Charter Lottery Preference Testimony by Suzanne Wells

July 20, 2026

Suzanne Wells, President, Ward 6 Public Schools Parent Organization Testimony
Lottery Preference for Families Affected by School Closures Amendment Act of 2026
It is understandable the Council would want to take action to assist families who have
been impacted by charter school closures. These closures can leave families scrambling to find places for their children often in a very short amount of time, and sometimes after the lottery has closed.

What is not understandable is why the lottery preference is limited to public charter schools. Can the sponsors of this legislation explain why the preference is limited to public charter schools? Can the sponsors of this legislation explain why the preference isn’t extended to the DCPS schools, either their in-boundary school (which they have a right to attend) or an out-of-boundary DCPS school?

In fairness to families dealing with public charter school closures, shouldn’t they have a preference in the lottery to attend either a DCPS school or a public charter school? This would increase these families opportunities to find the school best suited to their child and family.

Please do not pass this legislation until there is a public explanation as to why the preference is limited to the public charter schools. Assuming there is no sound reason to limit the preference to public charter schools, the legislation should be amended to give a preference in the lottery for families to attend either a public charter school or an out-of- boundary DCPS school.