollment and whether the proposed budget supports this. Thank you for allowing me to testify today. I am available for any questions you may have.

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1 University of the District of Columbia. “2024 UDC Performance Oversight Hearing Responses.” 22 February 2024. Source: https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hearings/242
2 Education Reform Now DC. “D.C.’s Quiet Crisis in College Access & Completion.” 1 November 2023. Source: https://edreformnow.org/2023/11/01/new-report-highlights-d-c-s-quiet-crisis-in-college-access-completion/

Giles’ Testimony on B25-342, PR 25-300

DC Council’s Committee of the Whole Hearing:

B25-342, “Public Charter School Board Term Clarification Amendment Act of 2023”
PR 25-300, “Public Charter School Board Carisa Stanley Beatty Confirmation Resolution of 2023”

Jessica Giles
Executive Director
Education Reform Now DC

Good afternoon, Chairman Mendelson, members, and staff of the Committee of the Whole, my name is Jessica Giles. I am a ward seven resident and the Executive Director of Education Reform Now DC, a non-partisan, non-profit organization fighting for a just and equitable public education system for all DC students. I am pleased to provide testimony on B25-342, the “Public Charter School Board Term Clarification Amendment Act of 2023,” and PR25-300, the “Public Charter School Board Carisa Stanley Beatty Confirmation Resolution of 2023.”

B25-342, “Public Charter School Board Term Clarification Amendment Act of 2023”

As currently interpreted by law, newly-appointed DC Public Charter School Board (“Board”) members who are serving a partial term due to seat replacement may only have a short initial term of service, depending on the timing of this appointment. B25-342 offers a technical clarification of the term limits for Board members so that the newly appointed members replacing a former member can also serve up to two four-year terms.

We are supportive of this clarification. The Board plays a critical role in our public education ecosystem. They are the sole authorizer of 136 public charter schools run by 69 local education agencies serving 46,392 students, and they provide an essential oversight function. Because the Board consists of seven volunteer members, it is crucial that there are no vacancies and that there is as much continuity in service as possible. This is in the best interest of our students.

PR25-300, “Public Charter School Board Carisa Stanley Beatty Confirmation Resolution of 2023”

Ms. Carisa Stanley Beatty’s personal and professional experiences and unwavering commitment to our students and families make her an excellent addition to the board. Ms. Stanley Beatty is a parent, a Native Washingtonian, and a ward five resident. She has more than 20 years of professional experience in banking and finance and a B.S. in Business Administration, enabling her to provide a valuable lens in the Board’s oversight role to help ensure public charter schools fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities to their students.

Most importantly, Ms. Stanley Beatty has a heart for service. During her professional career, Ms. Stanley Beatty created DC Open Doors, a program that offers qualified homebuyers home purchase loans, and down payment. This program has helped many individuals and families live in safe, affordable homes in the District of Columbia. Further, Ms. Stanley Beatty has been an essential leader in her community. She has served as the President of the Washington, DC Chapter of the African American Real Estate Professionals and as a Mayoral appointee to the Washington DC Historic Preservation Review Board.

Thank you for allowing me to testify on B25-342 and PR25-300. I am available for any questions you may have.

ERN’s Statement on Charter Teacher’s Pay

Mayor Bowser Delivers on Higher Educator Pay  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cesar Toledo, Cesar@edreformnow.org 

Washington, D.C. (September 27, 2023) — In response to Mayor Bowser and OSSE’s distribution of more than $64 million to nearly 140 public charter schools in the first installment of the charter teacher pay program, Education Reform Now D.C., released the following statement:

“All students need great educators, and no matter which public school our students attend this year, their educators will receive historic pay raises and retroactive pay, “ said Jessica Giles, Executive Director of Education Reform Now D.C. “This year’s unprecedented investment in our educator workforce was possible because of Mayor Bowser and Chairman Mendelson’s commitment to equity and the retention of educators.” 

# # #

About Education Reform Now D.C. 

ERN D.C. is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank and advocacy organization fighting for a just and equitable public education system for all students in Washington, D.C. We seek progress in D.C. Public Schools and public charter schools by developing and advocating for systemic change to eliminate racial inequity and discrimination.

