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State Board Explores New Accountability Measures for STAR Framework

Washington, DC—The D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) will hold its monthly public meeting on Wednesday, June 16, 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, June 14, 2021.  

Pride Month is celebrated in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, New York, which was a tipping point for the gay rights movement. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Other Sexual Identities (LGBTQ+) community has faced discrimination, inequality, and violence throughout history. 

LGBTQ+ students regularly report incidents of bullying and violence, and Black and brown trans women have been under attack across the country. Pride Month highlights the contributions that people within the LGBTQ+ community have made, and continue to make, to the United States and to the world in every aspect. The D.C. State Board of Education recognizes and celebrates Pride Month and the voices of the LGBTQ+ community. The State Board honors their legacy and the continued struggle for full civil rights for all Americans.

Juneteenth is the oldest national celebration commemorating word reaching enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 that they were free—two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth, has become a celebration and tradition that commemorates and honors Black/African-American freedom, achievement, self-development, and respect for all cultures. 

The State Board will co-host a special Juneteenth event on Saturday, June 19 to recognize and celebrate the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day. In recognition of Pride Month, the State Board will stress the importance of LGBTQ+ youth mental health and the intersection of race and sexuality at the event.

The State Board will recognize the life and legacy of Clark Ray, the late founder and executive director of the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA), who passed away on Saturday, May 5, 2021. Ray was an LGBTQ advocate and champion of youth sports, dedicating his life to public service and bringing communities together through sports and recreation. The State Board will cherish Ray’s commitment to students and the District, and will consider a ceremonial resolution honoring him. 

School accountability systems are designed to collect academic and non-academic data from schools in order to assess their quality and performance. D.C. currently uses the STAR Framework and rating system to rank and assign up to five stars to schools—five stars representing the highest ranked schools—as well as provide further information to the public on schools performance using the DC School Report Card. The State Board is interested in exploring ways to reduce bias in the STAR framework and rating system, introduce new accountability measures or indicators that matter to parents and other education stakeholders (including school climate measures), and learn how to leverage an accountability system to best assist schools in meeting their needs and the needs of the community. To that end, the State Board will hear from a panel of experts on what elements should be present in a high quality school accountability system:

  • Elaine Allensworth, PhD, Lewis-Sebring Director, UChicago Consortium on School Research
  • Rae Clementz, Director of Assessment and Accountability for the Illinois State Board of Education
  • Lynn Jennings, Senior Director, National and State Partnerships, The Education Trust
  • Deborah Temkin, M.A., Ph.D., Vice President, Youth Development & Education Research

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. CR21-13 Celebrating Pride Month

      ii. CR21-14 Recognizing Juneteenth

      iii. CR21-15 Celebrating the life of Clark Ray

 VII. Public Comments

      i. Sally Schwartz

      ii.Student 1

      iii. Student 2

      iv. Tunisia Christian

      v. James Tandaric

      vi. Maya Baum

VIII.  Accountability

       i. Elaine Allensworth, PhD, Lewis-Sebring Director, UChicago Consortium  on School Research

       ii. Rae Clementz, Director of Assessment and Accountability for the Illinois State Board of Education

       iii. Lynn Jennings, Senior Director, National and State Partnerships, The Education Trust

       iv. Deborah Temkin, M.A., Ph.D.,Vice President, Youth Development & Education Research

IX. Administrative Items (VOTE)

       i. SR21-4 Supporting School Librarians in Every School

X. New Business

XI. Adjournment

 

 

About the SBOE

The D.C. 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]