Washington, DC—The D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) will hold its monthly public meeting on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak continues to spread globally, the State Board is taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our members, staff, and public. Therefore, this meeting will be held as a video web conference. Materials for the State Board meetings can be found on our meeting website. For the most up-to-date information on the District’s COVID-19 response, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov. Members of the public wishing to provide testimony during the public meeting should email the State Board a copy of their written testimony [email protected] by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 17, 2021. 

Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month commemorates and pays tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who made contributions to American history. In light of the dramatic rise in anti-Asian violence within the past year, the D.C. State Board of Education unequivocally expresses its solidarity with the AAPI community and condemns all manifestations of violence, racism, misogyny, and xenophobia against the AAPI community. The State Board will take time to recognize and honor the achievements, contributions, and culture of the Asian American community with a ceremonial resolution. 

To ensure all students receive an equitable and quality education, not only are schools held accountable for a number of measures that look at students’ academic and nonacademic performance—states are invariably important for providing continuous and sustainable support to schools, especially those in need of comprehensive improvement. For example, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education utilizes a team of Statewide System of Support staff to help provide comprehensive assistance to districts and schools that are differentiated by need, provide structured opportunities for teachers, administrators and district leaders to engage in activities including coaching, action research, facilitated work teams, professional communities of practice, and resource networking. Like Massachusetts, each state has its own version of a statewide system of support, using both similar and unique strategies to accomplish the same goal- help schools be successful in providing excellence and equity in education. To that end, the SBOE will hear from a panel of state-level education leaders to better understand their state’s approach to providing statewide support to schools. 

• Russell Johnston, Senior Associate Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Education 

• Shirley Vargas, School Transformation Officer, Nebraska Department of Education

• Lane Carr, Director of Accountability, Nebraska Department of Education

Public Meeting Agenda

Please note that the agenda may be altered, modified, or updated without notice.

I. Call to Order

II. Announcement of a Quorum

III. Approval of the Agenda & Minutes

IV. Comments from the President of the D.C. State Board of Education

V. Comments from the State Superintendent of Education

VI. Ceremonial Resolutions

     i. CR21-11 Honoring Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

     ii. CR21-12 Honoring National Mental Health Awareness Month 

VII. Public Comments

     i.  Laura Derrendinger

     ii. James Tandaric

     iii. Sally Schwartz

     iv. Student 1

     v. Student 2

     vi. Ronald Thompson, Jr. 

VIII. Supporting Schools from the State Level 

     i. Russell Johnston, Senior Associate Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Education

     ii. Shirley Vargas, School Transformation Officer, Nebraska Department of Education

     iii. Lane Carr, Director of Accountability, Nebraska Department of Education

IX. Administrative Items (VOTE)

    i. Student Representatives and Student Advisory Committee Changes

    ii. Budget Authorization 

X. New Business

XI. Adjournment

About the SBOE

The DC State Board of Education is an independent agency within the Government of the District of Columbia that advises the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the District’s state education agency. The State Board is made up of nine elected representatives, each representing their respective wards, with one member representing DC at large, and two appointed student representatives. The State Board approves statewide education policies and sets academic standards, while OSSE oversees education within the District and manages federal education funding. More information about the SBOE can be found at sboe.dc.gov.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education serves as an external, impartial resource for current and prospective public-school students and their parents or guardians in the resolution of complaints and concerns regarding public education in a way that furthers the students’ best interest. The Ombudsman’s Office uses conflict resolution strategies, including coaching, facilitation, and mediation, to assist families and schools experiencing disagreement or conflict.  

The Office of the Student Advocate supports students, parents, and families in their advocacy through parent education, one-on-one coaching, resource supports, and trainings in order to amplify the voices of families and communities in processes and decision-making; to provide avenues for access to resources and understanding systems; and to support power families and communities already possess. Contact us Monday through Friday at (202) 741-4692 for questions or support with your charter and neighborhood schools.

For the latest information on the District Government’s response to COVID-19, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.

Contact: Milayo Olufemi

202-710-4641

[email protected]