Teacher Compensation a Key Element of D.C. Council Budget Deliberations - Washington Informer

Other speakers at the “Stop the Change” Rally included D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), SBOE Representative Brandon Best (Ward 6), parent Latiya Loring and Jessica Giles, executive director of Educator Reform Now D.C. 

The rally took place weeks after charter sector leaders pushed back against Bowser’s budget proposal, which only provided matching Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) contract funds to public charter schools applying for grants requiring the online release of teacher salary and retention data. 

(read more)

Educators, parents rally for DC charter school funding - DC News Now

“We want to make sure that there is a change that happens now. We want to make sure there is a closing of the gap we are seeing in the funding. We want to make sure that we acknowledge and appreciate the hard work that our educators put in every day for our students,” said Jessica Giles, the Executive Director of Education Reform Now DC.

The “Stop The Shortchange Rally” took place on the steps of the Wilson Building and the rally came ahead of the Council’s important first vote on the budget scheduled for May 16

(read more)

ERN DC Testimony on the Mayor’s FY 2024 Budget Proposal

Jessica Giles
Executive Director
Education Reform Now D.C.

Committee of the Whole Budget Oversight Hearing:

● District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)
● Office of the State Superintendent of Education
● Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education
● District of Columbia Public Charter School Board
● D.C. State Board of Education
● Office of the Student Advocate
● Ombudsman for Education

Good morning Chairman Mendelson, members and staff of the Committee of the Whole. My name is Jessica Giles. I am a ward seven resident and the Executive Director of Education Reform Now D.C. (ERN D.C.). ERN D.C. is a non-profit organization fighting for a just and equitable public education system for all students in Washington, D.C.

The Mayor’s FY 2024 proposed budget prioritizes public education, making it the second largest investment in local operating funds to a tune of nearly $4 billion. There are several investments that we urge the D.C. Council to maintain:

● 5.05% increase to the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF) allows for a foundation level of $13,046 per student.
● 3.1% multi-year facilities allotment increase to provide charter schools with educationally appropriate buildings.
● $8M to sustain a multi-year investment in high-impact tutoring, an intervention that can produce dramatic gains in student learning.
● $9M for the Safe Passage Safe Blocks program. With gun violence at an all-time high, it is essential for the District to invest in strategies that will keep our school communities safe.
● A continued investment in restorative justice to allow for restoration, healing, and prevention when harm is caused.
● $17 million investments in Out of School (OST) Time programming to provide fun, safe, and enriching programs for our students, along with $5 million for My After School, $2.5 million for students with disabilities to more fully participate in OST, and $3.4 million for summer activities.
● $1.6M one-time funding to launch DC’s Education to Employment data project to help the District better understand how education programming sets DC students up for career success and ensures continuous career improvement.

Additionally, we would like to highlight three areas of concern:

I. Public charter schools will receive $187 million less than DCPS

DCPS and public charter schools must receive equal funding to provide all of our students with excellent services and support and attract and retain highly effective and diverse educators and school staff. However:

a. $39 million in proposed funding is directed to support DCPS outside of the per funding formula (ex. DCPS stabilization funding, Early Stages funding, and IMPACT bonuses). According to a recent poll, D.C. voters overwhelmingly support (71%) D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools receiving equal funding to support their students. See our press release  and poll here. 

b. $207 million will go to the Washington Teachers Union for their teachers, social workers, therapists, coaches, and other school personnel compared to the $59 million for the public charter school sector for teachers only. 431 (and counting) D.C. residents signed our petition  urging the Mayor and DC Council to provide an equivalent payment to public charter school educators for retropay and forward pay and for future salary increases to be sent to all public schools through the per-student funding formula.

When DCPS and the public charter sector are funded unequally, it sends a troubling message that our DCPS students matter more than our charter students. This funding
inequity is wrong, and the DC Council must make this right, including by ensuring payments are flexible and granted quickly and that future salary increases across both sectors are
reflected in the UPSFF.

