Dear Ward 6 Public Schools Parent Organization members,
Below are a few updates (in chronological order…):
1. DC Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) Collective Meeting, Tuesday, September 13
Please share the following message with your LSAT leaders:
Hello DC Education Leaders,
My name is Steve Bowen (Payne Elementary parent) and along with Marion Babcock (School Without Walls parent), and Elizabeth Corinth (School-Within-School parent) we are re-booting the DC Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) Collective. We plan to provide LSAT members from across DC with regular virtual meetings and a website/platform to share best practices for LSAT meetings, learn from subject matter experts in education, and build a coalition for public school advocacy.
We are hoping that you will forward this to your organizations and current LSAT leaders in your network. Please mark your calendars for 7- 815pm Tuesday 13 Sept for our first meeting of the season.
In the meantime, please take a moment to complete this brief survey (less than 10 minutes) so we can tailor our meetings to what you need to improve your LSAT. You can also check out the website we are building — this is a work in progress and we will flesh it out in the coming months with additional info and resources.
Detailed agenda and zoom link to follow. Thanks for all you do for DCPS and your communities.
Steve, Marion, and Elizabeth
2. Ward 6 SBOE Candidates Forum, September 28, 7 pm
W6PSPO will co-sponsor a Ward 6 State Board of Education Candidates Forum on September 28 at 7 pm.
Brandon Best and Joshua Wiley are running for the position. The forum will be an opportunity to learn more about the candidates, hear their visions for education in DC, and get your questions answered. Denise Forte, interim CEO of The Education Trust will moderate the forum.
Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual, Zoom link provided on registration
RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/ward6demsdc/event/498054/
Submit your questions for the candidates to debate@hillrag.com.Please share the attached flyer about the Ward 6 State Board of Education Candidates Forum with your school communities.
3. Walk and Roll to School Day, Wednesday, October 12, 7:45 am Lincoln Park
Registration is open for Walk and Roll to School Day on October 12. We’ll meet at Lincoln Park at 7:45 am, and will be done in time for everyone to arrive at school before it starts. If you haven’t already, please register your schools. More information to follow!
4. W6PSPO Elections
W6PSPO will hold elections in November. President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer positions are open. Please consider how you want to support this organization and its mission
to promote cooperation among the parent organizations of the public schools in Ward 6 in order to improve the education received by all children attending our schools. A nomination form will be available soon.
5. September 16 Hearing on Bill 24-570, Schools First in Budgeting Bill
Chairman Mendelson is holding a hearing on September 16 at 1 pm on Bill 24-570, Schools First in Budgeting Bill. You must sign up by 5 pm on September 14 in order to testify. There is an information session on September 13 at 11 am to learn more about the bill.
6. W6PSPO Meeting Tuesday, September 20, 7 pm
W6PSPO will meet on Tuesday, September 20 at 7 pm. We will be joined by Gabriella Pino-Moreno from the Facility Planning & Design office who will share with us the planning for the Old Miner building. Information will be sent soon about how to join the meeting.
7. Have lunch with members of the D.C. State Board of Education!
The D.C. State Board of Education will host a Back to School event for families from across the District. Come out and participate in our focus group sessions, grab lunch, and speak with members of the State Board directly. The Office of the Student Advocate and the Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education, will be there as well to provide information and answer any concerns you may have. RSVP now to secure your spot, and select which sessions you would like to attend!
Date and time
Saturday, September 24, 2022
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM EDT
Location
Eastern Senior High School
1700 East Capitol Street Northeast
Washington, DC 20002
Please find the descriptions of each breakout session below. Participants will be able to attend three out of the four sessions available.
Accountability and Assessment: The Accountability and Assessment Committee will present and discuss recommended revisions to the DC School Report Card. Participants will share questions and feedback on the DC School Report Card, as well as receive updates on OSSE’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State Plan and upcoming Accountability and Assessment Committee projects.
Board Governance: The Board Governance Committee is seeking engagement on its takeaways from two recent reports focused on improving state-wide education decision-making, communications, and responsiveness to families, educators, students, and wider communities in D.C.
Education Standards: The Education Standards Committee will seek feedback on a draft literacy 2-pager and ask questions about the best and regular processes for future updates to the District’s education standards.
Outreach and Advocacy: The Outreach and Advocacy Committee will present on the ESSA Standards for Parent Engagement and receive feedback from families on how they experience the standards at their schools, including the engagement efforts that are most effective and the areas for engagement that could be expanded upon.
Thanks for reading!!!
Suzanne Wells
Ward 6 Public School Parents Organization 