CHPSPO Meeting Notes – January 17 2017

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization

Jefferson Academy, January 17, 2017, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

 

1. Capital Rowing Club – Ergathon

Capital Rowing Club is hosting an Ergathon on Saturday, February 18 @ Stuart-Hobson. The Ergathon benefits Capital Juniors, a program of Capital Rowing Club that combines academics and competitive rowing to build in DC’s young people (ages 13-18)  discipline, camaraderie, fitness, and stewardship for the Anacostia River. Join the fun, cheer a team, learn about rowing.

 

2. Education Committee Performance Oversight and Budget Hearings – Laura Marks (Chief of Staff for Councilmember Allen) and Angela Joyner (Deputy Director of the Council’s Budget Office)

See presentation for process, timeline, and contacts: https://chpspo.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/short-fy18-education-budget-process-chpspo-presentation-1.pdf

Noteworthy:

• Council has 56 days to act on budget upon receipt on April 4
• Fed budget act and local budget acts fund budget, Budget Support Act says how it will be funded
• Per Pupil Funding Formula determines how individual schools are funded. If a school community needs funding beyond PPFF standards, start w Mayor’s office – Matthew Brown in budget office (see slides for contact)
• Important to testify and articulate what your school needs
• DGS / DCPS can be expected to hold joint performance oversight hearing, not budget hearing
• DCPS is working with CM Grosso on school evaluations (vis a vis modernization) under PACE Act.

 

Testimony tips:

• Read Comprehensive Annual Financial Review (CAFR); can ask questions about the report at any of the hearings
• Committees ask questions in advance which are answered in testimony, become public record and are shared by CM Grosso on his page via Dropbox
• Passing bills subject to appropriation is confusing – PACE Act, for example passed, but is not funded. “Funds are not sufficient in the fiscal year 2017 through fiscal year 2020 budget and financial plan to implement the bill. The bill will cost an estimated $800,000 in fiscal year 2017.”
• Find CFO’s fiscal impact statement to see legislation funding status

 

3. Education Specifications – DCPS Facilities Team

• Access Draft Education Specifications and a google form for public to provide feedback
• See presentation here.
• Note education specifications do not include guidance around items like noise level, electrical wiring standards, etc which fall under DGS’ Design Guidelines.
• Specifications allow for site specific revisions can be made

 

4. Student Climate Assessment Instruments – Caryn Ernst and Gary Ratner (Citizens for Effective Schools)

• Draft ESSA to be released by OSSE on January 31.
• Currently, OSSE is proposing 80% of school evaluation on standardized testing
• Community has asked for less emphasis on testing, and if that the testing indicators be focused on growth over proficiency.
• Essa requires school quality indicator, a state could choose an indicator, comprehensive assessment, to evaluate school climate (from perspective of students, staff, parents)
• NOTE: DC Council – anything that had a hearing in prior period can move forward without a hearing
• LEAs have own surveys and resist additional surveys
• http://web.calstatela.edu/centers/schoolclimate/ proposed for consideration by Gary Ratner, Citizens for Effective Schools
  • Note the above approach have not been used yet for accountability

 

3. Sign-on letter Chancellor Performance Evaluation Criteria

• Group agreed to sign-on

 

Next CHPSPO Meeting: February 21, 2017

 

Upcoming Events

Cross Sector Collaboration Task Force

January 18, 2017, 6:00-7:30 pm, community meeting to discuss policy proposal to address student mobility, Northeast Public Library (330 7^th St. NE).  Register at (http://tinyurl.com/h23v7vc)

January 24, 2017, Task Force meeting, Department of For-Hire Vehicles Hearing Room (2235 Shannon Place, SE)

 

Grant Opportunity

DDOEE Community Stormwater Solutions Grant (grants up to $20K to improve stormwater management), due January 27, 2017 at 5 pm

 

Summer Camp Fair

January 26, 2017, 6 – 8 pm, J.O. Wilson, 660 K St., NE