II. No increase in investment in structured literacy training

Students have a right to read and we must set the expectation that all students will learn to read well and on grade level regardless of where in the city they live, what school they attend, and their ability or language-learning status. The reality, however, is that the percentage of students in the District of Columbia who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was only 26 percent in 2022.  This percentage was smaller than that in 2019 (30 percent) and was greater than that in 1998 (10 percent)  . Black and Hispanic students are 69 and 60 points lower than white students, respectively.  The percentage of students in District of Columbia who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 22 percent in 2022.  This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2019 (23 percent) and was greater than that in 1998 (11 percent).

We know the science of reading can help make a significant difference in the lives of our students. Currently, OSSE is slated to spend nearly $20M in federal funding on literacy investments between fiscal year 2022-2024. The Mayor allocated $1 million to provide 530 teachers in DCPS and public charter schools with structured literacy training for an additional 1,500 spots. While we appreciate the investment, there are two concerns:

a. If we continue to go at this incredibly slow pace, it will take several years for the District to ensure all elementary school educators receive this critical training. We urge the Committee of the Whole to ask OSSE when does it expect all elementary school teachers will receive structured literacy training?
b. Literacy innovation is funded solely by federal dollars. What happens when this funding is no longer available?

We encourage the D.C. Council to set aside funds to ensure that the District’s commitment to providing all educators with structured literacy training does not falter.

III. No increase in investment in dual enrollment

Every student must graduate from high school and receives a high-quality, affordable college education or the work-based experience and credentials necessary to immediately earn a livable wage. The reality is 51% of students enroll into a two or four-year college. 35% of students with disabilities, 33% of ELL, 35% of students designated as At-Risk. 910 8 out of 100 9th grade students in SY 2011-12 completed an associates or bachelors degree by 2022. 11 OSSE not disaggregated this information.

Dual enrollment has a significant effect on 2-year and 4-year college enrollment, degree attainment, and early labor market earnings 6 years after high school, with stronger effects for students who are traditionally underrepresented.  The DC Council can help ensure students in every high school receive dual enrollment opportunities who want them by expanding the Bard Sequence in the District. The Bard Sequence allows students to earn transferable college credits across a variety of courses taught by college faculty trained in early college pedagogy at the high school. Currently, two high schools offer this to their students, and we could expand it to more school campuses. The District must guarantee families an affordable and high-quality pathway to a college degree for every student who wants one.

Thank you for allowing me to testify.

DC Voters Overwhelmingly Support Equal Funding for DCPS and Public Charter Schools - AFRO News

Nearly 8 of 10 voters (79%) believe that the Mayor and D.C. Council should include a raise in compensation for DCPS and public charter school educators in this year’s budget. The same percentage of voters (79%) believe that the D.C. Council should maintain the 3.1% charter facilities allowance increase so public charter schools can continue to make rent or mortgage payments, complete major renovations or modernizations, and pay for utilities, repairs, and maintenance.

“These results underscore that D.C. voters want all our students to have high-quality public education options, educators who are fairly compensated, and schools that are modernized–whether students attend a traditional public school or public charter,” said Jessica Giles, Executive Director of ERN D.C. In the fiscal year 2024 budget, we urge the Mayor and D.C. Council to listen to voters and prioritize an equitable education for all students, which includes equal funding for DCPS and public charter schools.”

SurveyUSA interviewed 501 District of Columbia registered voters who voted in the November 2022 general election or the November 2020 general election. This research was conducted between Feb. 20, 2023 and Feb. 26, 2023.

(read more)

DC Voters Overwhelmingly Support Equal Funding for DCPS and Public Charter Schools - Black Press USA

Nearly 8 of 10 voters (79%) believe that the Mayor and D.C. Council should include a raise in compensation for DCPS and public charter school educators in this year’s budget. The same percentage of voters (79%) believe that the D.C. Council should maintain the 3.1% charter facilities allowance increase so public charter schools can continue to make rent or mortgage payments, complete major renovations or modernizations, and pay for utilities, repairs, and maintenance.

“These results underscore that D.C. voters want all our students to have high-quality public education options, educators who are fairly compensated, and schools that are modernized–whether students attend a traditional public school or public charter,” said Jessica Giles, Executive Director of ERN D.C. In the fiscal year 2024 budget, we urge the Mayor and D.C. Council to listen to voters and prioritize an equitable education for all students, which includes equal funding for DCPS and public charter schools.”

