ERNA DC Testifies at Budget Oversight Hearing on ERNA DC’s Budget Priorities

Blogs, Letters & Testimonials

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May 3, 2024

DC Council’s Committee of the Whole Budget Oversight Hearing:

“Fiscal Year 2025 Local Budget Act of 2024“
“Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Portion Budget Request Act of 2024“
“Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Support Act of 2024”
“Fiscal Year 2024 Revised Local Budget Emergency Adjustment Act of 2024”

Minetre Martin
Organizing Manager
Education Reform Now Advocacy DC

Good afternoon, Chairman Mendelson, Councilmembers, and staff of the Committee of the Whole. My name is Minetre Martin. I am a ward 4 resident and an Organizing Manager for the D.C. Chapter of Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), an organization fighting for a just and equitable public education system for all students. Today, I am here to urge the DC Council to:

  1. Fully fund the Early Literacy Education Taskforce recommendations with an additional $10 million across the financial plan. (The Mayor proposed $2.2 million for some training and high-quality instruction materials.)
  2. Fund the Mathematics Education Improvement Amendment Act of 2024 at $300,000 ($3 per public school student). 
  3. Restore the 3.1% increase to the charter facilities allotment funding at $11.66 million ($246 per public charter student) over the financial plan.

The urgency of our situation is clear. 78% of our students can’t do grade level math[1], 66% aren’t proficient in English Language Arts[2], and there is a shocking 49.8% illiteracy rate for adults in wards 7 and 8.[3] That is relevant to our community because we want to empower our residents to thrive in life and D.C. families demand change.

A recent poll of 325 DC public school parents revealed that 87% agreed that Mayor Bowser and the D.C. Council must prioritize investments in math education. This cuts across racial lines, with 81% of Black parents and 73% of Latino parents ranking math as the most important subject for their children’s future.[4]

Two years ago, Chairman Mendelson, Councilmember Pinto, and the DC Council passed legislation into law that would create the Early Literacy Education Taskforce,[5] and now the DC Council must finish what it started by making targeted investments in strengthening reading by supporting access to high-quality instructional materials and providing evidence-informed training for teachers in the science of reading. Additionally, an investment in a math task force now would allow us to course correct and revolutionize how math is taught in DC and perhaps even chart a course for reforms across the country. We applaud Councilmember Zachary Parker for introducing the Mathematics Education and Improvement Amendment Act of 2024 and Councilmembers Anita Bonds, Christina Henderson, Janeese Lewis George, Brianne Nadeau, Brooke Pinto, and Robert White for co-introduction.

Let’s not just be a city that talks about equity but rather one that puts its money where its mouth is, investing in the programs and supports that truly make a difference in our student’s academic acceleration.

Additionally, we are asking the DC Council to restore the 3.1% increase to the charter facilities allotment funding at $11.66 million over the financial plan.Maintaining the facilities allotment is crucial for public charter schools to find, construct, and/or renovate buildings to create safe and well-maintained learning environments for our students. This funding is necessary to keep pace with rising costs and is integral for accessing large-scale projects.

So I’m asking you, Council members, to be the heroes of this story.

  1. Fully fund the Early Literacy Education Taskforce recommendations.
  2. Fund the Mathematics Education Improvement Amendment Act of 2024. 
  3. Restore the 3.1% increase to the charter facilities allotment over the financial plan.

Before I close, it is important for the DC Council to maintain the Mayor’s proposed investment in secondary college and career pathways. These efforts (the Office of Education through Employment Pathways and investments in the Advanced Technical Centers, dual enrollment, Reimagine High School, and internships) will provide students with greater access to college-level courses and career pathways, bridging the gap between high school and higher education.

The impact of these investments will be felt far beyond our city limits. We can be the spark that ignites change across the country, demonstrating the power of a community united in putting its children first.

Thank you.

[1] School year 2022-23 PARCC Assessment Results Source: https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/Assessment%202023%20Deck_.08.24_0.pdf

[2] OSSE. 2022-23 Assessment Results. Source: https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/Assessment%202023%20Deck_.08.24_0.pdf

[3] Reading is Fundamental. East of the River News. Source: https://eastoftheriverdcnews.com/2024/02/13/reading-is-fundamental/

[4]Education Reform Now DC. Majority of DC Parents Want to Overhaul Math Education, New ERN DC Survey Reveals. Accessed April 4, 2024. Source: https://edreformnow.org/2024/03/11/majority-of-dc-parents-want-to-overhaul-math-education-new-ern-dc-survey-reveals/

[5]Recommendations for Structured Literacy Instruction in the District of Columbia. Source: https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/Early%20Literacy%20Task%20Force%20Report.pdf

LaDan W. Johnson
Civic Leader
Education Reform Now Advocacy D.C.

Good afternoon, Chairman Mendelson, Members, and Staff of the Committee  of the Whole. 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 urge you to:

  1. Fund the Mathematics Education Improvement Amendment Act of 2024 estimated to be $300,000 ($3 per public school student). 
  2. Fully fund the Early Literacy Education Taskforce recommendations with an additional $10 million.
  3. Maintain the Mayor’s proposed investments to build secondary college and career pathways to expand dual enrollment opportunities for students.

In my current role as the Student Affairs Specialist and Advisor for Computer Science at Howard University, I find access to math, literacy, and early college through dual enrollment increases persistence for students pursuing higher education. This is true for many of the students whom I advise in the computer science program who participated in dual enrollment prior to enrolling at Howard. Many of my advisees who participated in dual enrollment and had solid math and literacy skills have excelled in the computer science program.

Math and literacy proficiency are essential for success in higher education and the workforce. They provide the critical thinking and communication skills needed to thrive in today’s economy. Dual enrollment and early college programs, in turn, help students build on these foundational skills while addressing stagnant college participation rates and socioeconomic disparities in educational attainment.

Despite some progress, only 30% of adults in D.C. have obtained a bachelor’s degree over the past two decades, and educational attainment gaps persist. With just one in four young adults holding a degree, yet 58% of jobs requiring one, the need for strengthening math, literacy, and dual enrollment programs is clear. Currently, only 7% of public high school students participate in publicly funded dual enrollment programs.

Our asks:

We urge the DC Council to build on the Mayor’s proposed investments by taking decisive action to:

  • Fund the Mathematics Education Improvement Amendment Act of 2024 estimated to be $300,000 ($3 per public school student).
    • The Task Force will be comprised of local and national experts to recommend implementation of a statewide math strategy that includes five elements: daily math instruction with high-quality content and instructional materials; support for teachers; assessments and parent notification; interventions; and resources for families and caregivers.
  • Fully fund the Early Literacy Education Taskforce recommendations with an additional $10 million.
    • The Mayor has proposed $2 million to implement high-quality instructional materials and some training for teachers based on recommendations from the Early Literacy Task Force. Additional funding is needed to support the full adoption of training as well as literacy coaches
  • Maintain the Mayor’s proposed investments to build secondary college and career pathways to expand dual enrollment opportunities for students. These investments include the following: $668K for the Office of Education through Employment Pathways; and $22 million for investments in the Advanced Technical Centers, dual enrollment, Reimagine High School, and internships. Still, there is much-needed progress that is needed to ensure these investments are well-spent:
    • Enhance marketing for these programs.
    • Provide robust data collection on student outcomes and transparently share.
    • 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.