Mayor Anthony A. Williams
Mayor’s Meeting on School Governance
April 15, 2004

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ANTHONY A. WILLIAMS
MAYOR

MAYOR'S MEETING ON SCHOOL GOVERNANCE

Thursday, April 15, 2004
Press Briefing Room, Ground Floor
John A. Wilson Building
7:30 p.m.

AGENDA

I.   Mayor's Opening Remarks
II.   Presentation on School Governance Strategy for Adoption
III.   Questions and Answers
IV. Closing Remarks

Radio Call-In Shows April 16

5 a.m. - 9 a.m. - WMAL Morning News with Fred Grandy and Andy Parks 202-432-WMAL
10 a.m. -11 a.m. - WTOP - The Politics Program with Mark Plotkin 1-877-628-WTOP
Noon -1 p.m. - WAMU - DC Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi 1-800-433-8850 or email kojo@wamu.org (Friday's guest is Kevin Chavous)
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. WMAL Evening News with Chris Core 202-432-WMAL

April 19

5 a.m. - 9 a.m. - WMAL Morning News with Fred Grandy and Andy Parks 202-432-WMAL
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. - The Paul Berry Show on WTNT, 570 AM 301-562-2868
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. WMAL Evening News with Chris Core 202-432-WMAL

Critical Education Improvements for Year One of Mayor's Proposed School Governance Reform Structure

To successfully reform our education system, the Superintendent or Chancellor must be empowered with clear direction and cross-agency support. The most effective way to provide this empowerment is to streamline the governance structure. Having our school administrator report directly to the Mayor, combined with the oversight and guidance of the Council, presents our best hope for transforming our troubled public school system.

Earlier this year, the Mayor proposed legislation that will remove major barriers to reform so that the school system can immediately begin instituting critical education improvements. Recognizing that change will take time, the following is a list of actions that can be accomplished within the first year under our new governance structure. This list is not a longterm education reform agenda. It is a list of immediate steps that will result in changes that parents and the community will both see and feel as we work toward longer systemic reforms.

Increasing Student Achievement

• Within the first 100 days, conduct a full assessment of DCPS teacher credentials to determine the percentage of teachers who are "highly qualified" in their subject areas. Devise a plan to bring all teachers up to the standard within 2 years.
• Establish citywide standards, curricula, and assessments to ensure that all 3" graders are able to read independently and to understand the fundamentals of mathematics. We must establish system-wide standards that will ensure that all 8th graders are able to read at or above grade-level and are exposed to pre-algebra concepts.
• Develop mandatory ongoing professional development to help existing teachers achieve full accreditation.

Making buildings safe and supportive

• Establish new security program for all school facilities to be managed by and coordinated through the Metropolitan Police Department.
• Fix deficiencies in basic amenities such as bathroom stall doors, toilet paper, running water, etc.
• Assess facilities coordination encouraging charter school co-location and space-sharing with recreation, libraries and community-based organizations where appropriate.
• Prioritize critical repairs and equitably distribute renovations at all schools.

Using technology effectively

• Streamline IT systems and integrate where possible with existing DC systems.
• Install 10,000 new computers on teachers' desks and in computer labs.
• Establish a payroll management system that can generate an accurate Schedule A and guarantee that all employees are paid accurately and on time.

Implementing strong financial management

• Provide clear and unified budgetary directives for Superintendent.
• Maintain ongoing budgetary discipline with oversight from CFO and Council.

Reforming Personnel and Accountability Structures

• Require the Chancellor and all senior managers to have performance contracts and/or individual performance plans.
• Conduct a full review of all labor contracts for DCPS and renegotiate where appropriate.

Contracts will be evaluated and sent to Council for retroactive reauthorization.

• Establish a Labor Management Partnership Council for DCPS
• Encourage early declaration incentives and early retirement plans for eligible employees.

Engaging the community to support student learning

• Launch citywide school volunteerism campaign through SERVE DC to ensure that every child has exposure to tutors, mentors and similar support.
• Develop and institute a citywide "adopt a school" campaign to tap into valuable corporate and civic resources.
• Host an Education Summit, modeled after the administration's three successful Citizen Summits, to develop a citywide education reform agenda

SUPPORT ACCOUNTABILITY, ACHIEVE BETTER RESULTS
Through Mayor Anthony A. Williams' School Governance Reform Proposal

On February 17, 2004, Mayor Williams submitted the "Omnibus Board of Education and DC Public Schools Restructuring Act of 2004," in an effort to radically reform of the public education system. Specifically, the bill proposes to centralize accountability and ensure greater instructional management and programmatic and fiscal oversight of the District of Columbia Public Schools.

