For Immediate Release
March 3, 2015
Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun
(202) 724-8105
Council Passes Grosso’s Emergency Education Legislation
Washington, D.C.—Today, the Council of the District of Columbia unanimously passed two bills sponsored by Committee on Education Chairperson David Grosso (I-At-Large) to ensure public school students of the District of Columbia are in the best position to succeed.
The “At-Risk Funding Emergency Amendment Act of 2015” refines the guidelines of the Fair Student Funding and School-Based Budgeting Amendment Act of 2013 to allow DCPS’ central office to fully engage and guide principals and local school advisory teams through the process of identifying the best programs and strategies to support their at-risk students.
“I have spoken with Chancellor Henderson several times regarding the at-risk funding and she has assured me that in the FY2016 budget, DCPS will allocate funds proportionately based on the at-risk population at each school,” Councilmember Grosso said. “This legislation enhances collaboration among the Chancellor, school principals, and school advisory teams when deciding how to best invest at-risk funds. The passage of this legislation will help ensure that the at-risk funds have the greatest impact for students and that equity in terms of access to programs is maintained. Further, my bill requires an annual report from the Chancellor explaining the annual at-risk fund distribution at the school-level.”
The “Public Charter School Emergency Enrollment Amendment Act of 2015” provides stability for current students attending Community Academy Public Charter School (CAPCS) whose charter was recently revoked by the D. C. Public Charter School Board. Under this legislation, those students are granted preference for enrollment at Friendship Public Charter School and D. C. Bilingual Public Charter School during their respective takeovers of CAPCS facilities. “This bill seeks to minimize disruption to nearly 1,600 students who are in this predicament due to no fault of their own. This legislation provides continuity for students and their families who want to stay in their location and enroll at the new charter school next year,” said Grosso.
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