Performance Oversight Hearing DC Public Schools March 1, 2023 Testimony of Suzanne Wells President, Ward 6 Public Schools Parent Organization

Performance Oversight Hearing DC Public Schools March 1, 2023

Testimony of Suzanne Wells President, Ward 6 Public Schools Parent Organization

Thank you for the opportunity to testify at today’s Performance Oversight hearing. My name is Suzanne Wells. I am the president of the Ward 6 Public Schools Parent Organization, but the testimony I am delivering today is my own.

My testimony will focus on 1) deep concerns with the planning between DCPS and the independent Public Charter School Board, and the urgent need to amend the School Reform Act, 2) the need to increase the salaries of educational aides, and 3) asking DCPS to consider a child of staff lottery preference.

Need to Amend the School Reform Act In 1995, a Republican-controlled Congress passed the School Reform Act which established the independent Public Charter School Board (PCSB). The School Reform Act is arguably the most consequential example of congressional interference in D.C. affairs. Today our education dollars are spread thinly across 249 schools (135 are public charter schools), and we pay for the management of 69 separate school systems (DCPS is just one of the 69 school systems). What has been created is a competition-based school system with many, many choices. No other city agency is in the position D.C. Public Schools is in of having a competing independent body doing the same work. In fact, no other city in the country has a independent charter authorizing body competing against a municipal school system.

Just think about the fact that there is no planning between DCPS and the PCSB on the opening of new schools. Both DCPS and the PCSB are continuing to open new schools or expanding capacity at existing schools. This lack of planning has resulted in over 30,000 empty seats across both sectors. This need to compete in order to survive has resulted in DCPS prioritizing opening more city-wide and selective schools that are drawing students from our byright neighborhood schools, e.g., Bard Early College HS, expanding the enrollment capacity at Banneker, and the opening of the McArthur HS with a significant number of seats reserved for out-of-boundary students.

Many DCPS schools are seeing drops in enrollment, especially in Wards 5, 7 and 8. School budgets are driven by enrollment, and these drops in enrollment and subsequent budget cuts are going to impact those children most at-risk.

I implore every councilmember to read Quibilah Huddelston’s February 24, 2023, testimony before the Committee of the Whole. Quibilah is with the DC Fiscal Policy Institute. She testified that policymakers should be “alarmed” by these enrollment trends, and the failure of policymakers to remedy concentrated enrollment declines is “irresponsible and undermines DC’s promise of a high quality public education” for all students.

We need our city officials to demonstrate an equitable commitment to our by-right public school system. People want high-quality schools regardless of where they live. Ensuring stability in school funding is fine, but throwing more and more money at the schools is not going to fix the larger overall systemic problems. The DC Council has the authority to amend the School Reform Act that is codified in the DC Code, and they must take a comprehensive look at the School Reform Act to see how best to support our by-right public school system.

Educational Aides I testified at the DCPS budget hearing on November 16, 2022, about the need to increase the salary of Educational Aides working for DCPS. In the interest of time, I refer you to that testimony for more details about this issue. The starting salary of Educational Aides working for DCPS is only $0.52 above the minimum wage in DC. The low salaries are the primary reason people are not attracted to the position, and DCPS should raise their salaries in SY24 to be commensurate with their responsibilities.

Children of Staff Lottery Preference DCPS should look at giving a children of staff lottery preference. Most public charter schools offer a preference in the lottery for children of their staff members applying to their school. For example, Apple Tree, KIPP DC, Friendship, Washington Latin, Center City, DC Prep and many others offer a children of staff preference. It is not clear why DCPS does not offer a children of staff lottery preference. Such a preference could help create a better home/work balance for teachers who chose to send their child to the school where they teach. As the city works to reduce teacher turnover, this could be one tool to help. It would also promote equity across the sectors.