ERN DC Statement on D.C. Council’s Final Budget Vote

Statement on D.C. Council’s Final Budget Vote
“D.C. public schools set to receive a massive $3 billion in funding.”

WASHINGTON (June 14, 2023) — Today, Jessica Giles, Executive Director at Education Reform Now D.C., issued a statement on the inclusion of ERN D.C.’s priorities in the FY2024 D.C. Council budget: 

“This year’s unique budget season was full of tough choices, but thanks to Mayor Bowser, Chairman Mendelson, and the D.C. Council’s commitment to education equity, an unprecedented $3 billion in operating and capital spending will be infused directly to D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools. For the second year in a row, the per-pupil funding formula increased by more than 5%, marking continued investment in D.C.’s public school students,” said Jessica Giles.

“This budget reassures D.C. families and advocates that their lawmakers are taking direct action to address massive learning setbacks.”   

The FY2024 budget and financial plan included the following critical investments:

• 5.05% increase to the per-student funding, or $13,046 per pupil.
• An increase to the at-risk concentration weights by .02 or $9,375,754 across the four-year financial plan.
• Maintains the public charter school facilities allotment at 3.1%.
• Provides retroactive and forward pay increases for DCPS and public charter school educators, with an additional $15 million bringing the forward pay in line with DCPS.
• $1.2 million to create a pipeline of behavioral health specialists by funding a Master of Social Work degree program at the University of the District of Columbia.
• Maintains investments in Out of School Time, safe passage, restorative justice, and high-impact tutoring programming.
• Creates a centralized system to collect, analayze, and publish  pre-kindergarten through 12, higher education, adult education, and workforce data.

Giles continued, “As the District braces for a future with declining revenues, our elected officials must double down on targeted efforts to ensure students furthest from opportunity can live, learn, and thrive in the District of Columbia.”