CHPSPO Meeting Notes – February 16, 2016

J.O. Wilson Elementary School

K Street, NE, February 16, 2016, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

 

1. – DC Alliance of Youth Advocates  #ExpandLearningDC – Joseph Gavrilovich

• SEE TALKING POINTS http://dcaya.blogspot.com/2016/01/expandlearningdc.html
• Work w/ 120-130 youth serving nonprofits in the district
• Collective voice for issues of interest in DC Gov
• Main issue areas
  • Youth homelessness
  • Workforce development
  • Expanded learning
    • Afterschool and summer learning opportunities
  • Afterschool/aftercare in DC has sustained declining stream of funding
    • Fewer points of access for kids who need it most
    • Requesting $10M in funding for quality expanded learning opportunities;
  • ASK of CHPSPO/community: Testimony on behalf of community based non-profits/service; DC TRUST; Sign letters/ online petitions
  • Discussion:
    • Compatibility w/ extended day is important
      • Asking DCTRUST and DCPS to coordinate on an aftercare vision; DC has some of best programming in the country (ex: America SCORES started w/ DC SCORES); Coordination w/ OSSE on outcomes for afterschool
    • Focus on quality/avoid disparity in quality
    • How will $10M be used?
      • DC TRUST budget (intermediary to fund community based programming)
      • Funding that covers DCPS funding for after school programming; in schools where there are waitlists, reduce waitlists to zero; increase quality of care
      • Recommendation should be in place ahead of when Mayor compiles budget
    • How does AYA ensure quality of programming?
      • A: Comprehensive survey of all member programs
    • How does AYA implement programming?
      • A: Schools/principals make choices; If what is in place works, enable ability to accommodate all families; if what is in place does not work, want to be able to make space for other community-based partners

 

2 – Council Oversight Hearings – Laura Marks

• SEE hearing list provided by CM Allen’s team, but NOTE – SUBJECT TO CHANGE
• Oversight wraps up mid-March; March 24 Mayor releases her budget, then budget hearings start
• Not many public witnesses for OSSE or DCPS
• Capital budget will be discussed in DME, DCPS and DGS hearings
  • Q: Will budgets reflect last FY budget formula? Will there be an increase in per pupil spending (there was not this year)?
  • Q: Will capital budget plan approved last year continue this year?
• Qs/As:
  • Moving Eliot-Hine and Jefferson’s renovations up depends on whether there is additional capital budget (330M reduction over five years)
    • School Improvement Team (SIT) needs to be in place before architectural firm can come on board
    • Eliot-Hine kicked off SIT committee application (applications being received from community)
  • Q: Has Mayor felt ‘heat’ about moving the capital funds? When is a good time to reach out? A: Now is time to reach out w/ phone calls, etc.
  • ACTION: Resend letter by Ivan Frishberg asking for phone calls to council/mayor/etc re: Capital Budget
  • Q: What happens at DCPCS Budget Oversight hearings? A: Executive Director, team, etc speak. Not much oversight of the DCPCSB. Focus on operation of the board, as there is not much direct mandate.
  • On Cross-collaboration task force: Initial meeting is Feb 17:
    • Orientation/getting started type of meeting
    • Data will be presented to the task force
    • ACTION: SIGN UP FOR February 23 – Cross Sector Focus Group @ Eastern High School, 6 p.m http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/Focus%20Group%20Flyer.pdf Space is limited and participants must sign up to attend. For more information and to sign up, visit dme.dc.gov/collaboration or call 202-727-2986.
  • ACTION: Not many parents have signed up to testify for upcoming hearings (See planned dates below). To testify for hearings, can submit informal paragraph and it is counted in record. Testimony period is open beyond hearing and is counted in record. To ensure points are heard, best to pull together a panel. NOTE: Dates/times/room numbers change, so double-check.

 

3. Wilson Building Visits on School Modernization Funding –Ivan Frishberg

• Visit with Deputy Mayor for Education scheduled for February 26 to discuss DCPS capital budget.

