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The time is now 5:39. I appreciate
people waiting a few moments while we

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talk to our superintendent. On
Wednesday, August 19th, 2026, and this

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public meeting of the DC State Board of
Education will now come to order. The

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role will now be called to determine the
presence of a quorum. Director Butler,

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please call the role.
>> Representative Best.

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» Representative Chang,
>> present.

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» Representative Coulson,
>> present.

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» Representative Henderson,
>> present.

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» Representative Johnson Law,
>> good evening. And present.

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» Representative Thompson.
>> Representative Williams,

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» present.
>> Representative Goule,

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» here.

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President Patterson
>> present.

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» Mr. President, you have a quorum.
>> Okay. A quorum has been determined and

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state board will now proceed with the
business portion of the meeting.

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[clears throat]
Members, we have a draft agenda before

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us. Are there any corrections or
additions to this agenda?

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Seeing no corrections or additions, is
there a motion to adopt the agenda?

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» So moved.
>> It's been moved by Rep. Vice President

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Goule. Can I get a second?
>> Second.

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» It has been seconded by W a uh
Representative De Johnson Law. Okay.

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Is there any discussion on the motion?

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» Okay. Seeing no discussion, the motion
is to adopt the agenda. All in favor say

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I.
>> I.

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» Any naysay? The eyes have it. The motion
carries. We now have the minutes from

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our July 1st and August 5th working
sessions. Is there a motion to adopt

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these minutes?
>> So moved.

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» It has been moved by Johnson Law. Can I
hear a second?

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» Second.
>> It has been seconded by Representative

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Williams. Is there any discussion on the
motion?

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Seeing no discussion, the motion is to
adopt the minutes from our July and

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August working sessions. I will now ask
for the yes and the nays. All in favor

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say I.
>> I.

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» I.
>> Any oppose say nay. The eyes have it and

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the motion carries.
>> Good evening. I'm Dr. Patterson. The

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atlarge and president of the DC State
Board of Education. On behalf of the

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state board, I want to welcome our guest
members of the public, including those

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who are watching live via the district
knowledge network to our public meeting.

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These meetings take place on the third
Wednesday of each month in the old

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council chamber here at 441
4th Street. This evening, we will not be

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hosting an expert panel because we do
not have the hybrid capacity in the old

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chamber that we would like to have. We
voted as a board to shift the expert

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panel on age appropriate screen time to
a virtual roundt on August 31st. More

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information including how you can view
the round table will be available on the

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state board's website and social media
channels.

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After a remarks, we will proceed with
public comments. We have 30 public

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witnesses who have signed up to share
testimony. We encourage the public to

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sign up every month at sbe.dc.gov.
gov. The state board is available as a

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resource for our local communities.
Please don't hesitate to contact your

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representative with questions or
concerns related to public education or

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email our agency staff at sbe dc.gov.
At this time, I would like to welcome

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our state superintendent, Annette
Mitchell, to provide Aussie remarks.

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And I'm sorry, Antoanette.
[laughter]

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» Thank you so much.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. Good

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evening, state board members, staff, and
members of the public. Thank you for

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welcoming me. As President Patterson
noted, I am Anwinet Mitchell, the state

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superintendent of education for the
District of Columbia.

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It is always an honor to give an update
on our work and our shared priorities.

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Tonight is speech is especially
meaningful as the state board prepares

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to vote on updated physical education
standards and graduation requirements.

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Work I have been committed to for the
past three years. First though, I'd like

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to tell you how excited I am to start
another school year. Welcome students,

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teachers, parents, and staff to the 2026
27 school year. Fresh haircuts, new

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sneakers, new courses, new teachers,
clean classrooms, updated routines, and

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fresh starts. In education, we get a
chance to begin a new every year to

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improve what we did in the previous year
and to look forward to great benefits.

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We have been hard at work at AIE
preparing for the 2627 school year. Our

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transportation team continues to work
diligently with our families and schools

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to get information we need to provide
timely transportation services in the

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new school year. We are expanding career
and technical education with the launch

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of our new permanent home for the Ward 8
advanced technical center. This facility

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is strategically located with the Walt
Whitman Center, a critical health care

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provider east of the river. It will
serve approximately

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130 students this school year, giving
them the chance to earn dual credit and

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industry recognized credentials. The new
ATC will prepare students to become EMTs

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and clinical medical assistants, both of
which are aligned to advanced degrees in

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nursing and are high-skll, high wage and
high demand careers. We will keep the

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focus on stronger math and literacy
outcomes in this out upcoming year as

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well. and we'll do that across all LEAs
by continuing to implement ASI's

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literacy and math task force
recommendations.

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In addition, we will continue to improve
our LEA supports for student health

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because healthy bodies and minds provide
the foundation for student growth,

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achievement, and attendance. Last school
year, we raised immunization rates in

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the four key grades. We urge families to
schedule their students annual wellchild

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visit as soon as possible to continue to
keep them up to date on all required

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immunizations.
AI will also continue to partner with

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LEAS's DC Health and FIMS to make sure
every school has its emergency

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medication action plan and cardiac
response plans in place.

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These are a few of the priorities
driving our work right now as we move

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into the 2627 school year.
We've also continued to work hard this

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summer by recently publishing a few
different reports. We published an

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English learner landscape analysis, a
report on the district's child and adult

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care uh adult care food program, and two
final rulemakings. one on AIE subsidized

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child care program and one on the
statewide academic assessments. And I

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look forward to additional announcements
soon, including the release of the DC

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CAPE scores on tomorrow afternoon.
I want to briefly highlight the

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resolutions before the board tonight,
beginning with the physical education

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standards. I very much appreciate the
board's engagement on this matter and

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encourage members to support SR 2612.
The proposed standards update the

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standards updates are based on shape
America's national physical education

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standards. AIE conducted a multiple
month review of the national standards

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update in preparation with local PE
teachers and eleas. The results of this

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engagement and the feedback we've
received from the state board so show

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strong unified support for aligning
districts the district standards with

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the national update. The proposed
standards build on our existing ones as

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well as national research. They will
strengthen students physical literacy

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journey helping them gain the knowledge
and skills needed for lifelong physical

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activity and success in team
environments.

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As a tennis enthusiast myself, I know
firsthand how physical activity skills

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build K through 12 um uh learning into
lifeline purs lifelong pursuits. The

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passage of SR 2612
positions us to drive our students to

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new heights on their physical education
journeys.

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Tonight's vote on the DC the the
district's graduation requirements

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represents the culmination of years of
work. I started this work in the spring

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of 2024, even before becoming state
superintendent. We began by creating the

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district's first graduate profile, a
shared vision of the knowledge and

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skills every student should have by
graduation. That profile informed

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extensive public informed
extensive public engagement, including

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more than 40 meetings with educators,
industry partners, community

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organizations, and other state education
agencies. The state board also held five

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public meetings, formed a task force,
and spent nearly a year reviewing the

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requirements in our proposal.
This is without question the most

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thoroughly studied and reviewed
recommendation ASI has ever brought to

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the state board. If the board approves
SR 2613,

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and I am optimistic that you will, uh DC
students will benefit in several

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important ways. For the first time,
students will have six diploma

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endorsement options to choose from.
These endorsement options will help

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students connect their learning to their
career aspirations and increase their

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marketability to schools and employers.
Students will also receive annual

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post-secary planning touch points to
help them stay on track to graduate high

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school and to clarify their
post-graduation plans.

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The community service requirement will
expand to include both paid and unpaid

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opportunities and the required hours
will decrease from 100 to 60. This will

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make the experience more meaningful for
our students and more manageable.

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Mathematics options will grow as we
begin building out a new integrated math

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pathway that weaves together essential
concepts and focuses on practical

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problem solving skills while remaining
absolutely true to our state math

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standards.
The propos proposal also ensures that

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every student takes both physical
education and health by separating the

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current 1.5 credit requirement into one
one credit for PE and a half credit

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health course. It adds a new h uh half
credit financial literacy course which

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was by far the most common request we
heard from the public while canvasing

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students and parents at public events.
And finally, at the board's

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recommendation, students will be able to
earn competencybased credit in world

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languages. This change recognizes
students language mastery, allows that

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mastery to be reflected on their report
cards, and expands access to languages

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not currently offered at their school.
These changes reflect true collaboration

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and effective compromise. While they
look significantly different from ASI's

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original proposal, they represent a
thoughtful consensus driven policy

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shaped by hundreds of voices across the
District of Columbia.

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With tonight's votes, we continue
building a stronger future for DC

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students. And after the graduation
requirements are finalized, I look

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forward to transitioning to other
important shared priorities, including

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reviewing the district's SS state
accountability plan.

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Thank you very much for your time and
for your attention. I wish you all a

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joyful, productive, and inspiring start
to the school year. And remember, every

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day counts, so please start the year
with strong attendance. Thank you.

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» Thank you, Dr. Dr. Mitchell, before you
you leave the das, I just want to say

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that um this morning when I woke and I
turned on the news,

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» I saw CBS. I was watch CBS in the
morning. I saw that we were doing this.

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We were voting on this tonight, the
graduation requirements. And I so

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appreciate and I want to say this how
much you your team have been so

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collaborative throughout this whole
process. You stated this is something

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that you started working on in 2024.
>> Yes. our task force led by two dynamic

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leaders dug in and they worked with you
and you worked handin glove with them.

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So I truly appreciate the collaboration
and that morning news showed me that

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we're leading in these areas. So thank
you so much for your collaboration over

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the duration of this time. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much. It's been a pleasure.

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We hear testimony from public witnesses
at every public meeting and your

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comments become part of our official
record.

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If you would like to speak at a future
public meeting, please sign up using the

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form or the website at spboe.dc.gov.
Sign up closes 48 hours before the

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public meeting.
As mentioned earlier, we have 30

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witnesses who have signed up to share
testimony this evening. Members, please

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also refer to the written testimonies
available in Dropbox and in your

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materials if you have them printed. As a
reminder, all public witnesses must

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share a copy of your testimony with our
staff at sbe at dc.gov

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so we can add it to the public record.
We will hear from those in attendance in

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a panel format. Each witness will have
up to three minutes to provide comments.

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Please note that you must use one of the
microphones on the table. The timer

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light on the table will be green for the
first two and a half minutes, yellow for

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the last 30 seconds, and red after three
minutes have elapsed.

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After each panel of public witnesses, we
will pause for questions from state

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board members. If members have
questions, they have up to three

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minutes. These three minutes include
their question, comment, and the

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panelist answers.
Executive Director Butler, will you call

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the public witnesses?
Oh, she will call the public w she will

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also assist with with timing to ensure
our witnesses and members stay within

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their allotted time. Now, Director
Butler, will you call our witnesses?

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» Thank you, President Patterson. As we
prepare to call public witnesses, I want

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to reiterate that each panelist has
three minutes.

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At the 30 second mark, when you have 30
seconds left, the light will turn

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yellow. Once it turns red, please stop
talking.

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» And I will add before you start, garlic,
>> we do not want to cut you off. We really

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don't, but we will. Okay. Thank you.

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All right. Well, good evening. Um, first
on our list this evening we have Noah

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Dhorty,
Maya Mechin Brier,

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Lindsay Lieberman,

199
00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:56,160
Michelle Harberg,
Chuck Bratzky,

200
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Anna Caribel,

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00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:14,919
Okay. Well, we're going to call two
more. It seems like two people. Kate

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Rosenberg.

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Okay. You are here.

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Danielle Duncan,

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» I'm sorry.

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» Yeah, we can't control traffic, but yes.
So, it's it's very confusing. So,

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so the people who were called, Noah Dhy,
Maya Mackenbrier,

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Lindsay Lieberman,
Michelle Harberg, Chuck Bratzky, and

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Anna Caribel.

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So, that is five people.
>> So, we still have an empty seat.

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» Yeah, Maya Maya is in traffic.
So Maya is not here. So Kate Rosenberg,

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if you can please come.

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Thank you. We're going to start with
Noah and then work our way around.

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Unfortunately, the way the public
testimony is set up, we are unable to

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wait for people who are not here um
because people sign up on a first come,

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first- serve basis.
Mr. Dhy.

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» Good evening. My name is Noah Dhy. the
Ward 2 resident and the director of

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school talent and academic strategy at
the DC charter school alliance. First, I

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want to thank state board
representatives, superintendent

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Mitchell, members of the state board's
task force, and all of the community

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stakeholders who have engaged in the
process of reimagining our city's high

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school graduation requirements. We are
very happy with AI's most recent

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proposed changes. They honor the hard
work and deliberation of the state

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board's task force, reflect feedback
from a wide variety of stakeholders, and

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provide implement implementation
flexibility where appropriate. We deeply

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appreciate Representative Henderson's
suggestion at the working meeting to

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reduce the number of required elective
credits from 3.5 to three in order to

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maintain the number of required credits
to 24. We want to thank the other state

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board representatives and Superintendent
Mitchell for supporting this suggestion

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during that same meeting. We are also
very excited that the proposal to allow

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students to earn competency based
credits in world language has been

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included in the final recommendations.
This is a deeply equitable move that

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honors the hard work many families put
in to pass on their home language down

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to their children. And we appreciate all
the work the board has done to make this

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opportunity as simple as possible for
high schools to offer. The DC Charter

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School Alliance works with all 65 public
charter eleas including the 21 who serve

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high school students. and we plan to
convene two working groups. The first

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will explore ways to incorporate
financial literacy standards into

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existing classes and the second will
look at ways to ensure post-secondary

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planning touch points engage students
and their families in preparing our

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young people for success in college,
career and military pathways. These

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working groups will bring together the
school leaders, college and career

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counselors and teachers who will
ultimately be responsible for

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implementing these changes to develop
solutions that can benefit the entire

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sector. We know this important process
will continue for at least another year

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00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:32,799
as Aussie develops the guidance and
resources that educators, students, and

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families will need to understand,
navigate, and take full advantage of

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these new requirements. And the alliance
and our leaders are committed to

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engaging in that process and working as
partners to ensure all of our city

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students are prepared for success in
life. And finally, we appreciate the

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attention the state board is giving to
the role of technology in our schools.

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The alliance has been playing paying
close attention to this issue and has

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welcomed the opportunity to hear from a
wide range of stakeholders. First and

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foremost, we firmly believe that more is
needed to protect our students data and

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their privacy. This is an issue that is
becoming more important and more

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complicated every day. And that's why
the alliance is drafting a model policy

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for our public charter eleas that
explicitly names the critical practices

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and processes necessary to protect our
students. As this conversation

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continues, we are eager to hear more
from parents, researchers, educators,

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and recent graduates. And we are
committed to listening first so that we

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develop a balanced understanding of this
complex and important issue. Thank you

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00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:35,880
for your time, and I welcome your
questions.

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» Thank you.

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» Good evening. My name is Lindseay
Lieberman. I'm a DCPS parent, an

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00:21:41,679 --> 00:21:48,320
attorney, and a volunteer with DC
Schools Beyond Screens. When I last

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00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:54,159
testified before you, I explained that
under federal law, when schools consent

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on behalf of parents to edte used by
their children under 13, families are

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entitled to notice about the platforms,
websites, and applications that their

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00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:10,960
children are using at school and those
companies data practices. DCPS's own

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00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:16,320
policy expressly promises an inventory
of the platforms, websites, and

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00:22:13,919 --> 00:22:20,720
applications that they are giving to our
students to their our children and links

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00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:26,640
to their privacy policies and
specifically a process through which

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00:22:22,799 --> 00:22:32,640
parents may opt out of these companies.
On in May, my husband and I emailed DCPS

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00:22:29,679 --> 00:22:38,400
twice requesting this information. We
have still received no response. On June

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00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:43,840
30th, I sent a formal request to DCPS's
general counsel. Although she confirmed

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00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:48,320
receipt, I still not have received um
any information or substantive response.

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00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:53,280
Schools Beyond Screens has submitted
multiple FOYA requests to DCPS seeking

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00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:58,080
this information, but has not received
any responses. My Children's Elementary

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00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:02,480
School is fantastic, and they are doing
more than many other schools in

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00:22:59,919 --> 00:23:07,440
examining the effects and effectiveness
of screens. and even they have not been

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00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:13,200
able to provide this information despite
my requests. On July 10th, DCPS sent a

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00:23:11,039 --> 00:23:17,760
letter promising clearer guidance and a
pathway for families to raise concerns,

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00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:22,240
but none of the information that I speak
about tonight was provided. Last night,

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00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:26,080
the interim chancellor held a town hall
for families and none of this

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00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:30,400
information was provided. this morning.
I understand that there was a teacher

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00:23:27,679 --> 00:23:35,360
training on screens, but again, no
indication that any of this information

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00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:42,000
that we as parents are entitled to under
law and policy will be provided to us.

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00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:46,080
My daughter begins PK4 next week, and I
still do not know which technology

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00:23:43,919 --> 00:23:53,600
companies will receive her name, her
birthday, her usage, and habits or other

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00:23:49,919 --> 00:23:57,600
personal data. And she is only four.
Just yesterday, the New York Times

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00:23:55,360 --> 00:24:02,880
reported that many Silicon Valley
executives send their own children to a

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00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:07,919
private Waldorf school near Google's
campus, where tuition is close to

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00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:11,760
$50,000 a year. And of course, there are
no screens at Waldorf schools. The

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00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:16,080
people building and selling this
technology are paying a lot of money to

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00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:19,600
keep their own children away from it.
And meanwhile, our public school

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00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:24,000
families are being told that children
need more screens and more technology in

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00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:30,559
order to learn and thrive. This is
particularly concerning considering that

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00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:35,760
DCPS has not complied with their basic
bare minimum requirement under policy

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00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:39,360
and law to provide parents with the
inventory of the websites and apps our

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00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:44,302
children are using and a process to opt
out.

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00:24:42,282 --> 00:24:44,302
[applause]

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00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:51,440
Good evening. I'm also here as a
volunteer with the school beyond screens

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00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:57,360
DC chapter. I live in Ward One and I'm a
parent of a first and a third grader in

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00:24:53,679 --> 00:25:01,600
DCPS schools. We invited teachers from
across the district with the opportunity

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00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:06,320
to share their perspective and on the
ground experiences on the current use of

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00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:10,320
technology in their classrooms so it
could be on the record for this meeting.

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00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:14,480
teachers provided their perspective and
experience under the condition of an

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00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:19,440
admmit.
The first testimony I will read is from

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00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:24,559
an elementary school teacher.
She says or they say, "As a veteran

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00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:28,720
kindergarten teacher, I am extremely
uncomfortable and distressed by having

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00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:33,039
to put my 5-year-old students onto
tablets for I Ready testing in

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00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:37,039
September, January, and May each school
year. This testing atmosphere is

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00:25:35,279 --> 00:25:41,520
extremely stressful for many of my
students. The I Ready evaluation has

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00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:45,600
little value in my mind because as a
teacher I do not have access to the

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00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:50,720
questions they ask and we don't teach an
I Ready curriculum. In addition, the

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00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:54,320
testing is touted as being adaptive and
that means it becomes harder for the

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00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:57,360
students when they answer correctly and
they get even more distressed by this

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00:25:55,840 --> 00:26:00,799
because they have no idea how to answer
some questions. For example, on the math

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00:25:59,279 --> 00:26:04,880
test, they might see a double or
tripledigit addition, which isn't taught

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00:26:03,039 --> 00:26:08,480
to them until much later grades. So,
they begin to cry because they don't

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00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:12,240
know how to do it. Or if they're able to
read and they answer correctly to one of

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00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:16,400
the questions, the test stops reading
the questions to them and expects them

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00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:20,000
to read it for to themselves. They don't
know what is happening and get upset.

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00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:24,400
Students shouldn't be subjected to this
pressure to perform. Students at this

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00:26:22,559 --> 00:26:30,960
age should be given individualized
screenings by a friendly and familiar

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00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:35,200
adult, not sitting in front of a screen.
The second testimony is also from an

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00:26:32,799 --> 00:26:38,960
elementary school teacher. My students
are on technology far too much in my

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00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:43,440
classroom. There's no science textbook
or workbook, so everything I do, I have

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00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:48,400
to print or they have to read it on a
screen. For math, my kids do tons of I

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00:26:45,919 --> 00:26:53,600
Ready le time every day. Part of this is
because my TAS score is based solely on

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00:26:51,120 --> 00:26:56,480
I Ready test data. It's teaching to the
test and I don't really think they get

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00:26:54,960 --> 00:27:01,039
the knowledge they need to master the
skills. But as long as I'm assessed on

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00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:05,760
it, the kids will do lots of lessons to
improve my score. Every component of

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00:27:03,360 --> 00:27:10,240
impact adds up to this one area, so I
can count at least a few points in my

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00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:14,320
favor. And the last testimony is from a
high school teacher. Since the pandemic,

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00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:17,279
it has felt as if the district wants
everything taught through apps or

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00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:21,039
devices. There's rarely textbooks
anymore. When students struggle, the

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00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:24,640
suggestion is to put them on an edtech
app. Students take classes in high

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00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:28,640
school that involve sitting on a screen
the entire class watching a video of a

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00:27:26,559 --> 00:27:33,600
professor lecturing. It doesn't spark
creativity, engagement, or growth.

