Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray
Education reform council hearing schedule
January 12, 2007

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Chairman Gray Announces Next Steps in Education Reform Debate

Today, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray announced the calendar and procedural framework for the hearings on the District of Columbia Public Education Reform Act of 2007 (“Public Education Legislation”) before the Committee of the Whole (COW). “ We need to conduct a very thoughtful and comprehensive process which provides an opportunity to everyone in our community that could be impacted by this reform,” said Gray. “A proposal of this magnitude deserves everyone’s involvement.”

The COW will hold a total of five hearings on the Public Education Legislation over a period of six weeks. Unless otherwise noted, all hearings will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chamber of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. 5th Floor. The COW has scheduled hearings as follows:

1) Public Mayoral Briefing – The COW will invite Mayor Adrian M. Fenty to publicly present the Public Education Legislation to the Council of the District of Columbia. This hearing will occur on Thursday, January 18, 2007.

2) Local and National Education and Governance Experts and Related Groups– The COW will invite local and national education and governance experts and other groups with experience in public school governance issues. This hearing will occur on Tuesday, January 30, 2007.

3) Public Testimony – The COW will schedule two public hearings – one during the week and one on the weekend. These hearings will occur on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 and Saturday, February 10, 2007. The February 7th hearing is for the general public, while the one on Saturday, February 10th will be dedicated entirely to District youth witnesses.

4) Key District Public Representatives – The COW will invite the Board of Education for the District of Columbia, the Superintendent for the District of Columbia Public Schools, the State Education Officer, representatives from the Public Charter School Board and the Chief Financial Officer to testify. This hearing will occur on Tuesday, February 13, 2007.

Education Representatives from Other School Districts – The COW will invite representatives from selected cities and other areas of the nation addressing school governance changes and their effect on the academic achievement of students. The COW also will invite capital funds experts from other jurisdictions to address the benefit of an independent facilities management and construction authority. This hearing will occur on Tuesday, February 13, 2007.

5) Mayoral Response – The COW will invite the Mayor to testify and respond to concerns, issues, and questions raised by witnesses from all hearings and also to address additional questions from members of the Council that may have arisen during the hearings. This hearing will occur on Tuesday, February 27, 2007.

For each public hearing, witness slots will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis. Individuals who wish to testify at either the February 7th or February 10th hearing may call (202) 724- 8196 on January 31, 2007.

“In holding these hearings, the central question to be addressed will be, ‘Will the academic achievement and overall well-being of the children, youth, and adult students of the District of Columbia improve as a result of this action ?,’ said Gray.