SurveyUSA interviewed 501 District of Columbia registered voters who voted in the November 2022 general election or the November 2020 general election. This research was conducted between Feb. 20, 2023 and Feb. 26, 2023.

(read more)

Opinion: Restricting school choice in D.C. won’t help anyone

As a resident of Ward 8, I believe every family should have the right to decide where to send their children to school, and nearly half of D.C. families choose to send their children to public charter schools. Public charter schools in D.C. are public, tuition-free and open to all D.C. residents. Student enrollment in public charter schools mirrors enrollment in traditional public schools, and half are run by people of color.

Instead of focusing on the School Reform Act of 1995, a nearly 30-year-old law, D.C. elected officials must be laser-focused on eliminating the persistent barriers that our students with disabilities, English learners and students designated as “at-risk” face — in both sectors — when accessing our public education system.

(read more)

Opinion: Restricting school choice in D.C. won’t help anyone - Washington Post

As a resident of Ward 8, I believe every family should have the right to decide where to send their children to school, and nearly half of D.C. families choose to send their children to public charter schools. Public charter schools in D.C. are public, tuition-free and open to all D.C. residents. Student enrollment in public charter schools mirrors enrollment in traditional public schools, and half are run by people of color.

(read more)

2023 Policy Priorities

Democrats For Education Reform DC fights for a just and equitable public education system for all students, particularly students of color and low-income students. 

For more information visit dferdc.org or contact dferdc@dfer.org.

Resource Equity

• All students deserve a high-quality education. Increase the uniform per student funding formula (UPSFF) base by at least the inflation rate, with greater resources for students who need more support.

• Support the well-being of our students. Faithfully implement & fully invest in school-based behavioral health, Out of School Time, safe passage, restorative justice, & high-impact tutoring programming.

• Provide high-quality, safe, & educationally appropriate buildings. Maintain the public charter facilities allotment funding.

Teacher Quality & Preparation

• Only 32% of fourth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in reading. Require all K-5 educators to receive free & accessible structured literacy training with incentives to strengthen how educators teach reading.

• All educators deserve fair & competitive compensation. Provide public charter school educators with a raise in compensation by giving them an equivalent payment to the back pay DCPS teachers received & ensure that future salary increases are sent to all schools through the UPSFF.

Accountability

• Students with disabilities are our most marginalized students. 58% were chronically absent. 42% did not graduate in four years. 69% did not enroll in college. 0% exit from special education. Implement a set of recommendations for reforming our special education system.

• Many families do not receive their students’ test scores, & are not provided with actionable guidance to support their learners. Require sharing of student assessments with families in a way that is accessible & comprehensible for all families.

Higher Education Quality & Affordability

• 14 students out of 100 completed a postsecondary degree within 6 years. Improve college access & completion by expanding dual enrollment opportunities for students furthest from opportunity.

• Four D.C. universities give a birthright advantage to family members of alumni, which takes away seats from first-generation college students. Ban the legacy preference in college admissions in D.C.

High-Quality Public School Choice

• Our education system is complex. Create one website where families can find answers to all their questions and helpful resources to navigate care, education, and early career offerings for children and young adults 24 years old and younger.

• D.C. will review boundary assignments to determine which schools DCPS students are entitled by-right to attend based on their residential address. Ensure the DCPS Boundary study prioritizes equity & the voices of marginalized communities.

As D.C. tightens its fiscal belt, we must not squeeze students - The Washington Post

The novel coronavirus has brought our nation tremendous heartache and wreaked havoc on our economy. To her credit, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) has responded quickly and decisively, wisely relying on science and evidence when making decisions about closing schools and businesses.

But even strong leadership cannot keep the pandemic and its consequences entirely at bay, a fact made clear again when the District announced a dramatic decrease in projected revenue for the coming years. The numbers, grim by any measure, merely confirm what we’ve known: The District’s economy and budget are facing an extended period of pain.

As we collectively struggle to cope with the dire economic ramifications of the coronavirus, the District must be careful not to balance the budget on the backs of schools and children, especially those most in need. Our elected leaders must provide significant funding to support students, especially students from low-income families and students of color, in the weeks, months and years ahead.

(read more)