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00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:37,200
DCPS's firewalls don't block distracting
websites. I've seen kids in other

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00:27:35,279 --> 00:27:41,760
classes while the teacher is lecturing
watch videos, play games, etc. We are

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00:27:39,679 --> 00:27:47,120
not teaching digital literacy, so all
the screen time is not teaching skills

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00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:47,120
that might be needed. Thank you.

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00:27:54,480 --> 00:28:01,039
Good evening. Uh, thank you for having
us here tonight. Uh, I'm testifying as

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00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:06,960
part of the Schools Beyond Screens DC
chapter. I live in Ward One, uh, since

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00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:12,159
1997. I'm a also a parent of a first and
third grader, the the two uh, great kids

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00:28:09,360 --> 00:28:16,640
behind us at a DC public school. And I'm
here to read two additional testimonies

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00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:21,120
submitted uh anonymously by teachers.
The first, this is from an elementary

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00:28:18,159 --> 00:28:25,120
teacher in Ward 4 who says that I feel
strongly that screen use in general,

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00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:30,640
including when it comes to edtech, has
gotten out of hand in DCPS. I've been

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00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:34,559
with DCPS since 2012 and have taught in
elementary schools in wards 1, three,

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00:28:32,399 --> 00:28:39,360
and four. I've watched screens become
more and more common as replacements for

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00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:44,320
teacher, student, and student
interaction. Screens either on the

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00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:49,039
Smartboard or laptops are used during
indoor recess when specialists teachers

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00:28:46,799 --> 00:28:54,320
are absent, before and after field trips
and assemblies, and on the days leading

357
00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:59,679
up to a vacation, etc. Even during
important social emotional opportunities

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00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:05,360
such as morning meeting, songs, and
brain breaks, YouTube videos are being

359
00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:09,760
regularly substituted for meaningful
learning and interaction. So instead of

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00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:15,039
learning how to regulate their emotions
and sustain eye contact and take turns

361
00:29:12,399 --> 00:29:19,679
in a social setting, students stare
mindlessly at videos that are

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00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:25,919
overstimulating and overwhelming for
many kids and even for some adults. It

363
00:29:23,279 --> 00:29:30,159
is far too easy to put students in front
of screens instead of providing

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00:29:27,679 --> 00:29:35,600
opportunities for them to engage in
project-based learning, social emotional

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00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:41,039
learning, independent paper-based
activities, group and partner work, and

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00:29:38,559 --> 00:29:46,960
other activities that we know help them
develop their cognitive and social

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00:29:43,279 --> 00:29:52,559
abilities. DCPS has pressured teachers
over and over to ensure that students

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00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:57,840
get their I Ready minutes when many of
us understand that this program

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00:29:54,880 --> 00:30:03,520
encourages disengagement, poor focus,
and frustration in our students. I have

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00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:07,679
been waiting many years for DCPS to set
limits on the amount of time students

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00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:11,679
spend on screens over the course of
their days and weeks. And without these

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00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:16,640
limits, teachers and school leaders are
unaware of the cumulative number of

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00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:21,679
hours that even our youngest students
spend on screens every day. As

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00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:25,360
educators, we need to understand the
appropriate amount of time for our

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00:30:23,279 --> 00:30:30,640
students to be on screens. And these
numbers should be based on scientific

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00:30:27,919 --> 00:30:35,120
research, not on claims from I Ready and
other edtech companies. I would love to

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00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:39,440
see a return to computer labs instead of
onetoone devices and a reduction in the

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00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:44,320
screen time that is built into our
curricula. And second, this is from an

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00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:47,840
elementary teacher in Ward 3. I believe
that students in grade three through

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00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:52,880
five should not be able to independently
use computers while teachers are

381
00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:56,080
required to be teaching other things.
Most of the time, upper elementary

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00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:59,566
students are using computers
independently.

383
00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:01,586
» Sir, thank you.
[applause]

384
00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:14,320
Good evening. My name is Anne Caribel. I
am a DCPS parent, a former teacher, and

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00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:18,399
a post-doctoral researcher in special
education at the University of Maryland.

386
00:31:16,399 --> 00:31:22,480
I am here as a volunteer with schools
beyond screens to discuss the role of

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00:31:20,399 --> 00:31:27,520
technology and education for students
with additional needs and disabilities,

388
00:31:24,799 --> 00:31:33,520
my own among them. This group includes
but is not limited to students with 504

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00:31:30,159 --> 00:31:38,240
plans and IEPs. What evidence should we
require about a product's safety,

390
00:31:35,679 --> 00:31:44,000
legality, and efficacy over established
evidence-based practices before we offer

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00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:49,279
it to students with disabilities. First,
some terms. Assistive technology. This

392
00:31:47,279 --> 00:31:53,440
category describes technology that
allows students greater access to

393
00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:57,919
content. These tools include screen
readers, AAC devices, voice

394
00:31:55,600 --> 00:32:03,120
amplification, texttospech and
speechtoext and so on. We should direct

395
00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:09,679
more energy to funding these tools and
supporting the students who use them.

396
00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:14,559
Next, teched or technology education.
This term refers to education about

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00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:20,240
technology, not education with
technology. Technology education

398
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:25,360
includes digit digital literacy, typing,
online research, file management, and

399
00:32:22,799 --> 00:32:30,080
more. Students gain these skills through
intentional instruction that is separate

400
00:32:27,679 --> 00:32:34,799
from other content areas, not through
mere exposure to digital devices and

401
00:32:32,399 --> 00:32:41,200
platforms.
Finally, edte or e education technology.

402
00:32:39,039 --> 00:32:46,320
This is technology used for educational
purposes and includes platformized

403
00:32:43,919 --> 00:32:51,279
instruction like I Ready, digital
reading applications like Sora and Epic,

404
00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:56,159
classroom management and surveillance
tools like Class Dojo, game and

405
00:32:53,919 --> 00:33:00,880
entertainment platforms like Cahoot,
YouTube and BrainPop, and learning

406
00:32:58,559 --> 00:33:04,640
management systems like Canvas or Google
Classroom. So for students with

407
00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:08,799
disabilities, what do we do with these
adtech products? We have to think about

408
00:33:06,799 --> 00:33:12,640
the characteristics of effective
instruction for children with

409
00:33:10,159 --> 00:33:17,200
disabilities. That instruction should be
systematic and explicit. It should be

410
00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:21,600
appropriately scaffolded and students
should have plentiful opportunities to

411
00:33:19,279 --> 00:33:27,360
respond and instruction should include
ample feedback. EdTE products are not

412
00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:32,080
designed with these criteria in mind.
They are marketed as adaptive, but they

413
00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:38,080
are not adaptive. They cannot retach,
scaffold content, or provide contingent

414
00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:41,760
feedback. For example, on I Ready, when
a student answers a question

415
00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:46,559
incorrectly, the platform offers a
generic hint. With a second incorrect

416
00:33:44,559 --> 00:33:51,360
answer, the platform offers the same
generic hint. With a third incorrect

417
00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:57,039
answer, the platform provides the
answer. In other words, as students

418
00:33:54,240 --> 00:34:01,919
demonstrate a need for more instruction,
the platform offers less. We cannot

419
00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:05,679
assume that a tool that works even
moderately well for the so-called

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00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:12,138
average student will necessarily meet
the needs of an exceptional student. Our

421
00:34:08,399 --> 00:34:14,158
children I'll stop there. Thank you.
[applause]

422
00:34:21,599 --> 00:34:27,119
Thank you for the opportunity to be here
tonight. My name is Kate. I'm a DCPS

423
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:31,760
parent and volunteer with Schools Beyond
Screens DC. Neither I nor schools beyond

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00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:35,520
screens take money from big tech, their
philanthropic arms, or the donations of

425
00:34:33,599 --> 00:34:40,240
family offices funded by Microsoft,
Google, Meta, or otherwise. We're asking

426
00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:43,679
for policy on technology in schools
based on the best available research and

427
00:34:42,240 --> 00:34:48,399
evidence on children's learning and
development, not personal opinions or

428
00:34:45,839 --> 00:34:52,240
apherisms like the world is changing.
We're asking for very common sense

429
00:34:50,159 --> 00:34:56,399
policy protections that set all DC kids
up for success, not just those born into

430
00:34:54,560 --> 00:35:00,240
economic privilege that affords them a
human- centered and teacher-led

431
00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:04,079
education. In no other time in human
history have private companies had so

432
00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:07,359
much influence on public education.
We're asking you to move fast because

433
00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:12,560
these companies are moving fast and
because childhood moves fast. 96% of

434
00:35:10,240 --> 00:35:16,160
tech apps used in public schools share
children's personal information with

435
00:35:14,079 --> 00:35:19,440
third parties. Big tech executives
shield their own children from the

436
00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:23,119
screens and apps they've developed, the
products that made them rich. We can't

437
00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:27,280
accept a future where rich kids have
human teachers, physical textbooks, and

438
00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:31,040
handwritten assignments, while the rest
of our kids have Chromebooks,

439
00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:34,400
malfunctioning AI tutors, and screen
addiction.

440
00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:39,040
Now, I'll turn to students with
exceptional learning needs, such as, but

441
00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:42,720
not limited to 504s or IEPs. I'm a mom
to one of them. The rights of students

442
00:35:41,119 --> 00:35:46,240
with disabilities must always be
protected and DCPS should continue to

443
00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:50,480
allocate funding to meet the full range
of technology needs of students with

444
00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:54,240
disabilities and special learning needs.
But assist of technology, teched and

445
00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:58,079
edtech are three different things. While
there are many kids for whom assisted

446
00:35:55,839 --> 00:36:02,320
technology is critical, there are others
with other disabilities, diagnosed or

447
00:36:00,240 --> 00:36:05,920
undiagnosed, that will be made far worse
with the introduction more screens. If

448
00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:10,160
all children should get the education
they need, the answer cannot be that all

449
00:36:08,079 --> 00:36:14,079
kids are overexposed and harmed across
the board because there's a benefit in

450
00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:17,359
specific applications. A career
readiness argument is often used to

451
00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:20,800
justify screens and devices in
classrooms. While many of us believe

452
00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:25,359
that school is for more than just
developing future workers, I also want

453
00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:29,040
my kids getting jobs and moving out. But
more exposure time spent on apps and

454
00:36:27,359 --> 00:36:33,040
devices in schools will not better
prepare children for a technological

455
00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:37,200
future. Evidence shows that edtech use
in K to3 has a negative effect on

456
00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:42,160
learning and gap widening harms
concentrated among already disadvantaged

457
00:36:39,599 --> 00:36:46,079
students. Being AI ready means having a
capacity for critical thinking, original

458
00:36:44,240 --> 00:36:50,240
thought, focused attention, and basic
math and reading skills. The integration

459
00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:54,320
of technology should add to and not
detract from these goals. But don't take

460
00:36:52,240 --> 00:36:57,920
my word for it. A recent Deote report
listed critical thinking in problem

461
00:36:55,920 --> 00:37:02,160
solving, creativity, communication, and
the ability to work in teams as the top

462
00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:06,720
skills leaders were looking for as they
roll out AI applications.

463
00:37:04,720 --> 00:37:10,720
Today, philosophy majors are more likely
to have jobs than their peers who

464
00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:14,480
studied computer science. Anthropics
co-founder says uniquely human qualities

465
00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:18,640
will become more critical in the age of
AI, not less. We can't perfectly predict

466
00:37:17,119 --> 00:37:22,480
the skill sets that the future will
require, and education is for more than

467
00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:25,599
just making future workers. But the best
available research and evidence supports

468
00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:30,005
taking action like so many other
jurisdictions already have. [applause]

469
00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:38,920
» At this time, we will start a round of
questions with our elected state board

470
00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:38,920
members. Representative Best.

471
00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:44,320
» Hey everyone. Uh I just want to say
thank you for your continued advocacy on

472
00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:50,839
this. I don't really have any questions
at the moment, but uh thank you. Thank

473
00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:50,839
you, Representative Chang.

474
00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:57,760
» And would you like some time to finish
your section?

475
00:37:54,960 --> 00:38:03,680
» Oh, you have time to go.
>> I would. Thank you so much. Um

476
00:38:01,599 --> 00:38:07,119
to determine whether a technology tool
should be used in a particular

477
00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:11,440
situation, particularly with students
with disabilities, we should require

478
00:38:09,359 --> 00:38:15,760
evidence of efficacy from multiple
highquality, independently funded

479
00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:20,320
studies that compare the product to
existing evidence-based practices and

480
00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:23,920
that consider the experiences and
perspectives of the teachers and

481
00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:28,160
students who use the product. We need
more transparency and oversight of

482
00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:32,880
edtech and especially platformized
instruction in both general and special

483
00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:37,119
education settings. Our children with
exceptionalities do not need more

484
00:38:34,720 --> 00:38:41,920
tablets or machines or platforms or
devices. They need supportive, caring

485
00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:44,920
humans. Thank you for the opportunity to
finish.

486
00:38:45,119 --> 00:38:50,800
» I I promise I have only one more
sentence. It is just that um evidence

487
00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:53,839
supports taking action like many
jurisdictions already have to protect

488
00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:58,400
children's learning, executive
functioning and interpersonal skills so

489
00:38:55,920 --> 00:39:03,640
that today's DCPF students can think and
problem solve in tomorrow's world,

490
00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:03,640
whatever it may look like.

491
00:39:05,119 --> 00:39:10,720
» I I understand that you are all
volunteers, but as I'm looking at the

492
00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:16,000
researcher, do you have examples? Would
you remind us from other contexts what

493
00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:20,240
what what's top of uh kind of what are
the cases we should be looking at from

494
00:39:18,720 --> 00:39:24,320
other contexts?
>> Sorry, can you elaborate

495
00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:28,240
» uh on your question?
>> What are the examples from other

496
00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:29,839
geographies, other cities, other other
schools districts we should be looking

497
00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:33,520
at?
>> Sure. Um

498
00:39:31,520 --> 00:39:37,760
» Oh, that's what you were. Do you want to
Oh, for

499
00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:41,760
» any any of our neighboring jurisdictions
have already overhauled their tech

500
00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:47,040
policies. Um LA has rolled theirs out
just this school year. Um so there are a

501
00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:53,040
lot of great examples. New York City um
is reducing screen time as well. Um

502
00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:58,640
Baltimore, Arlington, Fairfax, Howard
County, the list goes on. Um

503
00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:02,720
they're they're just there's
>> And how how similar or different are

504
00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:07,359
they in terms of their the policies
they've changed to one another? Um I

505
00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:10,400
think there's there's a very wide range
in terms of what school districts are

506
00:40:09,119 --> 00:40:14,880
doing. We have heard from school
districts in North Carolina um around

507
00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:21,920
Pennsylvania. Some of them are cutting
back especially on individual tablet use

508
00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:27,599
in K to2 or preK to2. Um we see that
that is the the consensus position on

509
00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:32,320
this topic right now. Um we see also see
that in middle school and high school

510
00:40:29,359 --> 00:40:37,680
the debate is much trickier. Um in LA
USD for example, there's device time

511
00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:41,920
limits um and those are being gradually
implemented throughout this school year.

512
00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:47,520
So there there's a very wide range of
what schools are doing, but the emphasis

513
00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:50,720
is on this rebalancing or using tech
intentionally thinking about what the

514
00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:51,520
students are needing.
>> Thank you.

515
00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:55,960
» Thank you.
>> Thank you, Representative Coulson.

516
00:40:56,480 --> 00:41:02,720
» Good everyone. Thank you all for your
testimony. Thank you all for uh those

517
00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:08,160
who have been here multiple times. I
especially appreciate the additional

518
00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:14,560
context from teachers uh who are DCPS
employees. Uh I do not have any

519
00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:19,040
additional questions at this time.
>> Thank you, Representative Henderson.

520
00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:24,640
» I also want to thank you for bringing in
the uh teacher perspective. Um and I'm

521
00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:29,520
wondering what if any questions you
still have? like clearly you've you've

522
00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:34,240
been researching, you're continuing to
to learn. Um are there any questions

523
00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:40,000
that you still have? Uh President
Patterson referenced that we are having

524
00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:44,319
a an expert round table. Um and we're
going to pose some questions, but I'm

525
00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:48,680
wondering what what if anything you're
still curious about.

526
00:41:52,319 --> 00:41:55,720
in terms of

527
00:41:57,040 --> 00:42:04,560
» Well, I guess I'm asking what should we
be asking and and I'm wondering if if

528
00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:08,400
there are any outstanding questions that
you still like you you realized you

529
00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:12,400
needed to hear more from teachers, you
went and learned more from teachers.

530
00:42:10,160 --> 00:42:18,240
» Well, I think there's also a big gap in
the conversation about AI. It's very

531
00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:22,800
trendy now in all kinds of industries
and business like, oh, AI exists. let's

532
00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:27,200
get AI into this company. And now
they're saying, "Oh, we got to get AI

533
00:42:24,240 --> 00:42:32,079
into schools." And yet, I mean, this is
a brand new

534
00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:36,640
technology and it is so powerful. And it
isn't clear that DCPS is thinking

535
00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:41,200
thoughtfully and asking the right
questions and talking to the right

536
00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:47,200
experts to be able to make policy on
such an important matter. The risks are

537
00:42:43,599 --> 00:42:52,560
are so um extreme for our children. So,
we would hope that you guys would find

538
00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:57,920
out more about DCPS's plan with AI and
limit it to the extent that we can. Um,

539
00:42:55,760 --> 00:43:04,880
again, like so many people testified to,
our children need to learn human skills

540
00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:09,040
uh before outsourcing them to a robot
and we get the sense that DCPS is really

541
00:43:07,040 --> 00:43:13,680
excited about AI and is encouraging
students to use it as much as possible

542
00:43:10,720 --> 00:43:18,480
and that really concerns us. Okay. Um,
Miss Caribel, you talked about research

543
00:43:15,839 --> 00:43:24,000
and and like I agree about the need for
evidence-based policy and decisions. Um,

544
00:43:21,440 --> 00:43:28,240
but I'm I'm finding it's increasingly
difficult to get that with the way

545
00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:35,680
research is funded. You are a
researcher. Do you would you point any

546
00:43:30,880 --> 00:43:40,720
particular place to um to find
who who is evaluating edtech? Well,

547
00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:44,480
» yeah, thank you. That's a really
important question. And if I can ask my

548
00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:50,240
friend in the back to hold up my prop
for tonight. Um, we do have there is a

549
00:43:47,680 --> 00:43:55,200
lot of research done on this. Um, a lot
of research on the specific apps

550
00:43:52,240 --> 00:43:59,760
themselves is funded by technology
companies and so we always want to look

551
00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:02,880
at that very very carefully. Um, even in
the various clearing houses like the

552
00:44:01,520 --> 00:44:07,520
National Center for Intensive
Intervention, even on the ESSA website,

553
00:44:05,520 --> 00:44:12,480
the What Works Clearing House, conflicts
of interest are not taken into account.

554
00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:17,440
So it takes somebody to know who you
have to do a little um checking behind

555
00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:21,280
the scenes to know um but there is a ton
of research about reading on screens

556
00:44:20,079 --> 00:44:24,560
about the importance of social
interaction and I would direct you to

557
00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:30,160
this book.
>> Thank you representative Johnson Law.

558
00:44:28,800 --> 00:44:34,960
» Thank you all so much for your
testimony. Noah, I want to start with

559
00:44:32,480 --> 00:44:38,800
you. Thank you all so much um for all
you all do um at the charter alliance

560
00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:44,000
and like and how you all support all of
our public charter schools. Um it's no

561
00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:48,160
easy feat. I don't know you all probably
I don't know if you get any credit. I

562
00:44:45,359 --> 00:44:51,760
don't know. But I wanted to publicly um
acknowledge you and just say thank you

563
00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:56,400
for all you do and not just you but the
entire team Ariel and everybody there.

564
00:44:53,839 --> 00:45:01,200
So thank you all so much.
Um to the rest of the panel quick

565
00:44:58,640 --> 00:45:07,240
question. What interactions or outreach
have you all done with any W 8 schools

566
00:45:03,359 --> 00:45:07,240
or students or families?

567
00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:12,960
» Thanks so much for the question. Um,
we've talked to a lot of local groups.

568
00:45:11,520 --> 00:45:15,920
Um, actually Maya who was going to
present first was going to discuss all

569
00:45:14,560 --> 00:45:20,079
of the stakeholders that we've talked
to. Um, I have talked extensively with a

570
00:45:18,480 --> 00:45:24,960
good friend of mine um, at a particular
school that I won't say just to protect

571
00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:29,680
her. Um but she and I have had uh very
in-depth conversations about um I Ready

572
00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:36,079
and and the minutes and the
disproportionate use of that tool um in

573
00:45:33,119 --> 00:45:42,000
that ward for sure. So we are um we are
we have done a lot and we are continuing

574
00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:46,079
to work on um reaching families and
teachers across the city.

575
00:45:43,839 --> 00:45:49,359
» Okay. Did this W 8 teacher that you
talked to, did she submit testimony

576
00:45:47,760 --> 00:45:52,960
anonymously at all or
>> um she she did not? No,

577
00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:55,920
» she did not. Okay. Could you encourage
her to reach out to me, please?