On March 29, 2004, the Committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation considered the Mayor's proposal at which time several members expressed interest in including additional provisions.

On April 20, 2004, the Council will once again consider the Mayor's proposal as an amendment in the nature of a substitute co-introduced by Councilmember Jack Evans and Vincent Orange.

HOW CAN YOU ENSURE THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS PASSED?

You can support the successful passage of the "Omnibus Board of Education and DC Public Schools Restructuring Act of 2004" in the following ways:

• Beginning with the representative from your ward, CALL, WRITE AND/OR E-MAIL COUNCIL MEMBERS to request that they vote yes for the Evans/Orange amendment which will re-introduce the Mayor's original proposal with additional provisions 
• ENLIST OTHERS to call, write and/or e-mail Council Members as well
• CALL-IN TO TALK RADIO AND MORNING SHOWS and express your support for the Mayor's proposal
• ATTEND A SCHOOL GOVERNANCE REFORM RALLY on MONDAY, APRIL 19TH at 11:00 A.M. on the steps of the District Building
• BE PRESENT FOR THE VOTE on TUESDAY, APRIL, 20T" at 10 A.M. in Council Chambers

WHAT WILL THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL DO?

In its current form, the "Omnibus Board of Education and DC Public Schools Restructuring Act of 2004 " would do the following:

• Recreate DCPS as an executive agency with operational and fiscal accountability structures like that of. other agencies.
• Consequently, adjust the Council's budget oversight in a way that will better align accountability 'and outcomes
• Establish a Chancellor of Schools, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council, who would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the schools system. Responsibilities such as procurement personnel, budget, etc. to the Chancellor to allow for the greatest level of autonomy and flexibility
• Establish an all-elected Board of Education to serve as an important vehicle for community input and have great weight in its review of education policies. Members would be elected form from each of the eight wards and the president would be elected at large.
• Charge the Chancellor with creating structured educational activities for all 3 and 4 year olds enrolled in DCPS, such that those youngsters are adequately prepared for entry into kindergarten.
• Require that the DCPS have a uniform reading and mathematics curriculum for students in kindergarten through the 8th grade.
• Hold the Chancellor accountable for ensuring that all third grades are able to read independently and to understand the fundamentals of mathematics upon being promoted to the 4th grade and all 8th graders are able to read at or above grade-level and are exposed to pre-algebra concepts in preparation for entry into high school.
• Limit collective bargaining agreements for employees of DCPS to matters of salaries, wages, and personnel benefits (i.e. no work conditions).
• Transfer the Board of Education chartering authority to the State Education Office, which will have oversight over Board chartered schools and the ability to charter new schools.
• Include a sunset provision that would allow the Mayor and Council to consider the level of progress that had been accomplished by 2013 under the new structure and the feasibility of once again reverting to an all-elected Board.

Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Washington, D.C. 20004

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April 16, 2004 

Dear Resident.

On February 17, 2004 I transmitted to Council the "Omnibus Board of Education and DC Public School Restructuring Act of 2004 " which would significantly transform public school governance in the District. I write to you today to request your support in encouraging Council to adopt this bill on April 20, 2004.

Over the last few months, the Council and I have been engaged in discussions about education system. In particular, we have been exploring which governance structure would most effectively provide systemic reform and ensure that our children have the best opportunities for
educational achievement. The "Omnibus Board of Education and DC Public School Restructuring Act of 2004 "would centralize accountability and ensure greater instructional management and programmatic and fiscal oversight of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS).

The District's public education system is broken. Despite spending enormous amounts of money on education, the District's schools have among the lowest test scores in the nation. This is unacceptable and it cannot continue. We are failing our kids.

To reform our education, system a Superintendent or Chancellor must be empowered with clear direction and cross-agency support. The only effective way to provide this empowerment for the leader of DCPS is to streamline the governance structure. Specifically, a Superintendent or Chancellor can best succeed with the support and leadership of a strong executive and with the oversight and guidance of an effective Council.

If the Council approves my education reform bill, the Council and the Mayor will take a more active role to provide a new Superintendent or Chancellor with clear direction and accountability to improve the schools. We can streamline operations to bring about much-needed reforms and we can coordinate services for the schools - services that other human service agencies can provide while making our school buildings safe.

The status quo is not working and does not provide the stability that is required to secure the success of a Superintendent or the education of our children. We have a moral obligation to try something different. School governance reform is an historic initiative: one that is crucial to the future of our young people. Without it, we will undoubtedly continue the cycle of creating a disadvantaged and unprepared generation of young people.

Again. I ask you to encourage the Council to adopt my proposal on April 20. 2004. I need your support and more importantly our children need and deserve a school system that works.

Sincerely.
Anthony A. Williams