 

4. Operational Budgets – Joe Weedon

• Schools should get budgets soon
• Enrollment – Eastern may decline; middle schools continue to drop
• Budget schedule: http://dcps.dc.gov/page/dcps-budget-planning-fy17
  • Feb 12 initial school budget allocation to be released
  • March 4 – LSATs/principals to work on budget
  • March 7 – principals submit budget to DCPS

 

5. High School Credits – Joe Weedon

• BACKGROUND: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is proposing a broad regulation that would allow high school students to test out of any course. A Task Force convened last year by the State Board of Education had recommended that high school students be allowed to test out of only foreign language and math courses.  A petition is circulating that encourages the State Board of Education to reject this proposal.
• ACTION: Please consider signing this petition (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/dont-let-tests-be-a-substitute-for-a-strong-education.html).
• The way new regulations are written by OSSE enable test-based credits for any class.
• Concerns: it’s unknown what OSSE is intending to do w/ regulation in future; lose the public process for adding other courses like World History to scope of classes for which test-based credit can be awarded.

 

6. CHPSPO 2016 Priorities Discussion – Everyone

• Advocacy/relationship building:
  • Focus on advocacy vis a vis Wilson Building visits, testimony.
  • Civic engagement – give parents tools/training to help them learn how to be effective advocates. Planning vis a vis key legislative/decision activities (budget, oversight, etc)
  • Soft touch; Being present when there is not a crisis; there are schools/advocates in Wilson Building every day
    • PTAs split up the year; (Ex: thank you letters to mayor; )
    • 3^rd grade cornerstone – re: DC gov. Every 3^rd grader should be there
  • Identify similar issues PTAs are dealing with. Find structured ways to discuss issues like budget, staffing?
    • Ex: follow budget cycle; report back after budgets are allocated to identify common issues/themes and plan for next FY
  • Quality of education should not depend on politics/advocacy
  • Focusing the advocacy around tangible issues
    • Don’t forget CHPSPO priorities from previous years. We need to be accountable for what we’ve advocated for in the past, e.g., middle schools
    • Track what we promised to do, and where we fell short
  • Achievement gaps
    • Gap has not narrowed in a decade. What can we learn from other schools, including charter schools, about how to narrow the achievement gap?
  • PTA Support/Strengthening
    • Sharing session w/ PTOs + tools at beginning of year and ongoing support
    • What are the different ways LSAT operates, how in your schools, how can we operate better in ours?
    • How do PTAs encourage greater collaboration w/ teachers?
    • How can schools manage drop/off/ pick up and breakfast?
    • How do schools implement restorative disciplinary practices? (examples: taking recess away?)
    • Computers/tech are outdated; how do we get computers refreshed especially now that testing is computer based?
    • How does PTO encourage parents to get more involved and more socio-economic collaboration
    • Each PTO re-invents the wheel, how can we learn from each other?
    • What is the city-wide education issue that CHPSPO participates in?
    • How is DCPS ensuring quality of before/after programming
    • How do we advocate for retention of staff
  • High Schools
  • How do we ensure safe, high quality high schools
  • School modernization; increase capital dollars
  • Improving food service

 

Next CHPSPO Meeting:  March 15, 2016

 

Upcoming Events

• February 23 – Cross Sector Collaboration Task Force Focus Group, Eastern High School, 6 p.m. http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/Focus%20Group%20Flyer.pdf
  We want your input! As the work of the Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force begins, you are invited to attend a focus group to share your opinions and ideas on the challenges that should be addressed through collaboration between District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools.Space is limited and participants must sign up to attend. For more information and to sign up, visit dme.dc.gov/collaboration or call 202-727-2986.

• February 26 – Meeting w/ Deputy Mayor – TBD

• February 29 – Mayor’s Budget Engagement Forum @ King Greenleaf Recreation Center

 

Council Performance Oversight Hearings

• Wednesday, February 17:  OSSE
• Thursday, February 18: DCPS (public witnesses only)
• Wednesday, February 24: DCPS (government witnesses only)
• Thursday, February 25: DGS (including school modernizations)
• Wednesday, March 2: Deputy Mayor for Education, State Board of Education
• Thursday, March 3: Public Charter School Board

School Auctions

• February 27, Tyler’s Alchemy of Great Taste, Eastern Market North Hall
• March 11, Cluster Rocks, Atlas Theater
• March 19, Maury at the Market, Eastern Market North Hall
• April 30, Brent’s Taste of the Hill, Capitol Skyline Hotel