578
00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:59,119
» Absolutely. I would be happy to.
>> Thank you so much.

579
00:45:57,200 --> 00:46:05,800
» All right. I don't have any more
questions. Thank you all so much.

580
00:46:01,200 --> 00:46:05,800
» Thank you, Representative Thompson.

581
00:46:06,079 --> 00:46:11,680
» Uh good evening. Uh thank you for
everyone making it here given uh the

582
00:46:09,680 --> 00:46:16,880
road closures. Um I went through the
same struggle as many of you did. Um I

583
00:46:14,400 --> 00:46:22,880
do uh appreciate everyone's testimony.
Uh as representative uh Henderson said

584
00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:27,040
um our committee uh will be hosting uh
the expert panel that would have been

585
00:46:24,319 --> 00:46:32,000
this evening. Um the beautiful thing
about that is we get a bit of extended

586
00:46:29,359 --> 00:46:37,440
time uh to engage and ask uh thoughtful
and thorough questions um that will be

587
00:46:35,040 --> 00:46:43,359
uh both made available to the public
real time. Um we've done roundts before

588
00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:48,720
uh particularly when issues um are
complicated and a little bit sticky. Uh

589
00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:54,079
so I'm I know that we arrived here uh
due to our own technological issues um

590
00:46:52,079 --> 00:46:58,640
outside of our control. However, I think
it's the right next step and so I'm very

591
00:46:56,000 --> 00:47:03,680
much looking forward to that. Um I do
not have any questions. All of the

592
00:47:00,400 --> 00:47:09,200
testimony uh this evening um I was able
to follow and I will yield the rest of

593
00:47:07,040 --> 00:47:13,400
my time. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Representative Williams.

594
00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:21,520
» Yes. Thank you all for uh your testimony
today. Uh Mr. Dhi, I want to start with

595
00:47:18,800 --> 00:47:25,359
you. Uh I just appreciate kind of how
you're already getting a step ahead with

596
00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:28,960
like thinking about the working groups
with the implementation of the

597
00:47:26,480 --> 00:47:31,599
graduation requirements. So, um I'm
interested in collaborating with you on

598
00:47:30,319 --> 00:47:36,640
the financial literacy piece because
I've heard so much u difference around

599
00:47:34,079 --> 00:47:39,839
training. You know, some I already know
some schools that are teaching financial

600
00:47:38,560 --> 00:47:42,960
literacy this year that are having
social studies teachers teach it that

601
00:47:41,359 --> 00:47:45,760
have not necessarily gone to a training.
as a social studies teacher myself, I'd

602
00:47:44,640 --> 00:47:49,280
be interested in teaching that course,
but I don't necessarily feel qualified

603
00:47:47,280 --> 00:47:55,280
to do that yet. So, I want to make sure
that as we move that um into uh a

604
00:47:53,839 --> 00:47:58,160
requirement that we're also being
thoughtful about how teachers are

605
00:47:56,800 --> 00:48:01,839
trained effectively to be able to do
that. Um, and there's so many so much

606
00:48:00,160 --> 00:48:05,359
difference in the charter eleas that I
want to make sure we're doing uh that

607
00:48:03,760 --> 00:48:09,280
well and thoughtfully. So, no question,
but just something to continue working

608
00:48:06,640 --> 00:48:15,599
with you on. Thank you. um to the other
parents around um the screen time piece.

609
00:48:11,839 --> 00:48:23,119
I um I'm also a DCPS teacher. Um so I
sat through the hour training today. Um

610
00:48:18,400 --> 00:48:26,160
and uh it did there there's a lot of
change kind of going around and trying

611
00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:30,400
to figure this out. I do not get the
sense although I understand from some

612
00:48:28,720 --> 00:48:36,480
people's perspectives and I've heard
that AI is being pushed completely into

613
00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:41,520
schools that were um that is that is not
anything that I got from today's

614
00:48:38,160 --> 00:48:47,280
training. Um so that that was good to
hear. um the sources that were used to

615
00:48:45,599 --> 00:48:53,200
kind of validate some of the research
because I do think that as a whether it

616
00:48:50,400 --> 00:48:56,640
be DCBS or charter districts, we need to
do a better job of just communicating

617
00:48:54,640 --> 00:49:01,839
what we're doing and how it's happening.
Um and I think that clarity um will help

618
00:48:59,599 --> 00:49:07,280
us make sure that we have thoughtful
correct policies. So a lot of the

619
00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:12,240
research today came from uh the American
Academy of Pediatrics um World Health

620
00:49:10,000 --> 00:49:16,240
Organization and the US Surgeon General
for right or for wrong. Um but that is

621
00:49:14,079 --> 00:49:22,160
what I was told as a teacher in training
today. Um and additionally the guidance

622
00:49:19,839 --> 00:49:27,200
that I got around I seemed way more
reasonable where I feel like a lot of

623
00:49:24,079 --> 00:49:34,240
the testimony experiences
um have been misuses of technology. So,

624
00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:39,629
the ELA and math guidance was 30 minutes
per week from what I received and I'm

625
00:49:36,880 --> 00:49:43,760
looking at on the screen right now.
[clears throat]

626
00:49:40,640 --> 00:49:48,000
And I think we've also heard a lot of
principal testimony, school leader

627
00:49:45,359 --> 00:49:52,400
testimony about not abandoning the tools
that we have to be able to make sure

628
00:49:49,760 --> 00:49:56,480
that students have quality instruction,
but not using technology as a

629
00:49:54,400 --> 00:50:01,280
substitute, not using that as the main
thing. Um, so I'm just I don't have any

630
00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:05,119
particular questions right now. I'll
think about it, but I'm committed to

631
00:50:03,200 --> 00:50:09,040
figuring this out with everyone. Thank
you,

632
00:50:07,119 --> 00:50:12,880
» Vice President Goule.
>> I want to thank everybody uh for coming

633
00:50:10,720 --> 00:50:16,400
out with the schools beyond screens. I
just keep fighting for our younger kids.

634
00:50:14,400 --> 00:50:20,400
I think on the same page with you and
look forward to continuing to work with

635
00:50:17,839 --> 00:50:24,160
you. Uh Mr. Dhy, I want to turn to you
because we do have the high school

636
00:50:21,599 --> 00:50:29,359
graduation requirements up tonight to
vote. So I just recently

637
00:50:27,040 --> 00:50:33,920
There's been a shift in the proposal to
having the waiverss which I don't

638
00:50:31,599 --> 00:50:38,400
support having a waiver process for our
students who have developed foreign

639
00:50:35,520 --> 00:50:41,440
language skills shifting that from AI to
the public charter school board which I

640
00:50:40,000 --> 00:50:43,680
thought was a strange shift. Have you
been involved with any of the

641
00:50:42,559 --> 00:50:45,520
discussions on that?
>> Uh this is the first time hearing about

642
00:50:45,200 --> 00:50:48,559
it.
>> Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I mean it was

643
00:50:47,040 --> 00:50:54,640
the first I' I'd heard of it recently,
too. And it just for me, if a student

644
00:50:50,880 --> 00:50:59,040
has obtained proficiency uh or fluency
in a foreign language by by

645
00:50:56,480 --> 00:51:02,400
demonstrating that competency, I I want
there to be equity with how it's

646
00:51:00,880 --> 00:51:06,559
treated. I don't want to, you know,
interrupt the operations of a particular

647
00:51:04,559 --> 00:51:09,680
charter school, but I also don't want to
have like the public charter school

648
00:51:08,640 --> 00:51:13,119
board having to go through an
application process. So, I was just very

649
00:51:11,359 --> 00:51:16,720
confused by that and I wasn't sure. I
think you've answered the question if

650
00:51:14,400 --> 00:51:18,880
you'd had any feedback in that yet or
not.

651
00:51:17,119 --> 00:51:22,319
» No, this is the first time hearing, but
a couple of just quick things I would

652
00:51:20,240 --> 00:51:25,920
note very quickly I think are um some of
the things we would have expected to

653
00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:30,720
come through the like rulem and guidance
process would be, you know, if the stamp

654
00:51:28,160 --> 00:51:35,280
test was used to decide if student was
awarded um uh competency based credit,

655
00:51:33,440 --> 00:51:40,079
we were assuming that the state
education agency would say at what

656
00:51:37,440 --> 00:51:42,880
levels um across all eleas. So I think
there's a question of if it's just

657
00:51:41,760 --> 00:51:47,520
coming from the public charter school
board then is there a world where um

658
00:51:45,920 --> 00:51:51,680
there is uh there are discrepancies
between DCPS and public charter eleas. I

659
00:51:50,640 --> 00:51:54,559
think there's some other questions but
would certainly wanted to see the the

660
00:51:53,119 --> 00:51:57,440
language first I think.
>> Thank you. I mean, and that's kind of

661
00:51:55,760 --> 00:52:01,520
how I was envisioning it as well, where
where they would set the standards uh

662
00:51:59,760 --> 00:52:05,200
for tests for various levels for
obtaining like the two credits of

663
00:52:02,960 --> 00:52:08,480
competency for obtaining fluency with
the seal of bi literacy that that would

664
00:52:06,640 --> 00:52:13,839
be set by the superintendent, but kind
of having one set approved by DCPS, one

665
00:52:12,319 --> 00:52:16,240
set approved by the public charter
school board with these waiverss. I

666
00:52:15,359 --> 00:52:20,160
mean, I'd like to get rid of the
waiverss altogether and make sure that

667
00:52:17,760 --> 00:52:23,520
the students who've earned uh you know,
these skills then just are able to take

668
00:52:22,160 --> 00:52:27,359
that to the school and get the credit
and certainly report the data back to

669
00:52:25,119 --> 00:52:31,359
AIE, but but do so in a way that makes
sense. So, thank you for your continued

670
00:52:28,800 --> 00:52:34,319
work on this and always appreciate you
being able to help us with policy on

671
00:52:33,200 --> 00:52:38,960
this. So, thank you very much and thank
you all for coming out tonight and

672
00:52:36,319 --> 00:52:41,920
braving the traffic.
>> Thank you, President Patterson.

673
00:52:40,640 --> 00:52:46,160
» Thank you so much. I want to thank
everyone. Um, I don't have any

674
00:52:44,160 --> 00:52:51,359
questions, but I do have a few comments.
Uh, for Mr. Dohy, I just want to say

675
00:52:48,800 --> 00:52:54,400
thank you for through the whole process
with our graduation requirements of

676
00:52:52,880 --> 00:52:58,240
being there, attending meetings,
providing feedback u from a charter

677
00:52:56,400 --> 00:53:01,359
perspective. I really appreciate your
just your due diligence and your

678
00:52:59,520 --> 00:53:04,559
dedication to making sure that we were
doing those in an equitable kind of way

679
00:53:02,960 --> 00:53:10,079
and providing that input. So, thank you
so much for participating so much to my

680
00:53:07,119 --> 00:53:17,280
parents. Um, I am also a parent of two
DCPS uh students. So this is very very

681
00:53:13,680 --> 00:53:22,000
vital to me. I also was online yesterday
with uh Dr. Jackson, the intram

682
00:53:19,280 --> 00:53:24,720
chancellor, and went through all of the
iterations of them talking about

683
00:53:23,359 --> 00:53:27,040
different things, you know, and each
person coming up doing their

684
00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:31,119
presentation and watching on the screen
and everything, but this did not come

685
00:53:29,200 --> 00:53:37,760
up.
And like you, I was a little annoyed by

686
00:53:34,079 --> 00:53:42,000
that. So I truly understand parentto
parent the frustration that you're

687
00:53:39,680 --> 00:53:45,599
currently feeling currently. Um, I look
forward to our round table that has been

688
00:53:43,520 --> 00:53:50,640
mentioned quite a few times here and
really digging in to see what type of

689
00:53:47,200 --> 00:53:56,079
policies we can try to uh start to craft
around this. Um, so I just appreciate

690
00:53:53,440 --> 00:54:01,119
your dedication to this to stay on this
um and and feel

691
00:53:58,720 --> 00:54:06,240
definitively your pain in this
particular issue of not being able to

692
00:54:02,800 --> 00:54:11,520
get answers or even a discussion um on
on it. So [snorts] I appreciate you so

693
00:54:08,880 --> 00:54:14,160
much. Thank you. And with that, I
believe you guys are going to be excused

694
00:54:12,640 --> 00:54:17,119
and we're going to call our next group
of people.

695
00:54:15,119 --> 00:54:22,520
» Thank you all for your testimony. At
this time, we will call our next round

696
00:54:18,960 --> 00:54:22,520
of public witnesses.

697
00:54:34,640 --> 00:54:39,400
» Danielle Duncan Hatfit

698
00:54:41,119 --> 00:54:44,680
Jacqueline Sanchez,

699
00:54:46,800 --> 00:54:50,520
Aaron Wowski,

700
00:54:56,720 --> 00:55:01,640
Toba
A.

701
00:55:06,240 --> 00:55:10,119
Llewellyn Dixon,

702
00:55:13,200 --> 00:55:17,400
Nicole Summers,

703
00:55:18,160 --> 00:55:22,839
Andrew M. Lee

704
00:55:28,319 --> 00:55:33,400
Ad
Bernu Hanu.

705
00:55:38,000 --> 00:55:44,319
» Danielle, we will start with you and go
around.

706
00:55:40,880 --> 00:55:49,200
» Okay. Um, good afternoon, good evening,
state board members, SBO staff, invited

707
00:55:47,520 --> 00:55:55,040
guests, parents, advocates, civic
communities members. My name is Danielle

708
00:55:52,079 --> 00:56:00,960
Duncan. I'm an FBLA representative. Let
me first acknowledge every personal

709
00:55:58,799 --> 00:56:05,680
personnel that has collaboratively been
dedicated to the education and learning

710
00:56:02,799 --> 00:56:10,880
experience for decades with the safe
with the sole purpose of each one. Teach

711
00:56:07,920 --> 00:56:16,559
one. Teaching does not stop. It is a
continuous requirement for sub

712
00:56:13,280 --> 00:56:22,319
substantial growth in learning from each
and every humankind in living existence

713
00:56:19,040 --> 00:56:26,799
of life. With that being said, I believe
that is very important that we as a

714
00:56:24,799 --> 00:56:30,960
nation, community, parent, leader,
teacher and pupil to understand the

715
00:56:28,960 --> 00:56:36,079
cognitive patterns of learning and
comprehensive mechanisms to understand

716
00:56:33,200 --> 00:56:41,839
how important education is. It's the
knowledge to our souls that we fe that

717
00:56:39,359 --> 00:56:46,240
we feed each other without a bias
approach whether it's classification,

718
00:56:43,599 --> 00:56:52,160
genification or radicalism of old
patterns of negative attitudes to which

719
00:56:49,440 --> 00:56:58,160
we value is acceptable behavior styles
to teaching each and other with

720
00:56:56,160 --> 00:57:03,920
with mannerisms.
It is a it is of a great importance that

721
00:57:00,559 --> 00:57:10,079
we remember as individuals that we what
we teach and how we teach what we

722
00:57:06,319 --> 00:57:14,960
learned and how we gravitate to things
based on understanding is a vi in our

723
00:57:13,040 --> 00:57:18,559
environment and economical levels of
coping with each other's cultural

724
00:57:16,960 --> 00:57:24,000
standards
will always resonate in the lives of our

725
00:57:20,880 --> 00:57:29,440
future for that for that for those who
didn't quite understand that statement

726
00:57:26,319 --> 00:57:36,000
I'm going to reference to what I I just
said to a quote from Sammy Rammy. A true

727
00:57:33,040 --> 00:57:41,760
seeker can always remedy the re the
reality and obtain freedom from old

728
00:57:38,640 --> 00:57:46,880
bondage. One who has transferred his
attitude can change his or her bad

729
00:57:43,839 --> 00:57:51,839
circumstances into favorable ones.
In my perspective, that means when we

730
00:57:49,200 --> 00:57:57,280
change the narrative of how we ourselves
enlighten the ways we believe in a

731
00:57:53,599 --> 00:58:02,640
positive light, we live and when we can
teach each other how to better ourselves

732
00:58:00,640 --> 00:58:07,839
in the way we think and believe with
free will. Education is knowledge to

733
00:58:05,280 --> 00:58:12,640
know what is right versus what is wrong.
And how we teach from how from the home

734
00:58:10,559 --> 00:58:17,200
to the school to the governance that
guides our society starts with the

735
00:58:14,480 --> 00:58:23,680
accountability to do what is just and
not losing our compassion for human

736
00:58:19,200 --> 00:58:29,920
beings feelings, emotions and continuous
contagious behavior that narrative of

737
00:58:26,720 --> 00:58:37,680
negative patterns of past histories of
of unhealed of unhealed attentions.

738
00:58:34,480 --> 00:58:43,599
Although we come from different and
diverse backgrounds of teachings, we

739
00:58:40,160 --> 00:58:47,040
must take into consideration that nobody
learns at the same pace or understands

740
00:58:45,920 --> 00:58:51,319
the same way.
>> Thank you so much for your testimony.

741
00:58:53,359 --> 00:58:59,119
» Good evening and thank you for the
opportunity to be here. My name is

742
00:58:56,799 --> 00:59:02,559
Jacqueline Sanchez and I'm a parent, a
DCPS parent of a rising kindergartener

743
00:59:01,119 --> 00:59:07,119
and a volunteer with Schools Beyond
Screens DC. I'm here to ask the state

744
00:59:05,119 --> 00:59:11,839
board to be an important ally in holding
DCPS accountable for how technology is

745
00:59:09,440 --> 00:59:15,760
used in our classrooms. Right now, it's
the wild west for parents trying to

746
00:59:14,079 --> 00:59:20,000
understand technology policies and
practices at individual schools. Too

747
00:59:18,240 --> 00:59:23,359
often, those practices conflict with
growing research about the risks of

748
00:59:21,520 --> 00:59:28,319
excessive screenbased instruction for
learning and academic growth. There is a

749
00:59:26,000 --> 00:59:32,559
striking disconnect. The technology
industry has spent years selling schools

750
00:59:30,640 --> 00:59:35,839
on digital learning, while some of the
people building these products have

751
00:59:33,920 --> 00:59:41,119
chosen intentionally low tech schools
for their own children. As one SPS

752
00:59:38,160 --> 00:59:44,480
advocate put it, CEOs are using our kids
for their tech products to pay for

753
00:59:42,640 --> 00:59:49,680
Waldorf school tuitions for their own
kids. DCPS students should not be

754
00:59:47,599 --> 00:59:53,440
subjects of an experiment we later
discover failed them. If technology

755
00:59:51,760 --> 00:59:57,520
belongs in our classrooms, the burden
should be on the system to to

756
00:59:56,000 --> 01:00:01,520
demonstrate that it is being used
intentionally, appropriately, and in

757
00:59:59,599 --> 01:00:06,640
ways that benefit children. That
requires accountability. As we await

758
01:00:04,400 --> 01:00:11,839
DCPS's new technology guidance, we are
asking for five things. First, make

759
01:00:09,280 --> 01:00:16,480
implementation measurable and public.
DCPS should regularly publish actual

760
01:00:14,319 --> 01:00:20,799
usage data for I Ready and other common
platforms against its own guidance along

761
01:00:18,400 --> 01:00:24,880
with school or ward level compliance. A
policy only matters if we know whether

762
01:00:22,559 --> 01:00:29,680
it is being followed. Second, put real
numbers in the guidance. Terms like

763
01:00:27,040 --> 01:00:34,160
defined thresholds and reduce online
assessment time are intentions, not

764
01:00:31,920 --> 01:00:38,000
standards. Families need maximum weekly
minutes for platform platforms like I

765
01:00:36,240 --> 01:00:42,960
Ready and age-based expectations for
device free instruction. Third,

766
01:00:40,160 --> 01:00:46,880
establish ongoing public oversight. DCPS
should report quarterly to the state

767
01:00:44,559 --> 01:00:50,799
board, council, and AIE on
implementation with public materials and

768
01:00:49,119 --> 01:00:55,119
opportunities for family and educator
feedback. This community feedback should

769
01:00:52,720 --> 01:01:00,960
be used to inform contract renewals like
I Ready. Uh fourth, give parents a real

770
01:00:58,720 --> 01:01:05,440
escalation pathway. Families need a
formal process to report concerns, a

771
01:01:03,359 --> 01:01:10,000
responsible office, defined response
times, and public reporting on aggregate

772
01:01:07,520 --> 01:01:13,839
trends. Finally, communicate repeatedly
and transparently. One parent you use

773
01:01:12,079 --> 01:01:17,119
session or announcement is not enough.
Families should receive guidance at

774
01:01:15,280 --> 01:01:21,040
launch again in September and midyear
with translations and permanent online

775
01:01:18,720 --> 01:01:24,880
access to DCPS guidance and individual
schools technology policies. Notices

776
01:01:23,040 --> 01:01:29,119
cannot simply be posted on students
schoolisssued devices. These are basic

777
01:01:27,119 --> 01:01:33,440
principles of accountable policymaking,
specific standards, measurable outcomes,

