DME Presentation – FY26 Schools Budget

Posted bySandraPosted inAdvocacy, Council, DC Budget, DCPS, DCSBOE, DME, General W6PSPOTags:, , , , , ,

W6PSPO’s / Ward 5 Education Equity Committee’s joint meeting on June 17, 2025 featured the following speakers:

  • Bijan Verlin, Legislative Policy Advisor, DC Council Committee of the Whole
  • `Abdu’l-Karim Ewing-Boyd, Director of Strategic Initiatives, K-12, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education
  • TJ Sell, Director of Budget and Performance Management, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education 

Other updates:

  • Sign-on Letter in Support of DCPS International Educators – A team of WTU international educators has created a sign-on letter to the DC Council asking for $200-$300K in the DCPS budget to restart the DCPS Green Card Program.  DCPS ended this program in October 2024 (see this gifted Washington Post story)

    DCPS has hired between 200-300 educators (dual language teachers, ELL educators, foreign language teachers, math and special education teachers) on H1B visas.  Without the chance to apply for a green card, these teachers will likely leave DCPS.  You can sign the sign-on letter here.  This  provides more background information.
  • SBOE Task Force on High School Graduation Requirements – Before updates are made to the high school graduation requirements, the SBOE must review and approve them.  The SBOE is convening a task force to help in their review.  The task force will begin meeting in August 2025.  If you are interested in being on the task force, you can access their online application here.  Applications will be taken through June 30, 2025.
  • Hill Family Biking Open Streets Ride, June 28th, 10:30 am –  Open Streets DC is coming to Capitol Hill and Hill Family Biking will be kicking off the festivities with a bike parade down the 1-mile car-free route. All ages and abilities welcome.  The ride will begin at Seward Square (6th and North Carolina) and end at 16th and Massachusetts where riders can help create a giant chalk street mural with ChalkRiot!  Register here.
  • Old School Dance Party, June 27, 7pm at Hill Prince DC (1337 H St. NE). Details HERE.
  • Harvesting Justice: Cultivating a Future for DC Schools Thursday, July 10th | 6:00–8:00 PM – True Reformer Building | 1200 U Street NW. Register HERE for an inspiring evening, filled with connection, visioning, and movement-building in the heart of the city. This social gathering will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, vibrant conversation, and powerful voices committed to justice in education.

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