CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

&

COUNCILMEMBER DAVID GROSSO

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

ANNOUNCE A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

on

B23-0717, the “Expanding Equitable Access to Great Schools Act of 2020;”

B23-0642, “African American and Cultural Studies Inclusion Amendment Act of 2020;”

And

B23-818, the “Child Enrollment Preference Amendment Act of 2020”

On

Friday, July 31, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.

Live via Zoom Video Conference Broadcast

Council Channel 13 (Cable Television Providers)

DC Council Website (www.dccouncil.us)

Office of Cable Television Website (entertainment.dc.gov)

            Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember David Grosso announce the scheduling of a joint public hearing of the Committee of the Whole and the Committee on Education B23-0717, the “Expanding Equitable Access to Great Schools Act of 2020;” B23-0642, “African American and Cultural Studies Inclusion Amendment Act of 2020;” and B23-818, the “Child Enrollment Preference Amendment Act of 2020”  The hearing will be held on Friday, July 31, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Live via Zoom Video Conference Broadcast.

            The stated purpose of B23-0717 is to expand equitable access to public charter schools to at-risk students upon approval from the Public Charter School Board. The stated purpose of B23-0642 is to require the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to develop an African-American history and cultural studies curriculum for high school students enrolled in a District of Columbia Public or Charter School. The stated purpose of B23-818 is to add an enrollment preference for a child of a student already attending or selected for admission to a public charter school in which the child is seeking enrolment.

Those who wish to testify may sign-up by emailing Ashley Strange, Committee Assistant, at astrange@dccouncil.us or call the Committee on Education at (202) 724-8061 by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29 and include your name, organization affiliation (if any), and title. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit a copy of their written testimony via email. Witnesses appearing on his or her own behalf should limit their testimony to four minutes. If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Statements should be submitted by email to astrange@dccouncil.us. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2020.

Witnesses who anticipate needing spoken language interpretation, or require sign language interpretation, are requested to inform Education Committee of the need as soon as possible but no later than five (5) business days before the proceeding. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests, however requests received in less than five (5) business days may not be fulfilled, and alternatives may be offered.