778
01:01:31,440 --> 01:01:37,760
public reporting, regular oversight, and
a meaningful feedback loop. Our children

779
01:01:35,920 --> 01:01:41,760
get one kindergartener year, one
kindergarten year, one third grade year,

780
01:01:39,839 --> 01:01:45,200
and one childhood. They should not have
to wait years for adults to determine

781
01:01:43,520 --> 01:01:49,520
whether an educational technology
experiment worked. We ask the state

782
01:01:47,119 --> 01:01:53,292
board to ensure DCPS gets this right
from day one. Thank you. [applause]

783
01:01:57,760 --> 01:02:03,280
» Good evening. Uh my name is Aaron
Walowski. I'm a W three resident and the

784
01:02:01,520 --> 01:02:07,440
proud parent of a rising sixth grader at
Deal Middle School and a rising freshman

785
01:02:05,440 --> 01:02:10,559
at Jackson Reed High School. I want to
talk about two important areas where our

786
01:02:08,880 --> 01:02:14,799
school school communities need strong
oversight, transparency, and proactive

787
01:02:12,319 --> 01:02:18,720
leadership. Health staffing uh and
finding the right balance on educational

788
01:02:16,400 --> 01:02:22,559
technology. First, on health and safety,
I want to make sure board members are

789
01:02:20,079 --> 01:02:25,440
aware of the available administration of
medication training from the Department

790
01:02:23,920 --> 01:02:29,760
of Health for school staff. And I
encourage each of you to reach out to uh

791
01:02:27,680 --> 01:02:33,839
school contacts across your wards and
ensure principles and staff know how to

792
01:02:31,680 --> 01:02:38,240
access it for the the school year. DC
law requires every public public school

793
01:02:36,079 --> 01:02:42,799
and uh and and public charter school to
have at least two AOM trained staff on

794
01:02:40,799 --> 01:02:46,720
site at all times while a dedicated
full-time nurse in every single school

795
01:02:44,640 --> 01:02:50,640
must remain our ultimate priority. I
also want to recognize that DOH is

796
01:02:48,400 --> 01:02:55,040
planning some mitigations uh to health
staffing this year. According to parents

797
01:02:52,640 --> 01:02:58,799
united for school health, do is hiring
additional school-based staff to reduce

798
01:02:56,720 --> 01:03:02,079
clusters from five schools to four.
However, it should remain a priority of

799
01:03:00,640 --> 01:03:05,280
city public health and educational
leaders, including this board to monitor

800
01:03:04,079 --> 01:03:09,520
health staffing levels and their
impacts. Uh just as we need transparency

801
01:03:08,079 --> 01:03:13,040
and active oversight of school health
staffing, we also need a high level of

802
01:03:11,200 --> 01:03:17,359
transparency and clear guide guidelines
when it comes to technology in our

803
01:03:14,640 --> 01:03:22,079
schools. True true transparency around
what tech is used in our classrooms, how

804
01:03:19,599 --> 01:03:26,000
often it's used, and what data gen it
generates are essential. Without robust

805
01:03:24,319 --> 01:03:29,760
transparency, we can't effectively
identify and curb excessive screen time

806
01:03:28,000 --> 01:03:34,000
or protect our our classrooms from
unproven digital platforms. We also

807
01:03:32,079 --> 01:03:37,760
can't ensure equitable access to
meaningful technology where appropriate.

808
01:03:35,920 --> 01:03:40,799
We need to we need clear visibility to
identify which resources work and

809
01:03:39,520 --> 01:03:44,559
whether they are actually reaching
students across all eight wards. We've

810
01:03:42,960 --> 01:03:48,880
heard many wellfounded concerns about
edtech. At the same time, I don't think

811
01:03:46,319 --> 01:03:53,119
we have to choose between common sense
safeguards, which which I think folks

812
01:03:50,799 --> 01:03:57,520
are asking for here, and digital equity.
We can and must do both. Technology

813
01:03:55,440 --> 01:04:00,960
needs to be treated as a as a tool to
support teachers who should remain at

814
01:03:59,599 --> 01:04:04,880
the center of instruction and who
deserve clear guidelines and resources

815
01:04:02,880 --> 01:04:09,119
from the city. And I think there are
examples where technology does s serve

816
01:04:07,200 --> 01:04:13,119
an important purpose. things like
assisted technology and other essential

817
01:04:11,599 --> 01:04:18,400
accommodations for students with special
needs, targeted acceleration for twice

818
01:04:15,520 --> 01:04:22,079
exceptional uh twoe learners, and age
appropriate and genuine digital

819
01:04:20,160 --> 01:04:26,559
literacy. Preparing students for the
modern world means touch teaching them

820
01:04:24,160 --> 01:04:30,640
how to navigate technology effectively,
safely, and responsibly, which includes

821
01:04:28,720 --> 01:04:34,640
knowing when not to use tech in favor of
analog methods that rely on fundamental

822
01:04:32,559 --> 01:04:37,520
skills like reading, writing, and math.
We need common sense limits on screen

823
01:04:36,319 --> 01:04:41,520
time where technology is
counterproductive or harmful while also

824
01:04:39,440 --> 01:04:47,480
ensuring older students across DC have
equitable access to evidencebacked tools

825
01:04:43,520 --> 01:04:47,480
where appropriate. Thank you.

826
01:04:52,799 --> 01:05:00,960
» Good evening. My name is Llewellyn
Dixon. I am a teacher at Leki Education

827
01:04:57,440 --> 01:05:04,559
Campus. I was educated at MCPS. I went
on to receive a bachelor's and master's

828
01:05:02,720 --> 01:05:09,119
degree from Morehouse College and Emory
University respectively. I'm now

829
01:05:07,119 --> 01:05:12,960
pursuing a PhD in leadership from
Pepperdine University and prior to

830
01:05:11,280 --> 01:05:16,960
teaching in DC, I held several
leadership roles in uh where I've raised

831
01:05:15,520 --> 01:05:21,359
millions of dollars. I'm also an
ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus

832
01:05:18,960 --> 01:05:26,640
Christ. I have a question for you on the
panel. Would you send your child to

833
01:05:23,760 --> 01:05:32,079
Leki? If the answer is not an
enthusiastic yes, then it is your moral

834
01:05:30,000 --> 01:05:38,319
and professional duty to oblige my
forthcoming request. The mission of DCPS

835
01:05:35,359 --> 01:05:43,680
is to educate children. With an average
literacy and math proficiency rate of

836
01:05:40,400 --> 01:05:49,520
13%, it is clear that Leki is failing at
that mission. Over the course of the

837
01:05:46,240 --> 01:05:54,319
2025 2026 school year, there was one
in-person staff meeting that took place

838
01:05:51,680 --> 01:05:59,280
in October and two optional virtual
ones. For at least one entire school

839
01:05:56,880 --> 01:06:03,599
year, Leki had an infestation of mice
that went unressed until the summertime.

840
01:06:01,920 --> 01:06:07,599
Funds that have been allocated for
specific purposes have not been made

841
01:06:05,839 --> 01:06:12,319
available for those purposes, and there
has been no accountability or receipts

842
01:06:09,839 --> 01:06:17,200
provided. Special education students are
grossly neglected and undereducated. The

843
01:06:14,960 --> 01:06:21,200
school is experiencing several lawsuits
because of mismanagement. And there are

844
01:06:19,280 --> 01:06:26,640
several other policy violations that
could be named if time permitted.

845
01:06:23,760 --> 01:06:30,720
Again, the mission of DCPS is to educate
students in a safe environment. And by

846
01:06:29,039 --> 01:06:35,520
allowing these things to go on, the
principal, Naika Wilson, has proven that

847
01:06:33,119 --> 01:06:39,920
she is not in line with said mission.
Any other employee who committed such

848
01:06:37,280 --> 01:06:45,039
egregious acts would be terminated. So
now the ball is in your court panel. As

849
01:06:43,200 --> 01:06:49,200
leaders of the school system, it is your
moral duty to ensure that the children

850
01:06:47,200 --> 01:06:53,520
receive the same level of education that
you received that allows you to sit in

851
01:06:51,280 --> 01:06:58,079
the seats that you're currently in. In
addition to the mission of DCPS, it is

852
01:06:56,000 --> 01:07:04,640
wise to have it at the forefront of your
mind to make every school in DC a school

853
01:07:01,200 --> 01:07:10,240
where you would send your child to. So I
ask again, after hearing the current

854
01:07:07,119 --> 01:07:16,319
state of the school, would you send your
child there? If the answer is no, do the

855
01:07:14,319 --> 01:07:23,400
right thing, conduct a full
investigation, and hold Naika Wilson

856
01:07:18,720 --> 01:07:23,400
accountable for her actions. Thank you.

857
01:07:27,839 --> 01:07:34,640
» Good evening. My name is Nicole Summers
and I am a DCPS parent here with Schools

858
01:07:32,000 --> 01:07:39,440
Beyond Screens. I am also a professor at
Georgetown University Law Center. Law is

859
01:07:37,359 --> 01:07:46,000
a profession that is largely embracing
AI. Law firms use it and many tools

860
01:07:42,160 --> 01:07:49,520
exist to embed AI in legal practice.
Yet, this does not mean that we are

861
01:07:47,520 --> 01:07:54,160
reshaping legal education and embedding
the technology across our pedagogies. To

862
01:07:52,160 --> 01:07:58,000
the contrary, we understand that to use
AI successfully as lawyers, students

863
01:07:56,480 --> 01:08:02,640
need to learn the tools of legal
analysis first. At Georgetown Law, we

864
01:08:00,640 --> 01:08:06,799
have required all firstear exams to be
in class with no access to the internet.

865
01:08:04,960 --> 01:08:10,160
The University of Chicago Law School,
currently ranked the second best law

866
01:08:08,319 --> 01:08:14,640
school in the nation, has done the same
and has also banned all laptops from

867
01:08:12,240 --> 01:08:18,799
classrooms. In a memo that circulated
widely, the University of Chicago Law

868
01:08:16,400 --> 01:08:23,040
School administration said, quote, "AI
is already a pervasive part of legal

869
01:08:20,799 --> 01:08:26,640
practice and will become more so. It is
simply unrealistic to think that

870
01:08:24,480 --> 01:08:30,239
students and lawyers will not use AI.
But legal technology is changing rapidly

871
01:08:28,640 --> 01:08:34,640
and there is no guarantee that the
specific AI tools or techniques that are

872
01:08:32,560 --> 01:08:38,880
ascended today will be useful when
current students enter practice. Thus,

873
01:08:36,960 --> 01:08:42,239
AI skills training requires more than
producing students who can use the tools

874
01:08:40,640 --> 01:08:46,159
that are currently part of legal
practice. Law schools must give students

875
01:08:44,239 --> 01:08:50,560
the analytical skills and theoretical
toolkit to adapt as technologies change.

876
01:08:49,040 --> 01:08:53,600
this is how we will ensure that our
students learn how to use AI

877
01:08:52,000 --> 01:08:58,319
responsibly, effectively, and
ethically." End quote. I completely

878
01:08:56,159 --> 01:09:02,159
agree with the emphasis DCPS places on
preparing students for college and

879
01:08:59,839 --> 01:09:06,080
beyond. From my own experience as a
professor, I want to emphasize that to

880
01:09:04,239 --> 01:09:09,679
succeed in higher ed, students do not
need the quote unquote digital literacy

881
01:09:08,080 --> 01:09:14,159
that is acquired from time spent
learning how to use AI, doing exercises

882
01:09:12,000 --> 01:09:17,679
on apps, and making PowerPoints. What
they need is to be able to sustain

883
01:09:15,679 --> 01:09:22,000
focus, to read and comprehend lengthy
texts, and to think independently and

884
01:09:19,600 --> 01:09:25,759
critically. Across higher ed, faculty
are discussing students decline across

885
01:09:23,679 --> 01:09:29,199
all of these areas. Students are more
distracted and distractable. Their

886
01:09:27,440 --> 01:09:32,799
capacities to absorb lengthy reading
assignments are diminished, and they're

887
01:09:30,880 --> 01:09:36,560
more reliant on the internet and AI to
think for them. These are skills they

888
01:09:35,040 --> 01:09:40,719
have to learn in their elementary and
secondary years. And all the research

889
01:09:38,719 --> 01:09:45,120
has shown that time spent on devices and
on edtech programs undermines them. It

890
01:09:43,040 --> 01:09:48,960
is precisely as these technologies have
taken over the classroom that we've

891
01:09:46,480 --> 01:09:52,400
witnessed these effects. Finally, I will
note that in my own law classes at

892
01:09:50,400 --> 01:09:56,239
Georgetown, I highly discourage laptop
use. I do this because the research

893
01:09:54,400 --> 01:09:59,440
shows that students learn more when they
handwrite notes. When students

894
01:09:57,920 --> 01:10:02,480
handwrite, not only are they less
distracted, but the process of

895
01:10:01,120 --> 01:10:05,840
handwriting actually helps them retain
the material. Yet, so many of my

896
01:10:04,239 --> 01:10:09,440
students can't act on my encouragement
to handwrite notes. For many of them,

897
01:10:07,760 --> 01:10:13,120
they don't have the physical handwriting
skills necessary to do so. For others,

898
01:10:11,520 --> 01:10:17,840
they don't know how to engage in the
process of more slowly taking notes by

899
01:10:15,280 --> 01:10:21,360
hand. Every year, the students with the
top scores on the blind graded exam have

900
01:10:19,840 --> 01:10:26,320
been the ones who took handwritten
notes. The status if the status quo

901
01:10:23,840 --> 01:10:32,440
continues in DCPS is only likely to
increase inequality. Time spent on

902
01:10:28,080 --> 01:10:32,440
devices makes Oh, thank you.

903
01:10:37,440 --> 01:10:44,800
Good evening, board members. My name is
A Bhanu. I'm here as a mother of a DCPS

904
01:10:42,159 --> 01:10:49,040
preK4 student, a physician, and a
volunteer of schools beyond screens. I'd

905
01:10:47,520 --> 01:10:52,400
like to start with a shared foundational
obligation between medicine and

906
01:10:50,560 --> 01:10:56,320
educators alike, which is to put the
health, safety, dignity, and development

907
01:10:54,560 --> 01:10:59,760
of children before any institutional
convenience or commercial interest.

908
01:10:58,080 --> 01:11:02,239
Though I'm not a pediatrician, as a
physician, I have reviewed the

909
01:11:00,800 --> 01:11:06,400
literature and it is from this parental
and medical responsibility that I want

910
01:11:04,640 --> 01:11:10,640
to share the unequivocal risks
associated with increasing presence of

911
01:11:08,239 --> 01:11:14,560
screens and edtech in our schools. I'll
briefly review the highlights for you.

912
01:11:12,800 --> 01:11:18,800
As you know, preschool is a period of
exceptionally rapid brain development.

913
01:11:16,719 --> 01:11:22,080
In a neuroim neuroiming study of three
to five year olds, greater screen

914
01:11:20,000 --> 01:11:26,080
exposure was associated with low white
brain matter changes associated with

915
01:11:24,239 --> 01:11:29,840
circuitry tracks supporting language,
executive function, and emergent

916
01:11:28,000 --> 01:11:34,000
literacy and that's associated with
lower scores on those corresponding

917
01:11:31,679 --> 01:11:37,440
assessments. The digital environments
introduce rapid stimulation and

918
01:11:36,000 --> 01:11:41,760
distraction that can compete directly
with sustained attention. Longitudinal

919
01:11:39,760 --> 01:11:46,320
evidence suggests a direct relationship
between digital media use and ADHD

920
01:11:43,920 --> 01:11:50,320
symptoms, sleep disruption, and impaired
social relationships in the classroom.

921
01:11:48,640 --> 01:11:55,440
The problem is not limited to the child
using the device. But research also

922
01:11:52,080 --> 01:11:59,600
shows that laptop multitasking can also
disrupt um and impair learning of among

923
01:11:57,679 --> 01:12:04,560
by nearby students who can visualize the
screen. So this makes onetoone devices

924
01:12:02,239 --> 01:12:10,320
not uh makes it a classroom level issue
and not simply an individual choice.

925
01:12:08,159 --> 01:12:13,440
A screenheavy school day can displace
one of the most important forms of

926
01:12:11,679 --> 01:12:17,840
pediatric preventative medicine, which
is movement. Metal analyses have shown

927
01:12:16,080 --> 01:12:22,960
that students who use greater than two
hours of screen time have greater than

928
01:12:19,679 --> 01:12:26,320
67% odds of being overweight or obese
compared to children who use less than

929
01:12:24,400 --> 01:12:29,679
two hours of screen time per day.
Sedentary behavior, as you know, is

930
01:12:27,840 --> 01:12:34,320
associated with downstream cardabolic
risk factors such as hypertension and

931
01:12:31,280 --> 01:12:38,400
diabetes in children. Increasing screen
exposure also raises significant

932
01:12:36,080 --> 01:12:42,000
pediatric vision concerns with
significantly higher odds of myopia

933
01:12:40,400 --> 01:12:47,199
among children and greater screen
exposure. In fact, a meta analysis of 45

934
01:12:45,040 --> 01:12:50,400
studies with more than 335,000
participants found that each additional

935
01:12:48,800 --> 01:12:54,560
hour of daily screen time use was
associated with 21% higher odds of

936
01:12:52,960 --> 01:12:59,760
myopia.
I would also be remiss not to mention

937
01:12:57,199 --> 01:13:04,000
from um an equity perspective the
concerns here. Their research also shows

938
01:13:02,320 --> 01:13:08,480
that school monitoring and AI
technologies also disappropriately um

939
01:13:06,320 --> 01:13:13,280
surveil and misclassify and have
increased disciplinary events for black

940
01:13:10,880 --> 01:13:17,840
and Hispanic students. Numerous studies
also show how educational technology can

941
01:13:15,760 --> 01:13:23,760
reinforce existing inequalities and
widen the widen the achievement gap.

942
01:13:21,120 --> 01:13:27,840
Technology has legitimate uses, but we
must distinguish between supplementing

943
01:13:25,360 --> 01:13:31,840
education and institutionalizing high
volume um exposure to screens. Our

944
01:13:30,239 --> 01:13:36,719
children's developmental years are not
renewable. Their attention is not a

945
01:13:33,840 --> 01:13:40,000
commodity. And while edtech vendors have
legitimate commercial incentives,

946
01:13:38,320 --> 01:13:43,440
schools have a different obligation.
Thank you.

947
01:13:41,955 --> 01:13:47,199
[applause]
>> Thank you. At this time, we will have a

948
01:13:45,280 --> 01:13:51,679
round of question from our elected state
board members. Representative Chang.

949
01:13:50,239 --> 01:13:55,040
» Nicole, would you like to finish your
testimony?

950
01:13:52,400 --> 01:14:00,159
» Oh, thank you.
>> For sure. Um,

951
01:13:58,400 --> 01:14:03,199
time spent on devices makes students
less prepared for higher ed. Higher

952
01:14:01,840 --> 01:14:06,880
income parents will be able to
counteract this effect with screenfree

953
01:14:05,040 --> 01:14:10,400
supplements at home and through outside
providers. Low-income households will be

954
01:14:08,719 --> 01:14:15,679
unable to do the same. Thank you and
thanks for the opportunity.

955
01:14:12,719 --> 01:14:22,800
» And I think one one of the things that
um I was thinking about as as you were

956
01:14:18,400 --> 01:14:26,400
talking is what the ideal day as a as a
parent would look like. If if you're

957
01:14:24,320 --> 01:14:30,239
imagining what your child is
experiencing when they go to school, if

958
01:14:28,719 --> 01:14:35,040
any of you would be willing to walk me
through, uh what what would that what

959
01:14:33,360 --> 01:14:36,719
would that be?
>> And I'm looking at you, Nicole, because

960
01:14:36,400 --> 01:14:39,920
I'm
>> sure. Yeah,

961
01:14:37,840 --> 01:14:44,400
» sure. I mean, so I have a rising first
grader and a rising preker. Um and for

962
01:14:43,040 --> 01:14:48,400
me, it's human interaction. I mean, it's
very much what he had his first year,

963
01:14:46,080 --> 01:14:54,080
which had virtually no screens except
for um required I Ready testing. the his

964
01:14:51,760 --> 01:14:57,199
teacher did not believe in screen based
instruction. Um, and it was wonderful. I

965
01:14:56,080 --> 01:15:00,880
actually volunteered in the classroom
every week and saw what it was like and

966
01:14:58,880 --> 01:15:04,000
it was vibrant and human- centered and
the kids were interacting with each

967
01:15:02,080 --> 01:15:07,360
other. They were, you know, using
physical materials. It's kindergarten,

968
01:15:05,520 --> 01:15:10,800
so there's a lot of physical play, you
know, play with physical materials still

969
01:15:09,120 --> 01:15:14,239
and learning with physical materials.
They're learning how to handr write. Um,

970
01:15:12,719 --> 01:15:18,719
they're reading physical books and I
want that to continue, of course, you

971
01:15:15,840 --> 01:15:23,440
know, adapted to, um, appropriate age
and educational experiences. But um it

972
01:15:20,800 --> 01:15:30,040
would really be a hand uh paper and
pencil instruction um throughout and uh

973
01:15:26,320 --> 01:15:30,040
humanto human interaction.

