Peggy Cooper Cafritz, President, DC Board of Education
Testimony to the Committee on Education, Libraries, and Education on the
Omnibus Board of Education and DC Public Schools Restructuring Act of 2004 and the School Governance Amendment Act of 2004,
March 29, 2004

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STATEMENT OF PEGGY COOPER CAFRITZ
PRESIDENT OF THE D.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, LIBRARIES AND RECREATION

REGARDING

THE OMNIBUS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESTRUCTURING ACT OF 2004
AND
THE SCHOOL GOVERNANCE AMENDMENT ACT OF 2004

MARCH 29, 2004

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN CHAVOUS. I AM PEGGY COOPER CAFRITZ, PRESIDENT OF THE D.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION (BOARD). IT IS MY PLEASURE TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION REGARDING SCHOOL GOVERNANCE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. PLEASE ALLOW ME TO FIRST ADDRESS THE OMINIBUS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESTRUCTURING ACT.

ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT OCCURRING AS FAST AS WE WOULD LIKE OR OUR CHILDREN DESERVE, PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THERE ARE COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT BY OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOLS. ALLOW ME TO CITE JUST A FEW:

1. DCPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BURVILLE, MANN AND WEST HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS 2002-2003 NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS
2. BANNEKER S.H.S. SENIOR ANDREI MUNTEANU WAS NAMED AS ONE OF THE WINNERS IN THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL INTEL SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH COMPETITIONS.
3. THE CARDOZO S.H.S. BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAM WON THE DISTRICT OF COUMBIA INTERSCHOLARTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP
4. THE ROOSEVELT S.H.S. GIRLS' BASKETBALL TEAM WON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP
5. KENDRA MCDOW, A BANNEKER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, WON FIRST PLACE IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA JUNIOR SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES SYMPOSIUM
6. PATRICK POPE, PRINCIPAL OF HARDY MIDDDLE SCHOOL WON THE METLIFE/NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS LEVEL STATE PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AWARD
7. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING THE PSAT AND SAT EXAMS CONTINUES TO INCREASE. THE AVERAGE SCORES ON THE VERBAL PORTION OF THE TESTS INCREASED BY FOUR POINTS IN 2002-2003. MATHEMATICS SCORES REMAINED STEADY FOR THE SAME PERIOD. TWELVE OF THE 16 HIGH SCHOOLS ACHIEVED GAINS ON THE VERBAL SECTION OF THE TEST, WHILE TEN OF THE 16 ACHIEVED GAINS ON THE MATHEMATICS PORTION
8. TEACHER LORI PREHEIM OF THE DCPS EVEN START PROGRAM RECEIVED THE TOYOTA FAMILY LITERACY NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
9. THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASES IN READING AND MATH SCORES IN NINE OF THE ELEVEN GRADE LEVELS TESTED

THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION REMAINS COMMITTED TO INCREASING STUDENT PERFORMANCE FOR EVERY CHILD AND RAISING THE STANDARDS FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE BOARD CONTINUES TO IMPLEMENT A REFORM AGENDA THAT FOCUSES ON KEY AREAS THAT WE FEEL WILL HELP D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACHIEVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE AND GREATER EFFICIENCY IN OPERATIONS. TO ACHIEVE THOSE ENDS, THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OUTLINED IN THE REPORT, `RESTORING EXCELLENCE TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS', CONDUCTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE GREAT CITY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE ALSO ADOPTED AN ACTION PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE REFORM AGENDA PROVIDES FOR:

1. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE DISTRICT-WIDE INSTRUCTIONAL PLAN THAT WILL BE READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION THIS FALL
2. THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WORLD CLASS BUSINESS SYSTEM FOR D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WILL SUPPORT TEACHING AND LEARNING AND IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF ALL OPERATION SYSTEMS
3. THE CREATION OF A DISCIPLINE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL DC SCHOOL CHILDREN
4. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS

THERE IS STILL MUCH MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I CANNOT SUPPORT ANY LEGISLATIVE MEASURE THAT DISTRACTS US FROM OUR REFORM AGENDA AND THAT ERODES THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD AND FURTHER DECREASES ELECTED REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD. THE BOARD IS DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO CITIZENS, PARENTS AND OTHER CONSTITUENTS FOR SETTING POLICY FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE BOARD IS ONE OF THE FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION IN THE SETTING OF POLICY. THE CITIZENS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAVE ASSIGNED TO US THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT THEIR VALUES REGARDING PUBLIC EDUCATION. I BELIEVE THAT FUNCTION SHOULD REMAIN A PRIORITY OF THIS GOVERNMENT AND NOT HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THE MAYOR'S CABINET. THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL RELEGATES THE BOARD TO THE ROLE OF AN ADVISORY BODY. AN ADVISORY BODY IS ANTITHETICAL OUR NOTIONS OF PARTICIPATORY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATIONAL POLICY SETTING. I BELIEVE THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADOPTING EDUCATIONAL POLICY SHOULD RESIDE WITH AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY THAT IS NOT ENCUMBERED WITH COMPETING RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIORITIES.

