For Immediate Release:
December 3, 2019
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us
Councilmember Grosso introduces legislation to make parent-teacher organizations’ funding transparent and equitable
Washington, D.C. – Councilmember David Grosso, chairperson of the Committee on Education, today introduced legislation to improve family participation in parent-teacher organizations (PTOs) and make fundraising by these organizations more transparent and equitable.
“Parent-teacher organizations are an important part of any school community. They build fellowship, support our students, and help facilitate parental engagement,” said Councilmember Grosso. “All students and family members in the District of Columbia should be able to participate and benefit from these organizations, regardless of where they live or how much money they make.”
The District of Columbia Public Schools Family and School Community Fundraising Equity Act of 2019 establishes a DCPS Equity Fund to collect equity fees from PTOs that expend over $10,000 in monetary and in-kind value. These equity fees will then be distributed equitably to other DCPS PTOs. Further, it restricts PTOs from expending funds to hire instructional staff members.
“We must continue to increase investments in our schools so that outside fundraising by PTOs is not necessary to provide the supports our students need,” said Grosso, who as chairperson of the Committee on Education has increased per-student funding over the last three fiscal years. “While I will continue to push to provide schools the resources, they need to help our students succeed, we must address and level inequitable academic experiences and outcomes for DCPS students that PTOs can exacerbate.”
In 2018, The 74 Million reported that D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) parent-teacher organizations raised more than $5.5 million for only a quarter of DCPS elementary schools. This revenue equates to almost an additional full-time teacher or three additional instructional aides for each DCPS elementary school.
The schools whose PTOs brought in the least revenue — less than $60,000 on average — had an average of 74 percent economically disadvantaged students. Seventy-five percent of elementary schools did not report any PTO revenue.
The Center for American Progress reported that in the 2013-14 school year, DC’s five wealthiest PTOs, all located west of Rock Creek Park, raised over $2.9 million. The top PTO raised almost $1.4 million—about $2,220 per student—while the next four PTOs each raised over $300,000.
The bill will also improve transparency by requiring PTOs to submit annual budgets to DCPS. Additionally, it prohibits PTOs from requesting a specified donation amount from family members and requiring family members to donate funds in order to vote on PTO-related measures.
“Publicly reported PTO budgets will enable families to make informed decisions before they donate and track how their giving is utilized,” said Grosso. “And because PTOs are stronger when all families are able to participate, it is essential that we remove barriers that pressure families to give at certain levels or create a poll tax that will exclude the voices of families who cannot afford to donate.”
Councilmember Vince Gray signed on as a co-introducer of the legislation, which was referred to the Committee on Education.
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