974
01:15:35,199 --> 01:15:42,159
» I would echo everything Nicole said and
I would also say that you know an ideal

975
01:15:39,760 --> 01:15:46,960
day would also have the option for paper
alternatives to electronic testing. So

976
01:15:45,280 --> 01:15:51,199
if there's going to be testing, I I do
believe that, you know, it it makes

977
01:15:48,880 --> 01:15:54,880
sense to have some sort of measurement
of growth of where the students start

978
01:15:52,719 --> 01:15:59,440
and where the students end. But I think
we used to do it in the olden days in my

979
01:15:56,880 --> 01:16:03,280
day um via via paper. And so I think the
big thing with that has to the resources

980
01:16:01,280 --> 01:16:06,480
have to come along with that. So we must
not give an unfund funded mandate to

981
01:16:05,280 --> 01:16:10,560
teachers. I think that's really
important that we invest in the

982
01:16:07,760 --> 01:16:14,159
materials um and as much outside time
play-based activity particularly in

983
01:16:12,480 --> 01:16:18,960
those early years as much as we can do
to reinforce policies that um contribute

984
01:16:16,640 --> 01:16:22,800
to that social emotional learning um and
keep screens out unless absolutely

985
01:16:20,719 --> 01:16:28,000
necessary. Um but I'm not opposed to
them just an intentional use of the

986
01:16:24,719 --> 01:16:33,040
screens and a research based one.
>> Arinad either of you have anything to

987
01:16:29,920 --> 01:16:33,040
add to that?

988
01:16:33,199 --> 01:16:39,760
I was going to add just the um the
kinesthetic and visual ways of learning

989
01:16:37,679 --> 01:16:44,880
because of the new centuries of
technology. So as a parent, you have to

990
01:16:42,320 --> 01:16:49,679
adapt both ways of how you personally
teach them and then have them adapt to

991
01:16:46,719 --> 01:16:54,480
how they can collaboratively engage with
other students. So understanding the

992
01:16:52,080 --> 01:16:58,640
cognitive behaviors of what they like to
learn and how they learn and dealing

993
01:16:56,400 --> 01:17:07,000
with that hands-on with them so they can
be diverse in learning. Thank you,

994
01:17:03,360 --> 01:17:07,000
» Representative Coulson.

995
01:17:07,600 --> 01:17:16,159
» Good evening, everyone. Um, I have a
question, I have a comment, and maybe

996
01:17:13,360 --> 01:17:21,199
just a statement. Uh, so that allow me
to say this and you all chime in when

997
01:17:18,159 --> 01:17:25,840
you can. Um I was thinking while I was
listening to the parent from deal he

998
01:17:23,040 --> 01:17:30,000
spoke about health care and nursing and
then right behind that sir you spoke

999
01:17:28,000 --> 01:17:34,800
about our test scores and the condition
of the buildings and we have heard

1000
01:17:32,719 --> 01:17:41,199
multiple testimonies about screen time
and while that is a very important issue

1001
01:17:38,560 --> 01:17:46,159
I'm wondering why this is the particular
is issue that has galvanized everyone

1002
01:17:43,679 --> 01:17:50,560
together again not saying that it's not
important and I do understand and my

1003
01:17:48,640 --> 01:17:54,800
thought was maybe because their babies
are young and they're just now entering

1004
01:17:52,320 --> 01:18:00,320
the system and so this is the issue that
is at the forefront but my also thought

1005
01:17:57,600 --> 01:18:04,960
my thought is also as they metriculate
through the system and as you begin to

1006
01:18:02,400 --> 01:18:08,800
see test scores uh which was mentioned
because I don't want to name any other

1007
01:18:06,320 --> 01:18:14,239
problems or you begin to have the need
for a nurse will we have this same

1008
01:18:11,600 --> 01:18:20,000
response so I guess my question is
specifically if you all can tell me how

1009
01:18:16,239 --> 01:18:25,600
we got here with everyone being so um
coordinated with the screen time and

1010
01:18:23,040 --> 01:18:31,120
then uh what would that look like once
you all have succeeded or once you move

1011
01:18:27,920 --> 01:18:35,520
on? Will this energy and this um
coalition then move on to support some

1012
01:18:33,679 --> 01:18:41,679
of the other concerns that older parents
or parents of older students may have?

1013
01:18:39,920 --> 01:18:46,880
» Can I just uh jump in really quickly?
So, as a parent of of older um students,

1014
01:18:45,679 --> 01:18:51,360
I I mean, I can't speak for sort of
what's what's galvanized everyone. I can

1015
01:18:48,960 --> 01:18:54,800
I can say I am thinking about concerns
across the board in our schools. So, I'm

1016
01:18:53,600 --> 01:18:58,800
concerned about whether or not there are
nurses. I'm also concerned about what

1017
01:18:57,040 --> 01:19:02,080
the the amount amount of screen time and
I, you know, I had a daughter who was an

1018
01:19:00,400 --> 01:19:07,840
eighth grader this past year at Deal.
We've had a great experience at Deal. I

1019
01:19:04,480 --> 01:19:11,600
saw we saw she saw a huge increase in
the amount of technology she used. So I

1020
01:19:09,920 --> 01:19:15,280
I think part of what's driving the issue
right now is it's happening in real

1021
01:19:12,960 --> 01:19:20,000
time. Things are things are increasing
exponentially. So the these concerns,

1022
01:19:18,239 --> 01:19:24,320
concerns at specific schools, concerns
with school health are are ongoing

1023
01:19:22,400 --> 01:19:28,560
concerns and they deserve attention. But
I I think from my perspective,

1024
01:19:27,144 --> 01:19:32,159
[clears throat] this is happening right
now. It's, you know, things look

1025
01:19:30,239 --> 01:19:36,159
differently on the tech side than they
did five or 10 years ago. And it's

1026
01:19:34,159 --> 01:19:38,800
happening really fast. So I think folks
are reacting to that. But that's my

1027
01:19:37,920 --> 01:19:42,800
take.
>> And would the movement from across the

1028
01:19:40,480 --> 01:19:47,600
country also play a part as well? The
federal lawsuit. Uh I believe we started

1029
01:19:45,199 --> 01:19:51,360
to hear testimony uh from this group
after that was dropped. So is that part

1030
01:19:49,840 --> 01:19:55,679
of it as well?
>> So I think I think doubling on what Erin

1031
01:19:53,840 --> 01:19:59,360
said is exactly right. I think this is a
byproduct of COVID. So I think what

1032
01:19:57,760 --> 01:20:03,440
happened during COVID is we were all
scrambling to make sure that our kids

1033
01:20:01,600 --> 01:20:06,400
could get an education of some kind. And
what happened was there was a huge

1034
01:20:04,960 --> 01:20:11,040
influx of money from the federal
government distributed to all um all

1035
01:20:09,120 --> 01:20:15,600
states and localities and they had to
spend the money and get the devices out.

1036
01:20:13,120 --> 01:20:19,760
And so they they just willy-nilly sent
them out with no thoughtful process

1037
01:20:18,320 --> 01:20:25,280
behind how they were crafting the
policy. And now here we are years later

1038
01:20:22,560 --> 01:20:30,000
dealing with the in-person real life
chaos that is on the ground. Um and I

1039
01:20:28,400 --> 01:20:34,159
the urgency and why we all came
together. I think it was organic. It was

1040
01:20:32,159 --> 01:20:38,239
not driven by a national movement. It
was we found each other by talking to

1041
01:20:36,080 --> 01:20:41,679
each other at meetings and on WhatsApp
groups and that's how we just started

1042
01:20:39,920 --> 01:20:46,320
organizing and I think the urgency is
that this tech is corrosive the way it's

1043
01:20:44,560 --> 01:20:52,280
being used and there is an urgency to
fix it fast and so that is why that

1044
01:20:48,159 --> 01:20:52,280
movement I think has galvanized.

1045
01:20:52,640 --> 01:20:55,800
» Thank you.

1046
01:20:56,719 --> 01:21:00,600
So sorry, represent

1047
01:21:00,960 --> 01:21:07,280
» Representative Henderson.
>> Yes, thank you.

1048
01:21:03,520 --> 01:21:12,800
» Uh I do feel like most of the people who
have testified on this issue have young

1049
01:21:09,840 --> 01:21:18,880
young children. Um but Miss Summers, you
are also talking about um higher ed. Um,

1050
01:21:16,560 --> 01:21:26,640
can you connect the dots a little bit
for us and kind of what that means for

1051
01:21:22,480 --> 01:21:30,960
what you're saying for older students?
>> Sure. Yeah. So, my concern while I have

1052
01:21:29,199 --> 01:21:34,719
very young kids, my concern actually is
much more about what is going to happen

1053
01:21:32,880 --> 01:21:39,280
to them in the older grades because
right now my kids are at start, my older

1054
01:21:37,120 --> 01:21:43,360
one is, and there's very little screen
use, especially in the early years. Um,

1055
01:21:42,320 --> 01:21:49,360
» correct.
What I'm very concerned about is having

1056
01:21:46,640 --> 01:21:53,199
as a professor having a and then having
this be my own kids having a generation

1057
01:21:51,120 --> 01:21:58,400
of students who can't read lengthy
texts, who can't think independently,

1058
01:21:56,080 --> 01:22:02,239
who can't take handwritten notes because
this is a part I had to cut out in my

1059
01:22:00,239 --> 01:22:06,000
rush through my testimony, but um they
were never taught how to handr write.

1060
01:22:04,320 --> 01:22:10,880
Many don't have the physical handwriting
skills to handwrite because they quickly

1061
01:22:08,400 --> 01:22:14,560
moved on to devices in the lower years
of school. And um then in when they were

1062
01:22:13,360 --> 01:22:18,719
in high school, they were never taught
how to take notes by hand. And so you

1063
01:22:16,800 --> 01:22:23,120
get to law school and you just can't do
it. And I I can't teach that's not my

1064
01:22:20,719 --> 01:22:25,760
role as a law professor. Um we expect
students to be able to do that. And so

1065
01:22:24,400 --> 01:22:30,239
there all these things that we're
witnessing happening in at when students

1066
01:22:28,800 --> 01:22:33,840
are getting to law school which is for
most you know their terminal education

1067
01:22:32,239 --> 01:22:39,199
and they're lacking these sort of basic
skills that for generations they got in

1068
01:22:35,840 --> 01:22:45,199
the lower grades and they're coming to
law schools and higher ed unprepared and

1069
01:22:42,239 --> 01:22:49,280
I'm really worried about that at well
I'm for a parent strongly for my own

1070
01:22:48,000 --> 01:22:54,320
children that they are going to grow up
not able to have those skills to be able

1071
01:22:51,040 --> 01:22:58,159
to read substantial material. material,
think about it, digest it, have the

1072
01:22:56,320 --> 01:23:04,159
patience and focus for it and be able to
think about it independently um and be

1073
01:23:00,560 --> 01:23:09,199
able to write and think well and I am
extremely um worried about having a

1074
01:23:06,159 --> 01:23:13,280
generation of law soon very soon having
a generation of law students who cannot

1075
01:23:11,120 --> 01:23:17,440
do that and I think it all come what you
know in higher ed we're getting students

1076
01:23:15,199 --> 01:23:22,000
again at the end they're in their mid20s
um for many of them we we can't give

1077
01:23:19,679 --> 01:23:26,960
them those basic skills that has to be
um in the lower years. Thanks. Uh,

1078
01:23:23,920 --> 01:23:29,960
anyone else want to talk about the older
ages?

1079
01:23:31,679 --> 01:23:38,480
» Um, I will say that because technology
started booming at a fast rate at

1080
01:23:35,600 --> 01:23:43,520
certain generational levels that some
parents found it easier to and schools

1081
01:23:41,600 --> 01:23:47,840
found it easier to teach people with the
gaming systems. So they took the gaming

1082
01:23:45,600 --> 01:23:52,560
systems and incorporated into learning
capabilities not knowing that how it's

1083
01:23:50,560 --> 01:23:56,480
going to have a translucive effect on
them in the long run when it comes to

1084
01:23:53,920 --> 01:24:00,159
health and understanding how to do
regular comprehension skills.

1085
01:23:59,120 --> 01:24:05,960
» Thank you.
>> Thank you representative Johnson Law.

1086
01:24:06,000 --> 01:24:12,719
» Thank you all again so much for your
testimony. I I have so many things and

1087
01:24:10,719 --> 01:24:16,239
uh Mr. Dixon I represent word eight so
lucky is one of my schools. So, I will

1088
01:24:14,080 --> 01:24:19,280
be coming to you after this, but as we
have this conversation and kind of

1089
01:24:17,520 --> 01:24:23,600
piggybacking off of what Representative
Coulson said about this particular

1090
01:24:21,679 --> 01:24:28,560
issue, I I wish I had you guys for
special education. I wish I had you all

1091
01:24:26,000 --> 01:24:32,320
for transportation. I wish I had you all
for bullying. I wish I had you all for

1092
01:24:30,719 --> 01:24:37,440
safety because those are like the top
three things that I get from my schools.

1093
01:24:35,520 --> 01:24:41,679
And when it comes to technology, the
other side of this, again, as we talk

1094
01:24:39,600 --> 01:24:45,840
about equity,
many of our families still don't have

1095
01:24:43,840 --> 01:24:50,719
computers. Many of our families don't
even have access to Wi-Fi or to the

1096
01:24:48,719 --> 01:24:53,920
internet for them to even, let's say, if
they have a research project. Many of

1097
01:24:52,239 --> 01:24:58,480
them are in the library. Not saying that
everybody in W 8, but but many but many

1098
01:24:56,480 --> 01:25:01,840
of them do. I get calls from schools
saying they don't even have enough

1099
01:24:59,840 --> 01:25:05,440
devices. They're not even updated enough
to even h do some of the things that you

1100
01:25:03,760 --> 01:25:10,159
all are talking about. So as we have
this conversation again, I would like to

1101
01:25:07,840 --> 01:25:13,679
know where are you all with W 8
engagement?

1102
01:25:11,840 --> 01:25:17,760
» Well,
um well, I started with engagement with

1103
01:25:15,679 --> 01:25:23,520
W 8 and was part of some of the
enhancements of program and teaching on

1104
01:25:20,719 --> 01:25:27,520
a on a on a I'm going to say low income
level. So I understand exactly where you

1105
01:25:25,280 --> 01:25:31,440
coming from as far as them not having.
But a lot of the things that I find that

1106
01:25:29,440 --> 01:25:36,960
is important when it comes to safety is
about them being able to keep the the

1107
01:25:34,320 --> 01:25:41,040
circular networks and doing the the
educational needs that they need to do

1108
01:25:39,199 --> 01:25:45,199
whether their environment is disruptive
or whether they just feel a competitive

1109
01:25:43,520 --> 01:25:48,639
moment to have to work versus go to
school or have to bounce around and do

1110
01:25:46,800 --> 01:25:54,719
certain things. So I think it's an
economical very variable based on their

1111
01:25:51,920 --> 01:25:59,760
environments and also the narratives of
them staying in the the limelight of

1112
01:25:57,440 --> 01:26:03,280
being in competition with other schools
and other things being able to stay

1113
01:26:01,679 --> 01:26:08,000
focused with certain things.
>> So it's a it's a little bit about a lot

1114
01:26:05,520 --> 01:26:11,600
of bit of of just environmental and
homebased things and then school-based

1115
01:26:10,000 --> 01:26:17,840
favoritism things. So it's a lot of
things that need the nuances.

1116
01:26:14,000 --> 01:26:21,679
» Yeah. Thank you, Miss Danielle. Mr.
Dixon,

1117
01:26:19,440 --> 01:26:26,000
you mentioned Lucky and you mentioned
about the mice and you mentioned about

1118
01:26:23,679 --> 01:26:30,480
special education. In the last 40
seconds, you can take the rest of my

1119
01:26:27,280 --> 01:26:34,960
time. Um, one, can you just update me?
Has anyone responded from DGS? If not,

1120
01:26:32,880 --> 01:26:38,639
let's follow up offline. And then two,
you mentioned special education. What

1121
01:26:36,960 --> 01:26:42,639
things are not happening so I can also
follow up in regards to that as well.

1122
01:26:40,400 --> 01:26:48,159
» Yeah. And and I I want to preface my
statement by saying this. Um I have been

1123
01:26:45,360 --> 01:26:52,480
in DCPS only for eight months and I've
observed all these things. So um C

1124
01:26:50,480 --> 01:26:55,199
phrases like DGS I'm not really familiar
with. Um

1125
01:26:53,440 --> 01:26:57,520
» I'm sorry. Department of General
Services.

1126
01:26:55,679 --> 01:27:01,600
» Okay. Department. Okay. Thank you. Um
and even with the sped stuff I am still

1127
01:26:59,760 --> 01:27:06,800
working through some of those some of
that knowledge. However, um I have not

1128
01:27:04,320 --> 01:27:10,480
received any responses from DGS as of
yet. Okay. And

1129
01:27:08,400 --> 01:27:17,560
» let's I'm out of time. Let's follow up
offline. Thank you, Mix. Thank you.

1130
01:27:14,000 --> 01:27:17,560
Representative Thompson.

1131
01:27:18,320 --> 01:27:23,639
» Um, sir, you can take 30 seconds to
finish your response.

1132
01:27:23,760 --> 01:27:31,840
» Uh, the most recent example I can give
as far as Thank you for that. Um, as far

1133
01:27:27,920 --> 01:27:37,120
as the SPED violations. Um, there is
again it's a it's an abuse of power in

1134
01:27:34,320 --> 01:27:42,000
in in in certain kind of ways. I am not
sped certified for example. Um, I don't

1135
01:27:40,400 --> 01:27:46,880
mind, you know, teaching special
education, but I'm currently not sped

1136
01:27:43,600 --> 01:27:51,440
certified. Um, after some conversation,
um, that was contentious between the

1137
01:27:48,719 --> 01:27:56,960
principal and I, um, I was placed in an
ILS class this year, um, to be to to

1138
01:27:55,040 --> 01:28:01,760
teach there in a space where that is not
my certification. And it is, uh, and

1139
01:28:00,080 --> 01:28:06,159
that's a common practice that happens at
the school as well. Um, I have uh when I

1140
01:28:04,639 --> 01:28:10,320
was a teacher last year in third and
fourth grade as a small groups ELA

1141
01:28:07,840 --> 01:28:14,560
teacher, there were two students uh I
don't want to say their names, but there

1142
01:28:11,440 --> 01:28:19,120
were two students who could not read or
write their own names and very clearly

1143
01:28:16,880 --> 01:28:23,679
belonged in special education and they
had made it to third grade now going to

1144
01:28:21,040 --> 01:28:28,239
fourth grade being completely ignored.
Um, as a naive first year teacher there,

1145
01:28:26,080 --> 01:28:32,639
I went to Yes, ma'am. I said 30 seconds
and you 30 seconds times two and 30

1146
01:28:30,639 --> 01:28:37,760
seconds times three and I I believe you
are a good teacher so you know what that

1147
01:28:34,400 --> 01:28:41,600
means. Um I I just want to say uh really
quickly uh you are talking uh to one of

1148
01:28:39,600 --> 01:28:46,480
the right people. Um but I wanted her to
be able to get a sense of um what you

1149
01:28:43,840 --> 01:28:50,880
raised especially since uh you are one
testimony here and we're getting

1150
01:28:48,320 --> 01:28:56,320
extended testimony about a larger a
different issue. Right. Um the beautiful

1151
01:28:53,600 --> 01:29:01,840
thing uh when when multiple people come
uh is you get to delve in and everybody

1152
01:28:58,480 --> 01:29:07,199
gets three minutes. Um I will also say
um you mentioned you are new to DCPS. I

1153
01:29:04,960 --> 01:29:11,199
do see uh your union president in the
back. I don't know if you've met Miss

1154
01:29:08,639 --> 01:29:16,239
Fuches. Uh I've known Miss Fuches for
many years because she's taught in war 7

1155
01:29:13,440 --> 01:29:23,040
for many years. Um and that is your
sister Ward. So I highly recommend you

1156
01:29:18,800 --> 01:29:30,960
stop and see her. um as another um
avenue uh to get your issues addressed.

1157
01:29:27,440 --> 01:29:34,320
Okay. Um I
had another thought, but I lost it

1158
01:29:32,560 --> 01:29:39,120
probably 35 seconds ago.
>> Sorry.

1159
01:29:35,040 --> 01:29:43,280
» Um and so I uh will yield the rest of my
time. Um because I cut you off for a

1160
01:29:41,199 --> 01:29:46,800
reason I just can't remember. Um but
it's okay. It's okay because you got

1161
01:29:45,280 --> 01:29:51,600
across what you needed to get across.
So, uh, thank you all everyone, uh, for

1162
01:29:49,440 --> 01:29:57,120
your testimony this evening. Um, and
I'll turn back to you, Director Butler.

