Key Takeaways

February 1, 2018

Statement on Final Alvarez & Marsal Report on DCPS Graduation and Attendance Outcomes

The State Board of Education thanks Mayor Muriel Bowser, Superintendent Hanseul Kang, and Chancellor Antwan Wilson for releasing the full report from Alvarez & Marsal. The report shows pervasive failures by leaders in the District’s education sector to keep the best interests of students in the forefront of everything they do.

For years, our graduation rate has far outpaced our assessment scores and our teachers and school leaders have felt the pressure to raise test scores and increase graduation rates. Now that we have conclusive evidence of the results of that pressure, we have a unique opportunity to address the failures and correct the systemic issues that were highlighted in the reports.

The State Board will be reviewing current policies from graduation requirements to school attendance rules and, working with OSSE and the Bowser Administration, will address deficiencies identified in this report with a commitment to best practices for our students.

Read the Report

SBOE Calls for Independent Investigation of High School Graduation Criteria, Standards, and Implementation

At January’s public meeting, the SBOE adopted a resolution calling for an independent, external review of “the criteria and standards that underlie high school graduation and examine school-level execution of these policies” across all DC public schools.

The resolution calls for the following:

• The SBOE to conduct an internal examination of attendance regulations, including the implementation of the 80/20 rule
• The DC Auditor to review “the effectiveness of the current oversight structure of DCPS and charter schools”
• The Council to require relevant agencies to provide requested, relevant data to the SBOE, so that the Board can exercise its authority with adequate information 

Read the Resolution

ESSA School Report Card

The SBOE Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Task Force met on Tuesday, January 9, 2018. Representatives from the Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE) outlined updates to their content and format proposal for the new school report card that will provide the same information about every public and public charter school in the District. Task force members reviewed the proposal and provided comments and recommendations. This proposal was based on feedback from State Board members, community members, and the members of the ESSA Task Force.

The SBOE invited members of the public to its January public meeting to hear the community’s thoughts on the proposed school report card content. The school report card will contain two kinds of data: information that is required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and information that is important to the residents of the District. There is still time to provide comments on the content and format proposal. Feel free to email those comments to sboe@dc.gov.

Over the next few weeks, OSSE will work with the SBOE to finalize the content proposal with the intention that the State Board will vote on the proposal at its February public meeting. The next ESSA Task Force meeting will be held on February 6, 2018

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Leadership in 2018

At this month’s public meeting, the SBOE re-elected Ms. Karen Williams of Ward 7 as President and Mr. Jack Jacobson of Ward 2 as Vice President. Both members served in these roles during 2017 and both bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles.

Additionally, the SBOE formally adopted a structure for upcoming policy, governance, and engagement committees to help achieve the goals of increasing equity and academic excellence in District public schools. The Board looks forward to continuing its work on the ambitious goals laid out in the SBOE strategic plan.

Below are the 2018 SBOE Committee assignments:

Administration & Budget – This committee monitors and oversees the State Board’s budget, personnel and governance.

• Chair: Jack Jacobson, Ward 2
• Members: Mark Jones, Ward 5; Lannette Woodruff, Ward 4; Karen Williams (ex officio)

Student Advisory – The Student Advisory committee ensures the voice of students is heard in improving education in the District.

• Co-Chairs: Tallya Rhodes & Tatiana Robinson
• Members: Students, Karen Williams (ex officio)

Educational Excellence & Equity – Regulations & Laws – This committee will focus on conducting high-quality policy research and analysis to support the State Board’s role in approving District education regulations.

• Chair: Laura Wilson Phelan, Ward 1
• Members: Ashley Carter, At-Large; Markus Batchelor, Ward 8; Karen Williams (ex officio)

Educational Excellence & Equity – Educational Standards – This committee will focus on reviewing and analyzing District educational standards.

• Co-Chairs: Ruth Wattenberg, Ward 3; Mark Jones, Ward 5
• Members: Jack Jacobson, Ward 2; Karen Williams (ex officio)

ESSA Task Force – ESSA implementation began during the 2017-18 school year. The task force will work diligently with the OSSE to continue gathering input from diverse stakeholders on the design and development of the new accountability system for the District.

• Chair: Lannette Woodruff, Ward 4
• Members: Jack Jacobson, Ward 2; Joe Weedon, Ward 6; Karen Williams (ex officio)

Public Engagement & Outreach – This committee is tasked with ensuring that all voices are heard on key education policy issues. Priorities will include developing a community engagement strategy that includes diverse stakeholders and expanding the breadth of participation at SBOE community meetings, forums, and roundtables around the District.

• Co-Chairs: Markus Batchelor, Ward 8; Ashley Carter, At-Large
• Members: Jack Jacobson, Ward 2; Karen Williams (ex officio)

Read Member Bios

January Ceremonial Resolutions

At this month’s public meeting, the State Board honored the recently named District Tier 1 public charter schools and organizers of National School Choice Week with ceremonial resolutions. Part of the role of the State Board is to be the conduit from the community to the government. SBOE members welcome the opportunity to recognize the outstanding hard work of schools and community members during public meetings.

Read the Resolutions

#DCGradReqs Task Force Update

The #DCGradReqs Task Force is currently taking a strategic pause to digest information that may influence the task force’s work. Stepping back for the month of January has enabled staff and task force members to reflect on constituent feedback received thus far, as well as consider information from the initial and final reports on the investigation of the implementation of high school graduation requirements at Ballou High School and other schools across the city. Members are expected to reconvene in February to continue their work.

We hope you will continue to engage in the discussions related to graduation requirements through our other forums. Your input is vital to our work as we move forward.

You may get involved  in the following ways:

• Attend task force meetings or view them online
• Submit written testimony or information for consideration by emailing sboe@dc.gov or by filling out this online form
• Join our Facebook discussion group to add your voice to the debate
• Tweet on social media using the hashtag #DCGradReqs
• Share your ideas with your elected State Board member or task force co-chairs, Laura Wilson Phelan (Ward 1) and Markus Batchelor (Ward 8).

Learn More

SBOE in the Community

In December 2017 and early January 2018, the Board members attended a variety of events around the DC community, interacting with students and parents alike. Many Board members took tours of schools during December and January, witnessing teachers and students in action firsthand.

• Ashley Carter (At-Large) visited Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
• Laura Wilson Phelan (Ward 1) highlighted the tremendous work of our #DCGradReqs Task Force as a panelist on a National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) webinar focused on equity in high school graduation requirements.
• Jack Jacobson (Ward 2) visited the MdBio Foundation’s explorer lab and engaged with 8th grade students about their passion for STEM education, and how technology is driving interest in the field.
• Ruth Wattenberg (Ward 3) attended a special education workshop along with members from the SBOE’s Office of the Student Advocate.
• Lannette Woodruff (Ward 4), Joe Weedon (Ward 6) and Markus Batchelor (Ward 8) attended the DC Public Charter School Board’s (DCPCSB) TIERific Celebration of Quality Schools, which highlighted and celebrated the city’s highest performing public charter schools.
• Markus Batchelor (Ward 8) attended a public safety discussion hosted by Hendley Elementary School.
• Karen Williams (Ward 7) and Markus Batchelor (Ward 8) attended the annual MLK Peace Walk and Parade in Anacostia on January 15th in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. The parade included the high school marching bands from Ballou, Dunbar, and Anacostia.

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