Mayor Anthony Williams
Fact Sheet: Mayor Williams’ School Governance Reform Proposal
February 2004

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Purpose of Reform

• Centralize accountability to ensure greater programmatic and fiscal oversight
• Strengthen the role of the Superintendent to promote rapid educational improvement and increased student achievement
• Increase opportunities for improved coordination of district services in support of student achievement
• Maintain the Board of Education as an important avenue for citizen input

Structure of DC Public Schools (DCPS)

• DCPS shall be established as a subordinate cabinet agency
• The agency shall be headed by a Chancellor who will report directly to the Mayor
• DCPS, under the direction of the Chancellor, and as delegated by the Mayor, will continue to be responsible for personnel, procurement, and facilities management

Appointment and Functions of Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools

• A Chancellor shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor with confirmation by the Council
• The Chancellor shall be responsible for the day to operations and management of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)
• The Chancellor shall have all statutory and regulatory powers as delegated by the Mayor (through Mayors order or future law) with the intent of providing him/her with the greatest possible latitude to manage the school system as s/he sees fit

Board of Education

• The current composition of the Board shall be retained (5 elected; 4 appointed members)
• The Board would be reestablished as an advisory Board, which would directly advise the Mayor on education related matters including, but not limited to, DCPS curriculum, annual education plan, facilities, personnel, and budget.
• All current policy, oversight and rule-making authority will be transferred to the Mayor to be delegated as appropriate, and based on recommendation by the School Governance Transition Committee, to the Chancellor
• All current authority over education programs, facilities, labor negotiations, etc. will be transferred to the Mayor to be delegated as appropriate, and based on recommendation by the School Governance Transition Committee, to the Chancellor
• The current chartering authority functions will be transferred to State Education Office (SEO) pending further recommendation from the Transition Committee or from the State Education Advisory Committee

School Governance Transition Committee (Transition Committee)

• A School Governance Transition Committee (Transition Committee), shall be establish within thirty (30) days of the passage of the bill
• The primary purpose of the Committee will be to ensure a smooth transition to the newly recreated D.C. Public Schools and the governance thereof.
• The Transition Committee shall review the state of the newly created D.C. Public Schools and make recommendations to the Mayor and Council in the form of written report within 120 days
• The Transition Committee shall make recommendations to the Mayor and Council regarding, among other things:
  1. Specific powers duties and/or functions to be delegated to the Chancellor;
  2. Appropriate transfer of all positions, personnel, property, records and unexpended balances from the Board to the Mayor, and delegation of such to the relevant parties;
  3. Necessary revisions to other portions of District law concerning the Board of Education or D.C. Public Schools;
  4. Proposals, and time frames, for creating a smooth transition within the newly reestablished D.C. Public Schools; and
  5. The transfer of public school chartering authority to the State Education Office, including a potential consolidation or transfer of such authority. Such recommendation would be developed in conjunction with any other reviews and analysis of SEO restructuring
• The Transition Committee shall be chaired by the Mayor or his designee and shall include the following individuals or their designees with expertise in the areas of education (particularly school reform), business management, public policy and finance:
  • Chair of the Council Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation 
  • the State Education Officer
  • a current or former superintendent of a large urban city the Chief Financial Officer
  • an attorney with expertise in matters affecting DCPS and public education in the District
  • a former member of the D.C. Board of Education a labor representative
  • a parent/ community representative
  • a charter school representative
  • two private/corporate sector representative
  • two individuals appointed by the Mayor from either the Executive Cabinet or from another area of expertise.
• The Transition Committee shall automatically dissolve upon the completion of its report.

Legislative Vehicle

• Many of the provisions of the bill will require affirmative action by Congress as they amend the Home Rule Charter
• A referendum is not required to initiate congressional action, nor is it required to implement this restructuring

Prepared by the Executive Office of the Mayor, February 2004