1163
01:29:54,000 --> 01:30:02,159
» Thank you, Representative Williams.
>> Yes. Um, hello everyone. Um, so I'm I'm

1164
01:30:00,159 --> 01:30:07,199
going to come back to the, uh, DCPS
technology guidance that I was given

1165
01:30:03,920 --> 01:30:12,480
today. Um, one of the components of the
platform, uh, is entitled family

1166
01:30:09,920 --> 01:30:17,679
partnership and communication pathway.
It says very clearly, "Families need

1167
01:30:14,400 --> 01:30:22,639
clear information and a simple pathway
for questions or concerns." So, I'm

1168
01:30:20,400 --> 01:30:27,560
curious, do you feel like you have that?
And if not, what would it look like?

1169
01:30:33,280 --> 01:30:41,760
So, we also heard a little bit about
some of those pieces being included and

1170
01:30:37,840 --> 01:30:46,560
um right now uh there is no back and
forth with DCPS that exists at all. Um

1171
01:30:44,960 --> 01:30:50,800
so I think what that would look like is
kind of something along the lines of my

1172
01:30:48,159 --> 01:30:55,280
testimony. um having an escalation
pathway. So if families have uh issues

1173
01:30:53,520 --> 01:30:58,639
that they're experiencing on any number
of issues in addition to some of the

1174
01:30:56,800 --> 01:31:04,719
ones that were spoken about here,
there's a real path to escalate it to

1175
01:31:01,280 --> 01:31:10,000
somebody that will listen and engage. Um
we have a there's a September 1st

1176
01:31:06,480 --> 01:31:14,400
technology parent university um session
coming up. I I would venture to guess

1177
01:31:12,719 --> 01:31:19,199
that that will not be interactive. It
will be us being spoken to about the

1178
01:31:17,199 --> 01:31:23,199
guidance but no opportunity to comment.
There were hundreds of comments

1179
01:31:20,320 --> 01:31:27,679
submitted um for the session last night
and as you noticed um they did not

1180
01:31:25,679 --> 01:31:33,040
answer any of them. So it would be a
real process.

1181
01:31:29,440 --> 01:31:37,840
» Yeah. Does anyone want to add to that?
I was going to say engagement and having

1182
01:31:35,440 --> 01:31:42,080
some type of real data core value where
there's issues or concerns that parents

1183
01:31:40,159 --> 01:31:45,760
and teachers have on a database level
where they can reach out and someone is

1184
01:31:43,760 --> 01:31:51,600
being accountable for addressing those
issues instead of leaving them to a year

1185
01:31:49,040 --> 01:31:56,239
later or they get to 128 and they still
have those competencies of problems.

1186
01:31:54,000 --> 01:32:01,600
» Right. Yeah. something that I'm thinking
about because I I I hear you uh both and

1187
01:31:59,840 --> 01:32:07,840
uh miss just to your point about just
DCBS kind of talking at you. Um that was

1188
01:32:04,639 --> 01:32:13,840
my experience today. Um
and and so uh it's it it's just not

1189
01:32:11,760 --> 01:32:18,719
collaborative. I and I think that's one
of the things why I'm so excited about a

1190
01:32:16,719 --> 01:32:24,159
new marministration, right? I really
think we need a cultural shift in our

1191
01:32:20,560 --> 01:32:28,560
schools, you know, that puts students,
uh, teachers, families at the center.

1192
01:32:26,159 --> 01:32:33,679
And, and as I and I, yeah, and and I've
heard this also from our WTU president

1193
01:32:31,280 --> 01:32:36,800
hundreds of times, right, that sometime
like we really need to be thoughtful

1194
01:32:35,040 --> 01:32:42,239
about what central administration is
doing, not have it be so great, but also

1195
01:32:39,360 --> 01:32:47,520
have it support schools and not make
teaching and learning harder. Um, so,

1196
01:32:45,920 --> 01:32:51,840
uh, yeah, I think we there's a lot of
room for growth here. I don't want to

1197
01:32:49,120 --> 01:32:55,600
like have it be a gotcha system with
teachers and and I want to think about

1198
01:32:53,679 --> 01:32:59,480
proper communication channels, but I I
don't think we have that yet.

1199
01:33:00,719 --> 01:33:08,159
» Thank you, Representative Best.
>> Thank you, uh, Jacqueline. Thank you for

1200
01:33:06,080 --> 01:33:14,800
your continued partnership and support
uh, and advocacy on this issue. Uh, I

1201
01:33:10,639 --> 01:33:21,280
want to talk to Mr. Dixon. Um, so
I don't want to lie to you, man. Like I

1202
01:33:16,960 --> 01:33:25,120
hear you and uh that's extremely uh
unfortunate. I wish that there was

1203
01:33:22,960 --> 01:33:29,120
something that this board could do. I
wish that we could launch an

1204
01:33:26,320 --> 01:33:34,719
investigation uh but unfortunately the
way that we're set up, we just don't

1205
01:33:31,520 --> 01:33:42,000
have that power um to really act on
that. Um I think that we can talk about

1206
01:33:38,239 --> 01:33:45,920
what are some effective ways that we can
help you address some of those problems.

1207
01:33:43,520 --> 01:33:50,639
I think you know one mentioned you know
connecting with Laura but like I think

1208
01:33:48,719 --> 01:33:57,040
we can also figure out like what are
those other avenues outside of uh this

1209
01:33:54,080 --> 01:34:01,920
right here. Um because unfortunately
this board doesn't have that power. Uh

1210
01:33:58,960 --> 01:34:07,760
where most uh areas and regions have a
school board. Uh we're not a school

1211
01:34:04,159 --> 01:34:13,600
board. Um, we act as a policy, uh,
advisor. Um, and so, um, I'd love to

1212
01:34:12,080 --> 01:34:18,159
talk to you afterwards about what I
would do if I was in that scenario. And

1213
01:34:15,679 --> 01:34:21,120
I appreciate you for being brave and
standing up and speaking out against

1214
01:34:19,840 --> 01:34:24,960
some things that you're seeing and
you're witnessing and putting yourself

1215
01:34:22,480 --> 01:34:27,840
on the line. Uh, so I I do appreciate
that.

1216
01:34:26,320 --> 01:34:30,639
» Absolutely. May I
>> Yes, absolutely.

1217
01:34:28,719 --> 01:34:36,239
» Yeah. So, uh, I I thank you for
clarifying that for me because again,

1218
01:34:32,400 --> 01:34:40,480
new to the system. Um, but also even my
my intention was that even if you all

1219
01:34:38,320 --> 01:34:46,000
are not able to do something, I wanted
it to be said very loudly, dragged out

1220
01:34:43,120 --> 01:34:50,880
of the darkness because my experience
has been even in my eight months that a

1221
01:34:47,840 --> 01:34:55,360
lot of things are done too quietly and I
didn't want this to be quiet. So, thank

1222
01:34:53,040 --> 01:35:00,400
you. I appreciate it.
And and I just think that, you know, for

1223
01:34:57,520 --> 01:35:04,480
those of you who are here um who have
continued to advocate for certain

1224
01:35:02,080 --> 01:35:08,000
things, I think one thing that you could
advocate for in the future is that this

1225
01:35:06,320 --> 01:35:13,031
board has some more power to do some
things uh outside of what we can do

1226
01:35:09,840 --> 01:35:13,031
right now. [applause]

1227
01:35:14,159 --> 01:35:17,719
» Thank you, sir.

1228
01:35:18,960 --> 01:35:22,600
Representative Chang.

1229
01:35:30,639 --> 01:35:36,560
That's for the next round. He he goes
>> right. Representative Goule. Oh,

1230
01:35:34,560 --> 01:35:41,679
» thank you. I just want to thank you all
for your testimony tonight and thank

1231
01:35:38,639 --> 01:35:45,520
again uh our our parents who've come out
on this screen time issue. You I think

1232
01:35:44,000 --> 01:35:48,800
the reason I I think uh Representative
Coulson, you mentioned it like why is

1233
01:35:47,120 --> 01:35:51,840
this such an important issue for people?
And I think it's because they're seeing

1234
01:35:50,000 --> 01:35:55,840
the effect on their younger kids. And I
think this is where it's just

1235
01:35:53,040 --> 01:36:00,159
tremendously concerning to me is on the
brain development of our young children.

1236
01:35:57,840 --> 01:36:03,040
I think uh you Miss Sanchez mentioned it
and hit the nail on the head by saying

1237
01:36:01,280 --> 01:36:07,920
we need an intentional use of this
technology. And I think that's the real

1238
01:36:04,800 --> 01:36:13,679
concern is that our youngest learners
we have I think a physician Dr. uh Berna

1239
01:36:12,000 --> 01:36:17,760
Hugh am I saying that right?
Viru,

1240
01:36:15,199 --> 01:36:22,800
I think you you cited the research on
this and I think that is what should be

1241
01:36:19,920 --> 01:36:26,400
the guide on this is what what are our
physicians, our independent physicians

1242
01:36:24,560 --> 01:36:30,639
saying about the effect this has on our
children's learning on their brain

1243
01:36:27,760 --> 01:36:35,520
development and then using that research
to start to set reasonable limits on the

1244
01:36:33,760 --> 01:36:38,239
amount of time and the types of
activities that should be on screens and

1245
01:36:36,960 --> 01:36:41,760
I think if we do that we're going to get
to a good place. Uh, so is there

1246
01:36:40,159 --> 01:36:46,400
anything more you would like to add with
that research on really drilling down to

1247
01:36:44,080 --> 01:36:49,040
the youngest kids and what we're seeing
from pediatricians because you talked a

1248
01:36:48,000 --> 01:36:52,639
little bit about it. I wasn't sure if
there's anything you wanted to add to

1249
01:36:50,320 --> 01:36:55,760
what you said previously.
>> Short of going into the specific

1250
01:36:54,080 --> 01:36:59,199
studies, I just want to call this out.
This is parallel to a public health

1251
01:36:57,360 --> 01:37:03,199
crisis. So, we've seen already in our
children's social media use causing

1252
01:37:00,880 --> 01:37:07,199
significant mental health concerns. And
so, we have a choice to be ahead of the

1253
01:37:05,440 --> 01:37:11,840
wave, on the wave, or behind the wave.
And so I think that's why this is a

1254
01:37:09,199 --> 01:37:17,427
national issue and it is very personal
to all of us because if we don't start

1255
01:37:13,600 --> 01:37:19,447
now, it will be too late in two years.
[applause]

1256
01:37:20,320 --> 01:37:26,719
Well, I want to thank all of you uh for
speaking on this and I'll just lastly I

1257
01:37:24,960 --> 01:37:31,920
want to go to Miss Summers on this and I
I appreciate you then sharing the kind

1258
01:37:29,440 --> 01:37:34,639
of the the end of all this with with
some of our students who still haven't

1259
01:37:33,199 --> 01:37:39,600
developed these skills, you know, even
when they get to to law school and

1260
01:37:36,719 --> 01:37:44,639
graduate programs. What do you think at
the high school level is necessary to

1261
01:37:42,560 --> 01:37:50,080
transition those students into college
and then into professional programs? Uh

1262
01:37:48,400 --> 01:37:54,960
like what what skills should they be
working on to you know really so so you

1263
01:37:53,440 --> 01:37:58,400
have students coming in ready for law
school because that's I think where you

1264
01:37:56,639 --> 01:38:02,159
can share expertise with us here.
>> Sure. I think they have to they should

1265
01:38:00,400 --> 01:38:06,800
be reading full books. They should be
reading a lot of full books on paper.

1266
01:38:05,440 --> 01:38:11,199
That should be an expectation. They
should be able to analyze those texts

1267
01:38:09,440 --> 01:38:14,000
critically and independently and that
involves writing. There was an excellent

1268
01:38:13,040 --> 01:38:17,679
article that came out in the New York
Times yesterday. I don't know if people

1269
01:38:15,199 --> 01:38:22,080
saw about what's lost when students
outsource writing to AI and I

1270
01:38:20,239 --> 01:38:24,960
wholeheartedly believe with the perspect
agree with the perspective in that

1271
01:38:23,360 --> 01:38:28,719
article which is that we have to figure
out a way to get students to write

1272
01:38:26,480 --> 01:38:32,239
independently in an age of AI where they
are not using it because they are losing

1273
01:38:30,960 --> 01:38:35,199
critical thinking skills when they do
not write anymore.

1274
01:38:34,063 --> 01:38:39,760
[applause]
>> Thank you.

1275
01:38:37,199 --> 01:38:44,400
President Patterson
>> again thank you all for your

1276
01:38:42,000 --> 01:38:48,320
testimonies. Um the thing is when you go
last pretty much I got very smart

1277
01:38:46,719 --> 01:38:52,080
colleagues. They ask pretty much the
questions that you are kind of

1278
01:38:50,000 --> 01:38:55,840
formulating in your mind. So I
appreciate um Representative Best kind

1279
01:38:54,159 --> 01:39:00,480
of spelling out the authorities that we
have and we don't have which we've

1280
01:38:57,679 --> 01:39:04,080
advocated for more of. Um, but some
people think that we should not have

1281
01:39:01,760 --> 01:39:09,360
those powers to perform the things that
people come to us every single month and

1282
01:39:06,080 --> 01:39:13,440
add ask us to do. I appreciate um,
Representative Thompson pointing out

1283
01:39:10,960 --> 01:39:17,600
that also that the president of the WTU
is here as well. Um, and I'm speaking to

1284
01:39:16,080 --> 01:39:21,600
you, Mr. Dixon, at this particular
point. Um, but I'm going to come back to

1285
01:39:20,320 --> 01:39:25,679
you, but I would like to say, Miss
Sanchez, thank you. Thank you for giving

1286
01:39:23,679 --> 01:39:28,800
me five things to look at right off the
bat. I always appreciate someone who

1287
01:39:27,280 --> 01:39:32,239
gives me a laundry list of something
that I can go and research as I get

1288
01:39:30,719 --> 01:39:37,600
ready for the round table. So, thank you
for that. Really appreciate that. Coming

1289
01:39:34,480 --> 01:39:43,199
back to you, uh, Mr. Dixon, um, I am a W
8 resident. Um, I have children that are

1290
01:39:40,400 --> 01:39:47,199
raised in W 8. They now are past the age
that they would attend Leki. So, when

1291
01:39:44,880 --> 01:39:50,719
you ask me that question, I cannot send
my children there. Plus, we're out of

1292
01:39:48,560 --> 01:39:55,840
that. That's not my right school. Turner
Elementary School is okay. But I

1293
01:39:53,679 --> 01:39:59,840
appreciate how you came to this meeting
because you're frustrated and you're

1294
01:39:57,920 --> 01:40:05,280
frustrated like I'm frustrated as a W 8
resident. I've watched Leki. I've lived

1295
01:40:02,800 --> 01:40:10,239
in that ward for over 31 years at this
point. And I remember when Leki was a

1296
01:40:07,600 --> 01:40:15,520
totally different school. It is located
right above bowling or JBA as we call it

1297
01:40:13,119 --> 01:40:20,000
now, Joint Base Anacostia Bowling. And
it was the school that everybody wanted

1298
01:40:17,679 --> 01:40:24,239
to send their kid to in the southwest
area in Ward 8. I know it specifically

1299
01:40:22,719 --> 01:40:27,280
children that you would get stationed
there because I'm a military member

1300
01:40:25,760 --> 01:40:30,880
previously and they would say go to
Leki. Go to Leki. It's a great school.

1301
01:40:29,280 --> 01:40:36,239
You're going to get a great education.
And now when I look up their proficiency

1302
01:40:32,880 --> 01:40:39,280
rates, they are deplorable. They are
absolutely deplorable. So when you ask

1303
01:40:37,920 --> 01:40:44,639
people the question, would you send your
children there? Most parents, even W 8

1304
01:40:41,600 --> 01:40:49,199
parents are going to say no.
No. And so you've heard my colleagues

1305
01:40:47,199 --> 01:40:53,360
talk about what what we have and what we
don't have. One thing that we have

1306
01:40:50,960 --> 01:40:57,440
retained is the bully pull pit. Just
like the other parents are coming here

1307
01:40:54,639 --> 01:41:02,080
for screen time, we have the power to
elevate concerns such as yours to

1308
01:40:59,760 --> 01:41:07,679
another level. Our council member lives
within walking distance of Leki. I know

1309
01:41:04,560 --> 01:41:12,560
exactly where he lives. We need to raise
the temperature on this problem. I look

1310
01:41:10,480 --> 01:41:16,320
forward to working with you to raise the
temperature because as you eloquently

1311
01:41:14,000 --> 01:41:21,440
said, bringing this out of the darkness
where it's just happening and nobody's

1312
01:41:19,040 --> 01:41:24,639
addressing it and we continue to see it
happen to all the kids. I think they

1313
01:41:22,800 --> 01:41:26,639
have what do you have 300 students there
some

1314
01:41:25,360 --> 01:41:30,560
» about three or 400,
>> right? Exactly. That are in this

1315
01:41:28,639 --> 01:41:34,159
situation right now and nobody's raising
this issue. Nobody's raising the issue

1316
01:41:32,400 --> 01:41:37,199
of proficiency.
I look forward to working with you.

1317
01:41:35,760 --> 01:41:40,320
Thank you for coming here in the manner
that you came. Thank you. Thank you,

1318
01:41:39,119 --> 01:41:43,679
sir.
>> Thank you all for your testimonies this

1319
01:41:42,080 --> 01:41:47,639
evening. We will now move on with our
next round of public witnesses.

1320
01:41:53,440 --> 01:41:57,639
I'm sorry. Susan Friy,

1321
01:42:01,119 --> 01:42:06,280
Maria Finluc Finuk,

1322
01:42:07,360 --> 01:42:13,719
Sally Schwarz,
Adria Kenny,

1323
01:42:16,159 --> 01:42:19,560
Laura Fuches,

1324
01:42:21,920 --> 01:42:26,920
and Gabriella.
Silva,

1325
01:42:35,040 --> 01:42:41,199
» Susan, we will start with you and then
work our way around.

1326
01:42:38,560 --> 01:42:45,760
» Thank you.
>> Good evening. My name is Susan and I'm a

1327
01:42:43,600 --> 01:42:49,040
W4 resident and mom of twin boys
entering second grade in a DCPS

1328
01:42:47,840 --> 01:42:52,159
elementary.
>> Susan, could you pull the mic a little

1329
01:42:50,480 --> 01:42:54,400
bit closer? We can't hear you.
>> Sorry.

1330
01:42:53,119 --> 01:42:55,199
Okay. For me to start over?
>> Yes.

1331
01:42:54,719 --> 01:42:57,520
» Thank you.
>> One second. Let me get the clock.

1332
01:42:57,040 --> 01:43:00,800
» All right.
>> Go ahead.

1333
01:42:58,639 --> 01:43:05,119
» Good evening. My name is Susan and I'm a
W4 resident and mom of twin boys

1334
01:43:02,960 --> 01:43:09,679
entering second grade in a DCPS
elementary in a school and community I

1335
01:43:07,199 --> 01:43:13,920
genuinely love. I'm here tonight because
the evidence suggests that DCPS's

1336
01:43:11,840 --> 01:43:18,560
current approach to screens and edtech
is not serving our children well. And I

1337
01:43:15,840 --> 01:43:22,320
believe we can and must do better. A few
months ago, I read a Wall Street Journal

1338
01:43:20,239 --> 01:43:26,400
investigation entitled How YouTube Took
Over the American Classroom. The article

1339
01:43:24,719 --> 01:43:30,159
is about YouTube specifically, but
points to something broader. There's a

1340
01:43:28,400 --> 01:43:35,199
mounting research base proving that
profit-driven screen overuse in schools

1341
01:43:32,560 --> 01:43:39,520
is hurting children's ability to learn.
Not just academically, but socially and

1342
01:43:37,119 --> 01:43:43,280
behaviorally. Any parent who has had a
child on a screen too long knows what it

1343
01:43:41,440 --> 01:43:46,880
looks like. the short fuse, the
resistance to putting the device down,

1344
01:43:45,119 --> 01:43:51,520
the struggle to re-engage with the real
world afterward. These are not parenting

1345
01:43:49,679 --> 01:43:55,920
failures. These are documented,
predictable responses to overexposure.

