LaDan W. Johnson
Civic Leader, Education Reform Now Advocacy D.C.
State Board of Education
April Public Meeting
Good evening, representatives of the DC State Board of Education. I am LaDan W. Johnson, a resident of Ward 7 and an employee and Ph.D. student in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies at Howard University. As a civic leader for Education Reform Now Advocacy D.C., I advocate for equitable educational opportunities in Washington, DC. Tonight, I am here to support expanding dual enrollment and early college opportunities for our students.
In my current role as the Student Affairs Specialist and Advisor for Computer Science at Howard University, I find access to early college through dual enrollment increases persistence for students pursuing higher education. This is true for many of the students who I advise in the computer science program who participated in dual enrollment prior to enrolling at Howard.
Why are Dual Enrollment and Early College Opportunities important?
Access to dual enrollment and early college programs is critical to address the stagnant college participation rates and the socioeconomic disparities in educational attainment in Washington D.C. Despite some progress, only about 30% of adults have obtained a bachelor’s degree over the past two decades, and educational attainment gaps persist. With only one in four young adults in D.C. holding a degree, yet 58% of jobs requiring one, the need for expanded access is clear.[1] Currently, only 7% of public high school students participate in publicly funded dual enrollment programs.[2] Increasing access to these programs is essential to improve educational and economic outcomes for D.C. residents, helping to mitigate financial barriers and prepare students for higher education and the workforce.
Recently, Mayor Bowser proposed the following FY2025 Budget Investments:
- $668,000 to establish the Office of Education through Employment Pathways, providing key insights into education and workforce outcomes.
- $17 million to expand the Advanced Technical Center at Penn Center; $600,000 to support the opening of a new Advanced Technical Center at the Whitman-Walker Max Robinson Center in Ward 8; and $5 million to Reimagine High School, support the Advanced Technical Center in Ward 5, Career Ready Internship, Advanced Technical Internship, and dual enrollment seats.
Our asks:
We urge the DC State Board of Education and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to build on the efforts by taking decisive action to:
- Enhance program marketing efforts.
- Provide robust data collection on student outcomes.
- Develop strategies for expanding in-person, cohort-based dual enrollment programs, especially for students facing significant barriers.
- Incentivize employers to hire students in high-demand, high-wage careers.
My experiences in education policy and practice have deepened my commitment to addressing challenges in the American educational landscape, advocating for diversity, and eliminating inequitable practices. Thank you for considering these crucial steps toward a more inclusive and equitable educational system in Washington, DC.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
[1]DC Policy Center. Measuring early career outcomes in D.C. Source: https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Early-career-outcomes-1-pager.pdf
[2]Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education. Strengthening Student Access and Success in Dual Enrollment in Washington, DC. Source: https://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/Strengthening%20DC%20Student%20Access%20and%20Success%20in%20Dual%20Enrollment_0.pdf