MOREOVER, WE CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE THAT A GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT IS DOMINATED BY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP GUARANTEES HIGHER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. CURRENT RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY SEVERAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS REPORTS INCONCLUSIVE RESULTS AS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXECUTIVE-RUN SCHOOL SYSTEMS. ACCORDING TO THE EDUCATION COMMISSION OF THE STATES, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION-COUNCIL OF URBAN BOARDS OF EDUCATION, SOME SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS CONTINUE TO PERFORM POORLY WHEN THEY ARE TAKEN OVER BY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP. BEFORE WE TAKE SUCH A RADICAL STEP THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE FIRST ASSURED THAT A CHANGE IN STRUCTURE WILL GENERATE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN STUDENT PERFORMANCE.

I BELIEVE THAT THE DEBATE DISTRACTS US FROM WHAT TRULY NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO ADEQUATELY FUND AND MOVE REFORM EFFORTS FORWARD AND LOOK AT WAYS TO CREATIVELY ADDRESS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY OUR CURRENT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE. I BELIEVE THAT WE DOING THAT. WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO RECRUIT AND HIRE A HIGHLY QUALIFIED, EXEMPLARY SUPERINTENDENT WHO WILL LEAD THE EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE REFORMS THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT. IN ADDITION, AS YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARD HAVE AGREED TO A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT THAT IS DESIGNED TO WORK TOWARD THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE GOVERNANCE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND TO ENSURE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. WE WILL NEED TO EMPLOY SUCH COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE SCHOOL GOVERNANCE AMENDMENT ACT OF 2004, WHICH PROPOSES TO CREATE A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REFORM PLAN AND A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE. DURING ITS TENURE THIS BOARD HAS BALANCED ITS BUDGET. IN FACT, WE ENDED 2003 FISCAL YEAR WITH A SMALL SURPLUS OF APPROXIMATELY $47,000. WE ARE EXPECTING TO END THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IN BALANCE. THE BOARD HAS DEMONSTRATED A WILLINGNESS TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND TO OPERATE WITHIN THE APPROVED BUDGET.

WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MORE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED-WHAT IS AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA? WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED OBJECTIVELY AND COMPREHENSIVELY. WE BELIEVE THAT AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL, THE BOARD, AND OTHER CONCERNED PARTIES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AND DETERMINE THE ADEQUACY OF THE PER PUPIL STUDENT FUNDING FORMULA FOR CHARTER AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AS YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS OF ALL AGENCIES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE DISTRICT'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO). THE EXERCISE OF THE DUTIES AND ACTIONS OF THE D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOL'S CFO IS INDEPENDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD GIVE CONSIDERATION TO ALLOWING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO HIRE AND SUPERVISE THE SCHOOL'S CFO WHILE HOLDING THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT FURTHER ERODES THE AUTHORITY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BIFURCATES RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY FOR THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHOOLS.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION ALSO CALLS FOR THE BOARD TO PRODUCE ANNUALLY A PERFORMANCE BASED BUDGET. FOR FY 2004, DCPS PROVIDED THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WITH A 535 PAGE PERFORMANCE BASED BUDGET THAT DID INCLUDE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR SPENDING. WE SEE OUR EFFORT AS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND WILL WORK TO REFINE THE INFORMATION THAT WE PRESENT. WE ARE MOVING TO BE ABLE TO USE OUR PERFORMANCE BASED BUDGET TO MEASURE AND MONITOR PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE FURTHER ALONG IN THIS REGARD THAN MANY OTHER AGENCIES OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT.

THE BOARD IS QUITE WILLING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A PERFORMANCE BUDGET THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COUNCIL AND PUBLIC IN UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF THE FINANCIAL CHOICES THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.

IN CLOSING, THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO REFORMING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WE WELCOME YOUR CONTINUED ASSISTANCE AND SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.