1346
01:43:54,320 --> 01:43:59,920
And if it's happening at home, we should
be asking hard questions about what is

1347
01:43:57,520 --> 01:44:03,840
happening during the school day. I'm
also deeply troubled that this is

1348
01:44:01,679 --> 01:44:07,520
rapidly becoming an equity issue.
Wealthier districts are pulling back on

1349
01:44:05,520 --> 01:44:11,280
screens and putting safeguards in place.
Schools with fewer resources are growing

1350
01:44:09,360 --> 01:44:14,960
more dependent on edtech in part because
these products are offered at a low

1351
01:44:12,960 --> 01:44:19,679
price point. They're making it cheap
because they know that our children's

1352
01:44:16,400 --> 01:44:23,679
data is valuable.
Furthermore, my husband is a veteran. We

1353
01:44:21,920 --> 01:44:27,840
are raising our boys to be present,
engaged, and oriented towards something

1354
01:44:25,440 --> 01:44:32,480
larger than themselves. Algorithmically
driven content designed specifically to

1355
01:44:30,080 --> 01:44:36,480
capture and hold child's attention works
against every one of those goals. I'll

1356
01:44:34,639 --> 01:44:39,760
note that research has documented boys
being served particularly harmful

1357
01:44:38,080 --> 01:44:44,560
content through these platforms which
compounds our concerns. With that, I'm

1358
01:44:42,400 --> 01:44:48,159
leaving you with three specific asks.
First, a real audit of how much time our

1359
01:44:46,639 --> 01:44:52,719
children are spending on screens during
the during the school day. Parents are

1360
01:44:50,560 --> 01:44:56,560
advised to monitor overall screen time.
Only a true accounting of time spent on

1361
01:44:54,719 --> 01:45:01,360
screens at school will allow parents to
make informed choices at home. Second, a

1362
01:44:59,440 --> 01:45:05,760
formal plan for screen use in schools
developed collaboratively by school

1363
01:45:03,440 --> 01:45:08,719
administration and PTAs so that the
total screen time our children

1364
01:45:07,119 --> 01:45:14,239
experience in and out of the classroom
is intentional, coordinated, and

1365
01:45:10,560 --> 01:45:18,080
developmentally appropriate. Third, a
commitment to a mostly device-free

1366
01:45:16,000 --> 01:45:21,600
elementary environment as the default
with technology introduced as part of a

1367
01:45:19,920 --> 01:45:25,520
purposeful curriculum, not as a
substitute for instruction or a

1368
01:45:23,199 --> 01:45:32,960
classroom management tool.
DCPS is spending $54 million annually on

1369
01:45:29,199 --> 01:45:38,639
tech and 600 million 600,000 on AI.
Comparatively, they spend $37 million

1370
01:45:35,760 --> 01:45:42,639
annually on special education. That is a
decision worth examination.

1371
01:45:40,960 --> 01:45:47,760
These are funds that could be and should
be reallocated to address other common

1372
01:45:44,719 --> 01:45:51,280
areas of concern. My kids, as well as
kids across this district, all deserve

1373
01:45:49,600 --> 01:45:55,920
an education grounded in what the
evidence actually says. Thank you.

1374
01:46:00,719 --> 01:46:08,080
Hello. Thank you for having us here. Uh
my name is Maria Felanuk. I'm a world

1375
01:46:04,960 --> 01:46:12,080
one parent uh of an almost fifth grader.
Uh and this is my experience as a parent

1376
01:46:09,840 --> 01:46:16,639
of a fourth grader at DCPS title one
school. Upon asking how the school was

1377
01:46:14,639 --> 01:46:20,639
each day, we started hearing excited
reports about free time on the computer

1378
01:46:18,800 --> 01:46:24,880
that our child was getting every week,
if not every day. Upon further

1379
01:46:22,800 --> 01:46:29,679
questioning, it seemed like free time is
earned by finishing up work early and

1380
01:46:26,800 --> 01:46:33,679
was given by teachers every reward. What
the kids do during free time? We had the

1381
01:46:31,760 --> 01:46:38,560
same questions. I can't speak for all
the children, but here's what he said. A

1382
01:46:36,560 --> 01:46:43,679
lot of time was spent on coding. While
it sounds educational, most of coding we

1383
01:46:41,280 --> 01:46:48,560
observed was done by modifying and then
playing existing video games. Not only

1384
01:46:46,000 --> 01:46:52,080
that, one of the main websites used,
scratch.com,

1385
01:46:50,080 --> 01:46:56,080
has social media functions such as
counting views and engagements under

1386
01:46:53,840 --> 01:47:00,000
children's projects. I'm sure I don't
have to explain why this is problematic.

1387
01:46:58,400 --> 01:47:04,239
I'm not against the idea of teaching
coding. It can be fantastic tool to

1388
01:47:01,920 --> 01:47:08,320
teach logic and problem solving. If this
school board decides that coding should

1389
01:47:06,080 --> 01:47:12,239
be part of our DCPS education, then
teach it. Teach it by having real

1390
01:47:10,480 --> 01:47:16,000
curriculum, adult leaders, by
scaffolding skills, by measuring

1391
01:47:14,080 --> 01:47:21,199
progress. The way coding is experienced
at DCPS is much closer to video game

1392
01:47:18,960 --> 01:47:26,480
based social media.
Another program that my child cited was

1393
01:47:23,760 --> 01:47:31,280
Sora. Sora is a digital library that
allows kids to check out digital books

1394
01:47:28,960 --> 01:47:35,040
and read them on the computer screen.
There are multiple issues regarding

1395
01:47:32,800 --> 01:47:40,639
screenbased reading such as drastically
increased myopia risk and difficulties

1396
01:47:38,159 --> 01:47:44,159
focusing for kids with ADHD. We know
that reading physical books results in

1397
01:47:42,320 --> 01:47:48,880
retaining more information because it
engages multiple senses.

1398
01:47:46,800 --> 01:47:53,199
Books have weight, covers have textures,
and most importantly, words have a

1399
01:47:50,560 --> 01:47:57,199
physical address. All those aspects help
us retain information and develop

1400
01:47:54,800 --> 01:48:02,480
stamina for longer reading passages. I
checked my child's average time spent on

1401
01:47:59,119 --> 01:48:07,040
Saurin. It was five minutes.
That brings me to my last point. Most of

1402
01:48:04,880 --> 01:48:11,040
the three time most of the free time was
just spent on video games. Some of them

1403
01:48:09,199 --> 01:48:15,679
I actually purchased and provided by
DCPS. For example, Prodigy, which is

1404
01:48:13,840 --> 01:48:20,159
known for low quality instruction,
providing minuscule or learning to game

1405
01:48:17,600 --> 01:48:24,480
ratio and aggressive upselling. But the
main offender is Google mini sites that

1406
01:48:22,159 --> 01:48:29,360
complete that compile links to video
games that bypass the district firewall.

1407
01:48:27,280 --> 01:48:33,840
Those games range from low quality at
best to mature content at worst. We

1408
01:48:32,239 --> 01:48:39,280
cannot expect teachers to play screen
time police to every child. The solution

1409
01:48:37,119 --> 01:48:43,440
is not a better firewall. During the
last week of school, my child

1410
01:48:40,800 --> 01:48:46,440
self-reported six hours of screens a
day.

1411
01:48:47,280 --> 01:48:50,440
Thank you.

1412
01:48:55,760 --> 01:49:03,840
Um, hello everyone. Good evening. Uh,
I'm Sally Schwarz representing

1413
01:49:00,719 --> 01:49:08,639
Globalized DC. I'm here tonight to urge
inclusion of a clear state level policy

1414
01:49:06,560 --> 01:49:13,520
allowing for competency based credit for
world languages as part of the new high

1415
01:49:10,880 --> 01:49:18,480
school graduation requirements proposal.
Simply stated, this policy creates the

1416
01:49:16,000 --> 01:49:22,239
opportunity for DC students to earn
recognition and credit for languages

1417
01:49:20,320 --> 01:49:27,760
learned outside school based on their
proficiency level as measured by an

1418
01:49:24,719 --> 01:49:34,080
independent assessment approved by AIE.
Twice before in 2015 and 2018, prior

1419
01:49:32,400 --> 01:49:39,520
state boards have made the same
recommendation. In both those cases,

1420
01:49:36,719 --> 01:49:44,639
ASIE declined to move forward.
I am very hopeful we will not do that

1421
01:49:41,520 --> 01:49:48,800
again. Uh this recommendation aligns
with the new graduate profile and with

1422
01:49:46,960 --> 01:49:53,760
ASI's vision for creating more
flexibility and choice for students,

1423
01:49:51,440 --> 01:49:58,560
real world experience and pathways to
careers. It is simply a broader

1424
01:49:56,159 --> 01:50:01,840
application of the credit by exam policy
that underpins the new seal of

1425
01:50:00,239 --> 01:50:07,920
biiteracy.
This is a policies whose time has come

1426
01:50:05,840 --> 01:50:13,760
thanks to so much good work on the part
of ASI by the task force that I served

1427
01:50:10,800 --> 01:50:18,560
on and by this state board. So I'm very
grateful to all of you for getting us to

1428
01:50:16,080 --> 01:50:24,320
this point. Why do we keep pressing for
this policy? Because students across the

1429
01:50:21,440 --> 01:50:27,520
city will tangibly benefit. Individual
students will have their language

1430
01:50:25,679 --> 01:50:31,840
learning outside school credited on
their report cards, receiving a widely

1431
01:50:29,920 --> 01:50:37,600
recognized credential that can help them
when they apply for college or jobs. And

1432
01:50:34,320 --> 01:50:43,119
it will give us as a city the policy
tool we need to create more for credit

1433
01:50:40,400 --> 01:50:48,239
out of school language options to
augment in school offerings. then we can

1434
01:50:46,480 --> 01:50:55,119
begin to address some of the current
deep inequities and discontinuities

1435
01:50:51,119 --> 01:51:00,719
in K12 world language access in DC. Uh
but here is the problem. The language in

1436
01:50:58,080 --> 01:51:07,360
AI's final proposal in regard to this
policy as presented at the board's

1437
01:51:03,920 --> 01:51:14,159
August working session is ambiguous and
unclear at least to me. Uh we are in

1438
01:51:11,040 --> 01:51:18,320
support of LEA having LEAs having the
option to award credit and to allow

1439
01:51:16,480 --> 01:51:23,199
competency based credit to fulfill
graduation requirements. We are opposed

1440
01:51:20,800 --> 01:51:29,199
to requiring that LEAs take any
additional step requesting permission or

1441
01:51:26,159 --> 01:51:34,480
a waiver which could represent a huge
roadblock um and a step backwards from

1442
01:51:32,000 --> 01:51:39,440
our current uh less than satisfactory
situations. We urge AIE and the board to

1443
01:51:37,440 --> 01:51:44,239
fix this language before this proposal
is approved. We remain hopeful you will

1444
01:51:41,920 --> 01:51:49,840
get there. Um and look forward to
working with AIE board members, ELEAs,

1445
01:51:47,199 --> 01:51:53,920
language experts and other stakeholders
in addressing issues around

1446
01:51:51,440 --> 01:51:57,599
implementation, access and support for
students. This will make a big

1447
01:51:55,840 --> 01:52:00,840
difference. Thank you.
>> Thank you.

1448
01:52:03,040 --> 01:52:09,679
» Good evening. My name is Adria Kenny and
I'll be following up on Sally's

1449
01:52:06,480 --> 01:52:13,119
testimony. I'm a W six resident. I'm a
former educator and international

1450
01:52:11,199 --> 01:52:17,199
affairs professional and I'd like to
share my perspective on the value of

1451
01:52:15,040 --> 01:52:21,040
global education and language learning
opportunities in the hopes that this

1452
01:52:19,040 --> 01:52:25,760
will highlight the value of adopting a
policy that grants competency based

1453
01:52:23,280 --> 01:52:29,199
credit for world learning. I know
firsthand that foreign language

1454
01:52:27,199 --> 01:52:34,560
proficiency can open doors to career
opportunities, especially careers here

1455
01:52:31,360 --> 01:52:39,360
here in DC. In my case, I fell in love
with Spanish as a student in Ohio, which

1456
01:52:36,880 --> 01:52:44,560
later motivated me to study abroad, live
overseas after college, achieve Spanish

1457
01:52:41,840 --> 01:52:48,560
fluency, and eventually to move here.
You see, my experiences as a student

1458
01:52:46,880 --> 01:52:53,679
sparked an enduring passion for
international exchange. And I figured DC

1459
01:52:51,360 --> 01:52:58,480
was the perfect place to build my career
since this is the heart of our nation's

1460
01:52:55,520 --> 01:53:02,560
international relations community. I am
far from the only one who has come to DC

1461
01:53:00,639 --> 01:53:07,360
with the intent of building a career in
global affairs. Not long after moving

1462
01:53:05,280 --> 01:53:10,639
here, I took a job at an international
relations think tank. And what was

1463
01:53:08,960 --> 01:53:15,040
striking to me about working there was
that every single one of my immediate

1464
01:53:12,480 --> 01:53:18,480
colleagues was a transplant like me.
Every single one of them. There was not

1465
01:53:16,960 --> 01:53:23,599
a single person with whom I worked
closely was a native Washingtonian.

1466
01:53:21,760 --> 01:53:28,159
While I am thrilled to make my home
here, I think there is an opportunity to

1467
01:53:25,760 --> 01:53:33,599
expand global learning opportunities so
that more DC youth develop the interest

1468
01:53:30,960 --> 01:53:38,719
and skills needed to take jobs at
embassies, think tanks, and other global

1469
01:53:35,599 --> 01:53:42,400
institutions. A competency, a competency
based credit for world language would

1470
01:53:40,800 --> 01:53:46,560
communicate the value of foreign
language study, incentivize a broader

1471
01:53:44,960 --> 01:53:51,520
range of students to study foreign
languages, and reward those already

1472
01:53:48,880 --> 01:53:54,800
developing foreign language proficiency.
While plenty of DC students are

1473
01:53:53,280 --> 01:53:58,320
currently able to pursue foreign
language learning through their schools,

1474
01:53:56,639 --> 01:54:03,199
these opportunities are not equitable
across schools. Furthermore, students

1475
01:54:00,880 --> 01:54:06,960
who develop proficiency outside of the
traditional classroom setting do not

1476
01:54:05,360 --> 01:54:11,440
currently have a way to receive
recognition for their efforts.

1477
01:54:09,599 --> 01:54:15,520
A competency based credit option could
open the door for more students to

1478
01:54:13,119 --> 01:54:21,119
pursue language learning, thus readying
an entire population of next generation

1479
01:54:17,840 --> 01:54:24,560
global leaders here in DC. I am a living
example of the career options that

1480
01:54:22,719 --> 01:54:28,000
language learning can unlock. And I ask
the board to approve the proposal for a

1481
01:54:26,400 --> 01:54:31,880
competency based credit for world
language. Thank you.

1482
01:54:34,000 --> 01:54:41,040
» All right. Good evening. We are at an
inflection point for education in the

1483
01:54:38,719 --> 01:54:44,880
District of Columbia. Come January, we
will have a whole host of newly elected

1484
01:54:42,800 --> 01:54:48,960
leadership across our government. And
with that comes an opportunity to

1485
01:54:46,560 --> 01:54:53,599
reinvision education, especially in DC
public schools. The Washington Teachers

1486
01:54:51,520 --> 01:54:57,920
Union is preparing to meet the moment
handinand with all of our key

1487
01:54:55,440 --> 01:55:02,239
stakeholders. We are done with the
top-down methods that have colonized our

1488
01:55:00,159 --> 01:55:06,400
thinking in this district and have a
plan to build people power by engaging

1489
01:55:04,560 --> 01:55:12,000
our members, parents, students, and the
community at large from the bottom up.

1490
01:55:09,280 --> 01:55:16,239
In school year 2526, the W2 focused
inwards, building up avenues for our

1491
01:55:14,560 --> 01:55:19,679
members to have their voices heard,
starting from their schools and building

1492
01:55:18,000 --> 01:55:23,520
outwards towards how our union is
governed. We engaged in bylaws,

1493
01:55:21,760 --> 01:55:27,840
amendments that enshrined greater checks
and balances and removed power from the

1494
01:55:25,440 --> 01:55:31,840
presidency as well as founded a whole
host of committees to ensure that our

1495
01:55:29,679 --> 01:55:35,760
union is listening and getting all of
our direction from the members

1496
01:55:33,199 --> 01:55:40,560
themselves. Now, we turn to the
district. This school year, we are

1497
01:55:38,400 --> 01:55:45,440
focusing on three key areas that we plan
to fundamentally change. One, replacing

1498
01:55:43,119 --> 01:55:50,719
impact with an evaluation that focuses
on growth over punishment. to a new DCPS

1499
01:55:49,119 --> 01:55:54,960
chancellor that is found through a
process that follows the law and

1500
01:55:52,719 --> 01:55:59,199
includes parents, students, and the WTU
with great weight in recommending who

1501
01:55:56,719 --> 01:56:04,800
will lead us into a future where W2 and
DCBS can work together as full and equal

1502
01:56:01,760 --> 01:56:10,159
partners. Three, the W2 contract, which
expires September 2028 and will begin

1503
01:56:07,520 --> 01:56:13,440
negotiating June 2027.
Throughout it all, we will be keeping

1504
01:56:11,760 --> 01:56:16,719
our eye on the national government and
its encroachments on our district's

1505
01:56:14,960 --> 01:56:20,560
freedom. We will make sure that our
members are prepared to take action to

1506
01:56:18,639 --> 01:56:26,159
defend our elections and democracy
itself if that is what is called for

1507
01:56:24,000 --> 01:56:30,239
as a union. Everything is framed around
our contract. And given that Mel control

1508
01:56:28,480 --> 01:56:35,199
does not appear to be going anywhere
anytime soon, the WTU's contract is one

1509
01:56:33,199 --> 01:56:39,920
of the only formal entry points for the
public to have a direct say on how our

1510
01:56:37,280 --> 01:56:44,159
schools are run. We do not take this
responsibility lightly for our working

1511
01:56:42,320 --> 01:56:48,159
conditions or our students learning
conditions. Therefore, we will be

1512
01:56:46,400 --> 01:56:53,280
opening up our bargaining to the light
of day before, during, and after. We

1513
01:56:51,360 --> 01:56:57,199
will be holding community conversations
this fall that we hope and intend to

1514
01:56:55,440 --> 01:57:00,639
build a lasting partnership with our
parents, students, and broader

1515
01:56:58,639 --> 01:57:05,360
community. From developing a shared
vision to drafting bargaining proposals,

1516
01:57:03,520 --> 01:57:08,800
sitting with us at the bargaining table,
and then holding the district

1517
01:57:06,560 --> 01:57:12,880
accountable to us all for enforcing the
contract once it is ratified.

1518
01:57:11,440 --> 01:57:16,000
There is so much that needs to be
reformed. And while the whole point of

1519
01:57:14,560 --> 01:57:20,080
this process is to develop clear
priorities that meet the moment, we know

1520
01:57:18,000 --> 01:57:24,800
some topics are evergreen. Our
international educators need to be

1521
01:57:21,920 --> 01:57:30,880
supported with green cards over testing
is happening everywhere. Impact special

1522
01:57:27,599 --> 01:57:35,040
education, our grievance process, and
greater leadership preparedness um to

1523
01:57:33,520 --> 01:57:39,671
protect all our students from federal
attacks.

1524
01:57:35,520 --> 01:57:41,691
» Miss Okay. Thank you.
[applause]

1525
01:57:44,239 --> 01:57:49,760
Thank you. Good evening, members of the
state board of education. My name is

1526
01:57:47,920 --> 01:57:53,840
Gabriella Silva. I'm the senior program
manager at PAVE and award 2 resident.

1527
01:57:52,320 --> 01:57:57,599
Today, I'm here to share a thank you
from our parent leaders for your work on

1528
01:57:55,840 --> 01:58:00,400
the graduation requirements and elevate
some of their feedback as we head into

1529
01:57:58,960 --> 01:58:04,080
the implementation phase of this
process. Earlier this year, PAVE parent

1530
01:58:02,719 --> 01:58:07,040
leaders wrote and shared a letter with
their feedback on the proposed

1531
01:58:05,199 --> 01:58:09,280
graduation requirements. They are glad
to see that some of their

1532
01:58:07,920 --> 01:58:12,320
recommendations were included in the
final version of Aussiey's proposed

1533
01:58:10,719 --> 01:58:15,840
recommendations, which we will vote on
later tonight. Parent leaders were

1534
01:58:14,159 --> 01:58:18,719
excited to see endorsement options that
will honor the additional ways students

1535
01:58:17,280 --> 01:58:22,239
can challenge themselves throughout high
school. Changes to community service

1536
01:58:20,480 --> 01:58:25,119
hour requirements to include paid and
unpaid options, allowing students to

1537
01:58:23,920 --> 01:58:28,800
broaden the ways they can get involved
in their community. The separation of

1538
01:58:27,040 --> 01:58:32,400
health and PE requirements as parents
felt strongly that both courses are

1539
01:58:30,320 --> 01:58:36,400
critical. an increase in the number of
touch points required in person for

1540
01:58:34,239 --> 01:58:40,719
post-secary planning with an adviser
with a minimum of one touch point per

1541
01:58:38,080 --> 01:58:44,800
grade for a total of four. Three of the
initial proposed changes had paved

1542
01:58:42,480 --> 01:58:48,000
parent leaders particularly concerned.
Changes to math requirements, changes to

1543
01:58:46,560 --> 01:58:51,440
science requirements, and the proposal
of a practical studies diploma. They are

1544
01:58:50,080 --> 01:58:55,119
glad to see that Aussie noted a
commitment to determining a naming

1545
01:58:52,800 --> 01:58:58,719
convention that clarifies that algebra 2
is included in integrated math agreeing

1546
01:58:57,280 --> 01:59:03,280
with pave parent leaders recommendation
to name the course integrated algebra 2.

1547
01:59:01,040 --> 01:59:07,040
They look forward to the positive impact
expanding math pathways could have and

1548
01:59:05,360 --> 01:59:11,280
will remain focused on ensuring that any
negative impacts are mitigated.

