The Stakes for D.C. public schools in the 2024 Presidential Election

Jessica Giles, Executive Director, DFER DC

As we near Election Day, it is vital for D.C. voters to know what’s at stake. Donald Trump has said he would “take over” D.C. if elected and would take the capital “away from the mayor.” This raises significant concerns about the autonomy of the District’s local affairs and the direct management of D.C.'s educational system.

Unlike the 50 states, Washington, D.C. is under the direct jurisdiction of Congress. This means a future Trump administration could reshape D.C.'s public education system without considering the wishes of local residents.

One way this takeover could manifest is through the reinstatement of the Financial Control Board, an authority appointed by the president that took control of local D.C. matters from 1995 to 2001. Some D.C. voters might recall what happened eighteen years ago. In 1996, the financial control board fired the leadership of D.C. public schools and instated a retired Army general and a new board of trustees. The Control Board lies dormant right now, but a new Congress with the support of a new president could amend the law to reinstate a five-member authority to manage the day-to-day operations of the D.C. government, undermining the Mayor and D.C. Council at every chance.  The new Congress also could seek to repeal the District’s home rule outright.  Bills already have been introduced in the House and Senate to do just that.

The renewed debate surrounding the role of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is also cause for concern, with some voices calling for its dismantling under a conservative agenda known as Project 2025. In the past few weeks, Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he will shut down the agency if he returns to the White House. This idea has serious implications for the residents of Washington, D.C. 

The DOE has invested more than $3.6 billion to strengthen education across the District under the Biden-Harris administration. This includes $629 million to support students with disabilities, $386 million to address the impacts of COVID-19 on students and schools, $192 million for high-need students, and $38 million in Pell Grants to support higher education. 

For D.C., these federal funds are a lifeline. D.C. public schools rely on Title I funding, IDEA funds, and Pell Grants to ensure equitable access to quality education for all students. If the DOE is dismantled, D.C. would lose this critical support, threatening the progress the city has made and limiting educational opportunities for low-income families.

The DOE also serves as the nation’s protector of civil rights in education. Its Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is crucial in addressing complaints of discrimination and harassment in schools. The DOE’s oversight is essential to protect D.C.’s students from discrimination. Under Project 2025, these protections would be weakened or eliminated.

Additionally, the DOE produces the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or the Nation's Report Card, which offers insights into student achievement across the country. For D.C., losing access to this data would hinder the ability of local policymakers to track student outcomes and make evidence-based decisions to strengthen the city’s schools. It would become much harder to close achievement gaps that persist.

Kamala Harris' agenda offers a stark contrast to the Republican platform’s priorities. Her education policy recognizes that a strong public education system is essential for upward mobility. Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is the first former educator in decades to join a major party ticket. Their approach to education reform includes promoting multiple pathways for students through higher education and work-based learning opportunities. Their plan centers on coalition-building, and in D.C., this means empowering parents, local leaders, and community advocates to make decisions about their schools, while ensuring that federal support is available to help all students succeed.

The stakes for this election could not be higher for D.C. Instead of federal overreach and ideological meddling, D.C. needs partners who are committed to creating a brighter future for all students. Instead of dismantling the DOE, DC needs to push for evidence-based, student-centered policies that directly address voters' concerns and enhance our public education system.

While D.C. is not a battleground state, every D.C. voter should understand that this election is critical for our students - federally and locally. We owe it to our community to know that on November 5, we did everything possible to protect their future.