1549
01:59:09,760 --> 01:59:14,080
Parent leaders were deeply concerned
with the negative impact a reduction in

1550
01:59:12,800 --> 01:59:18,080
science requirements would have on
students looking to pursue pursue STEM

1551
01:59:16,480 --> 01:59:21,360
fields especially considering that
according to the office of education

1552
01:59:19,360 --> 01:59:25,440
through employment pathways nearly 40%
of DC graduates pursue STEM pay leaders

1553
01:59:24,320 --> 01:59:29,920
were glad to see that the number of
required science courses was not reduced

1554
01:59:27,360 --> 01:59:33,679
in Aussie's final proposal the primary
area of concern was the proposal of a

1555
01:59:31,760 --> 01:59:37,599
practical studies diploma as it could
severely limit the number of options

1556
01:59:35,119 --> 01:59:41,840
available for students postgraduation
parent leaders appreciate Aussie

1557
01:59:39,920 --> 01:59:45,760
eliminating the option and committing to
improving graduation outcomes and

1558
01:59:43,760 --> 01:59:49,280
opportunities for post-secary success
for all students with disabilities. As

1559
01:59:47,840 --> 01:59:52,639
noted in their original letter to the
state board, they recommend expanding

1560
01:59:51,040 --> 01:59:56,320
foreign language requirements to include
options like ASL or coding as a way to

1561
01:59:55,040 --> 02:00:00,239
meet the requirements for a standard
diploma. In a world where coding and

1562
01:59:58,480 --> 02:00:03,440
understanding large language large
language models are becoming

1563
02:00:01,679 --> 02:00:06,800
increasingly prevalent, we must prepare
our students for the future. Expanding

1564
02:00:05,280 --> 02:00:09,760
options to include coding allows
students to build fluency in a workforce

1565
02:00:08,639 --> 02:00:14,000
that will look different than what we're
all used to. They urge the SBE and ASIE

1566
02:00:12,320 --> 02:00:17,520
to keep this in mind as you both work to
expand access for our students. Pay

1567
02:00:16,239 --> 02:00:20,159
parent leaders would like to thank the
state board for incorporating their

1568
02:00:18,800 --> 02:00:23,360
feedback into the recommendations to
ASIE and would like to thank Aussie for

1569
02:00:22,000 --> 02:00:27,440
including the feedback in their final
proposal. In a world that is changing

1570
02:00:25,199 --> 02:00:30,159
daybyday, parents are looking forward to
the different ways the updates to the

1571
02:00:28,800 --> 02:00:33,520
graduation requirements can further
support students as they navigate the

1572
02:00:32,000 --> 02:00:36,000
variety of opportunities available to
them throughout their high school

1573
02:00:34,639 --> 02:00:39,760
experience and ultimately lead to
post-secary success. Thank you for the

1574
02:00:38,080 --> 02:00:42,400
opportunity to testify today. I look
forward to your continued leadership

1575
02:00:41,040 --> 02:00:46,080
working to ensure that all students in
the district have the tools they need to

1576
02:00:43,920 --> 02:00:50,800
thrive.
Thank you all for your testimony. We

1577
02:00:47,840 --> 02:00:56,679
will now have a round of elected member
questions.

1578
02:00:53,040 --> 02:00:56,679
Representative Coulson,

1579
02:00:57,840 --> 02:01:05,040
» thank you all for your testimony. Um, I
want to circle back and again just to

1580
02:01:02,320 --> 02:01:09,280
reiterate to be make sure I'm clear, I
am not saying that technology is not a

1581
02:01:07,280 --> 02:01:13,760
important issue. I just want to be clear
on that. I also want to say that because

1582
02:01:11,679 --> 02:01:18,400
we're talking about brain development at
the young ages. as we get older and as

1583
02:01:16,400 --> 02:01:23,520
our students get older in our schools
here in the city, we have an issue with

1584
02:01:20,719 --> 02:01:27,520
vaping and with marijuana as well that
develops that impacts their development.

1585
02:01:26,080 --> 02:01:30,800
And so when we talk about these
concerns, I want to make sure that we're

1586
02:01:29,119 --> 02:01:34,960
talking about all of the concerns that
harm our children. So I just want to

1587
02:01:32,800 --> 02:01:39,760
note that. Um I want to say thank you to
my ward for parent. Thank you for your

1588
02:01:36,960 --> 02:01:43,920
testimony. Did you read a revised
testimony? because you cited some

1589
02:01:41,440 --> 02:01:49,520
numbers at the end that were not that
they caught my ear. Um, and they're not

1590
02:01:46,320 --> 02:01:55,760
in this testimony here. Um, so I would
love to hear those again. And before you

1591
02:01:52,000 --> 02:02:00,800
do that, I want to say um, thank you to
President Fuches. You come often and you

1592
02:01:58,400 --> 02:02:06,000
testify, but I am specifically thankful
about you today because many times the

1593
02:02:03,760 --> 02:02:11,920
other unions benefit from the work that
you do and the work of WTU. I am a part

1594
02:02:09,520 --> 02:02:18,880
of a different union. My leadership is
not as vocal as yours and I am excited

1595
02:02:15,520 --> 02:02:22,239
that you are not waiting and that WTU is
not waiting. That we are taking action

1596
02:02:20,719 --> 02:02:26,239
now. I say we like I'm a part of your
union. Um but I'm going to make myself

1597
02:02:24,000 --> 02:02:31,840
an honorary member that we are taking
action now, not to wait and just see

1598
02:02:28,639 --> 02:02:36,239
what happens. I love that we are
thinking now and not just waiting

1599
02:02:34,000 --> 02:02:41,360
because so many times we just by default
go back to what has happened before. And

1600
02:02:38,960 --> 02:02:46,800
when change in administration comes in
or change of any type, it is a wonderful

1601
02:02:44,000 --> 02:02:52,320
opportunity for us to reassess and to
tear up and and to uh interrogate what

1602
02:02:50,000 --> 02:02:56,239
has happened before and find a new way,
a better way to move forward. So I thank

1603
02:02:54,239 --> 02:03:00,000
you for continuing to come here. All
right, my W four parents, I'm ready. hit

1604
02:02:58,719 --> 02:03:04,080
those numbers again, please.
>> So, and I should say I those numbers

1605
02:03:02,560 --> 02:03:08,000
came to me from a document that was
prepared by the schools beyond screens

1606
02:03:06,080 --> 02:03:11,760
group, which I'm not a volunteer
necessarily with that group, but there's

1607
02:03:09,679 --> 02:03:15,679
a lot of active parents in my parent
community that gave some information,

1608
02:03:14,000 --> 02:03:19,280
which is part of certainly why I'm here
today because I'm aware of it through

1609
02:03:17,440 --> 02:03:24,000
them. So, they can give you more
information on it. But I will say the

1610
02:03:21,119 --> 02:03:31,599
numbers I cited were that DCPS spends
$54 million annually on tech and 600k on

1611
02:03:28,080 --> 02:03:36,320
AI compared to $37 million spent
annually on special education. So that's

1612
02:03:34,480 --> 02:03:42,239
just I mean you could compare to lots of
different amounts of spending, but to me

1613
02:03:38,400 --> 02:03:48,159
$54 million annually spent on tech could
be spent on building computer labs in

1614
02:03:45,920 --> 02:03:53,199
schools across DCPS if access to
computers and Wi-Fi is an issue that we

1615
02:03:50,080 --> 02:03:58,719
care about which to me would be a
address an equity issue and put more

1616
02:03:56,400 --> 02:04:02,080
control into what teachers want.
>> Ma'am, thank you. Um, so the reason I

1617
02:04:00,639 --> 02:04:05,199
added that, that was actually in an
earlier Sorry.

1618
02:04:03,440 --> 02:04:10,480
» Thank you. I'm sure somebody else will
yield time back to you. Thank you,

1619
02:04:08,639 --> 02:04:13,440
» Representative Henderson.
>> Uh, Miss Rey, I was going to ask you

1620
02:04:12,080 --> 02:04:17,520
about that, too, because I noticed that
was not in what you submitted. So, if

1621
02:04:15,119 --> 02:04:24,960
you would send your uh your revised
testimony. Um and Miss

1622
02:04:22,719 --> 02:04:29,840
Felenuke,
>> um your testimony reminds me that like

1623
02:04:28,159 --> 02:04:34,880
like we're talking about policy a lot
and then you know what what's happening

1624
02:04:32,639 --> 02:04:38,880
what our kids tell us like we need to
make sure that those things are are

1625
02:04:36,880 --> 02:04:44,719
matching like if there's a policy it
needs to be implemented and we need to

1626
02:04:40,960 --> 02:04:50,400
to make sure that it is. Um,
Miss Schwarz, thank you for your

1627
02:04:46,639 --> 02:04:56,320
continuing uh, advocacy and um, staying
engaged on this issue. Uh, I have to

1628
02:04:53,360 --> 02:05:01,760
admit I was very confused by some of the
um, proposals, counter proposals that

1629
02:04:58,320 --> 02:05:08,960
went on um, over the last month or so.
Um, I'm feeling pretty confident that

1630
02:05:05,119 --> 02:05:14,880
the new language gets us pretty close to
what we want. Uh I think the remaining

1631
02:05:12,239 --> 02:05:21,920
sticky point which you mentioned is
eleas will still need to request a

1632
02:05:17,760 --> 02:05:28,320
waiver uh but it will be to either DCPS
or PCSB

1633
02:05:23,840 --> 02:05:33,840
rather than to AIE. Um so I'm I'm
hopeful that we can find ways to reduce

1634
02:05:31,599 --> 02:05:38,800
that barrier. uh even if we don't
eliminate it in policy today, that there

1635
02:05:36,719 --> 02:05:43,119
are ways that we can work to make sure
that's not an impediment uh for the

1636
02:05:41,440 --> 02:05:49,199
opportunities that we want students to
have. Uh Miss Fuches, um it's great to

1637
02:05:46,159 --> 02:05:53,199
hear very clear priorities from WTU and
I think I support everything that you

1638
02:05:50,960 --> 02:05:58,159
said and have. I don't think I've
thought about replacing a chancellor

1639
02:05:55,280 --> 02:06:04,639
before. Um, but I support uh your
approach and engaging uh

1640
02:06:01,760 --> 02:06:11,040
» I appreciate the legal approach um in
engaging the public uh in that process

1641
02:06:06,880 --> 02:06:16,639
and um and support the other uh issues
that you laid out and and have for many

1642
02:06:12,960 --> 02:06:22,800
years. Um, and Miss Silva, thank you for
um getting or making sure that PAVE

1643
02:06:20,400 --> 02:06:26,880
parents were part of the process for the
graduation requirements and making sure

1644
02:06:24,239 --> 02:06:33,599
they knew um when and how to take those
opportunities and um to take advantage

1645
02:06:30,000 --> 02:06:38,199
of them. So, thank you all.
>> Thank you, Representative Johnson Law.

1646
02:06:39,119 --> 02:06:45,280
» Thank you all so much for your
testimony. I'm going to start with

1647
02:06:43,040 --> 02:06:48,400
President Fuges and just want to say
thank you all so much for all you do. I

1648
02:06:47,040 --> 02:06:52,239
know we have a back to school bash
coming up. I saw Mike in passing and

1649
02:06:50,560 --> 02:06:55,920
told him thank you like as I yelled it
out the window, but as you are here

1650
02:06:54,000 --> 02:06:58,960
publicly, President Futes, thank you so
much for all your support for our Ward A

1651
02:06:57,599 --> 02:07:03,119
schools and students and for this back
to school bash on Saturday. Is that 1

1652
02:07:01,440 --> 02:07:07,679
p.m.? Well, that'll be the announcements
at the end. Um, and again, thank you all

1653
02:07:05,040 --> 02:07:12,239
so much for all of your testimony.
Gabby, I'm gonna give the rest of my

1654
02:07:09,840 --> 02:07:15,360
time to you because maybe no one's
really answered my question and I'm

1655
02:07:13,360 --> 02:07:19,760
hoping you can answer my question. Have
you all engaged uh East of the River

1656
02:07:17,599 --> 02:07:25,840
families in regards to the screens and
technology concern? And if you have,

1657
02:07:22,880 --> 02:07:30,639
what have they what have they said?
>> Yeah. So, our parents, our citywide

1658
02:07:27,840 --> 02:07:33,679
board put together um their thoughts on
technology just in response to some of

1659
02:07:32,320 --> 02:07:37,840
the shifts we're seeing across the
country. uh because as they will tell

1660
02:07:35,920 --> 02:07:41,840
you as some of them are here tonight uh
they wanted to make sure that W seven

1661
02:07:39,440 --> 02:07:45,440
and W eight voices were included in that
conversation since that's m where the

1662
02:07:43,440 --> 02:07:49,440
majority of children's and families uh
live in DC and so essentially their

1663
02:07:47,679 --> 02:07:53,760
takes and I can bump this I can text it
to you or send it in your inbox again uh

1664
02:07:51,840 --> 02:07:57,599
really revolved around balance right we
want our kids to balance being prepared

1665
02:07:55,440 --> 02:08:00,960
with also staying safe um they
understand the importance of

1666
02:07:58,800 --> 02:08:04,719
differentiation among grade levels but
they're also really concerned about

1667
02:08:02,320 --> 02:08:08,639
implementation and what this would mean
for educators and a lot of our parents

1668
02:08:07,040 --> 02:08:12,880
work in schools or have worked in
schools and they were concerned of like

1669
02:08:10,639 --> 02:08:16,960
who actually would be doing all of this?
This sounds like a full-time job. Uh and

1670
02:08:15,440 --> 02:08:21,280
we want our teachers to have the tools
they need to thrive in the classroom. So

1671
02:08:19,360 --> 02:08:25,520
they were really focused on making sure
like educator training is there. All of

1672
02:08:24,079 --> 02:08:28,800
the other things a teacher needs to
succeed in the classroom are there. So

1673
02:08:26,719 --> 02:08:32,880
that way techn is a supplement, not
necessarily the primary focus. So I can

1674
02:08:31,040 --> 02:08:36,079
bump that up in your inbox. you can for
sure ask them because I know they have

1675
02:08:34,480 --> 02:08:39,520
opinions and I know they will share them
with you. Um but that we have had those

1676
02:08:38,159 --> 02:08:42,000
conversations with our parents and we
will continue to have those

1677
02:08:40,400 --> 02:08:46,320
conversations with our parents and keep
their voices centered as we always do.

1678
02:08:44,719 --> 02:08:49,840
» Thank you so much and again thank you
all so much for your testimony this

1679
02:08:47,840 --> 02:08:53,960
evening.
>> Thank you Representative Thompson.

1680
02:08:54,800 --> 02:09:05,040
» Uh good evening. I um want to focus on
the testimony run requirements uh

1681
02:09:01,360 --> 02:09:11,440
tonight. Um
first I really appreciate the testimony

1682
02:09:09,040 --> 02:09:17,679
um around the foreign language component
and I'll tell you why and um Sally knows

1683
02:09:14,000 --> 02:09:20,960
this about me. So Sally knows um that
when I went to college, I went to

1684
02:09:19,679 --> 02:09:26,000
college actually for international
relations and I have minors in Hispanic

1685
02:09:22,960 --> 02:09:33,280
studies um and international relations.
I have I'm a history major and that when

1686
02:09:30,159 --> 02:09:36,800
I came back to DC um and it this is at
top of mind for me now because I uh was

1687
02:09:35,440 --> 02:09:42,639
speaking to some Georgetown students
earlier today. Um when I came back to

1688
02:09:39,280 --> 02:09:49,599
DC, my first job uh out of college uh
was working for DCPS

1689
02:09:45,520 --> 02:09:55,760
and I graduated during a time similar to
right now um where econ economic times

1690
02:09:52,159 --> 02:10:00,320
were really bad. And all of my
colleagues uh were like, "Oh, you're so

1691
02:09:58,159 --> 02:10:04,079
lucky to be from DC because DC is
recession proof." A lot of people who

1692
02:10:02,079 --> 02:10:09,840
are transplants think DC is recession
proof. clearly many years ago before

1693
02:10:06,800 --> 02:10:15,520
Doge um and
it's true um but it's not completely

1694
02:10:13,679 --> 02:10:19,360
true and people who are like me who are
natives don't benefit um from that in

1695
02:10:17,920 --> 02:10:26,480
the same way because we don't prepare
our kids uh for the economy we have and

1696
02:10:24,000 --> 02:10:30,880
I had friends who had spent uh all of
their time um getting ready for jobs

1697
02:10:29,679 --> 02:10:34,960
that weren't going to exist I had
friends walking out of Bear Sterns and

1698
02:10:32,800 --> 02:10:38,880
Lehman Brothers uh with boxes which
don't exist anymore. Um because a lot of

1699
02:10:37,440 --> 02:10:42,800
people go to my school to become an
investment banker and they were going to

1700
02:10:40,560 --> 02:10:46,320
be the first person in their family to
pull, you know, everybody else out of

1701
02:10:44,480 --> 02:10:51,440
poverty and all the things. And those
were the people who were telling me how

1702
02:10:47,679 --> 02:10:55,280
lucky I was uh as a Washingtonian. So I
came home, I was actually taking the

1703
02:10:53,199 --> 02:10:58,880
foreign service test. I passed the test.
It's a whole year and a half long

1704
02:10:56,719 --> 02:11:03,119
process. And I decided that I was going
to continue to work for DCPS1 because I

1705
02:11:01,760 --> 02:11:07,280
needed a job. my family is not
independently wealthy. Um, and two, uh,

1706
02:11:05,920 --> 02:11:11,599
because I had a little bit of what we
would call, I don't know, a quarter life

1707
02:11:09,280 --> 02:11:15,280
crisis. Um, because I plan to live, uh,
for very much longer and felt like if

1708
02:11:14,000 --> 02:11:20,560
things weren't right at home, I
shouldn't go somewhere else. I say all

1709
02:11:17,760 --> 02:11:25,599
that to say, um, everything you said in
your testimony about why language, why

1710
02:11:23,119 --> 02:11:31,440
the world is important is important if
we want to prepare our kids, uh, for

1711
02:11:28,800 --> 02:11:36,639
what is the future here. [snorts] And I
really appreciate all of the work um

1712
02:11:34,320 --> 02:11:40,480
that yes, the task force did. Thank you,
Sally. Thank you, Laura. Um thank you

1713
02:11:38,800 --> 02:11:45,599
Glenn who was sitting in the audience,
right? Um that you all put into that

1714
02:11:42,800 --> 02:11:51,280
thoughtfulness um and everybody else.
And so I look forward to our discussion

1715
02:11:47,840 --> 02:11:58,520
later tonight uh about what is in front
of us to vote and what we want to be

1716
02:11:53,599 --> 02:11:58,520
true for all of our kids. So, thank you,

1717
02:11:59,280 --> 02:12:02,840
» Representative Williams.

1718
02:12:04,000 --> 02:12:13,840
» Yes, thank you all. Um,
yes. Uh, with the competency based

1719
02:12:09,760 --> 02:12:18,560
requirement, um, I feel similarly uh to,
uh, Representative Henderson's comments

1720
02:12:15,360 --> 02:12:23,520
about really I'm glad that AI has been
so collaborative about making these

1721
02:12:19,840 --> 02:12:26,719
changes. um and that you know I I think
there are still some questions around

1722
02:12:24,800 --> 02:12:32,239
implementation that I have but my
biggest concern and biggest um priority

1723
02:12:30,400 --> 02:12:37,679
is just ensuring that students have
access to um being able to to gain

1724
02:12:35,119 --> 02:12:45,119
credit um in appropriate ways and that
we have access to a variety of world

1725
02:12:40,159 --> 02:12:48,960
languages um in schools. Um I think uh
Miss Fuches in terms of the WTU

1726
02:12:47,040 --> 02:12:52,800
priorities, some of my colleagues call
me up. I am in full support and

1727
02:12:50,719 --> 02:12:58,079
appreciate your leadership. So um thank
you for all the the effort with that and

1728
02:12:55,199 --> 02:13:03,679
the new organizing efforts and um I'm
just excited uh to kind of see the WTU

1729
02:13:01,040 --> 02:13:07,840
uh continue to uh to grow and to and to
lead these conversations. Um, and then I

1730
02:13:06,480 --> 02:13:13,040
think in terms of the broader kind of
screen time things, uh, there are

1731
02:13:11,199 --> 02:13:18,079
variety of pieces that we're coming back
to, I did get I do want to see there be

1732
02:13:16,560 --> 02:13:21,199
balance in the way that we want our
students to be able to be treated as

1733
02:13:19,599 --> 02:13:25,360
full students and to not be put into
screens inappropriately and to make sure

1734
02:13:23,440 --> 02:13:29,920
that that is a force and accountable. I
think part of that is ensuring that we

1735
02:13:26,960 --> 02:13:33,840
have quality curriculum um and making
sure that DCBS is accountable for um

1736
02:13:32,400 --> 02:13:41,440
ensuring that teachers have what we need
to be able to teach effectively. Um

1737
02:13:38,079 --> 02:13:45,280
and um I think there's there's a bunch
of pieces to this puzz puzzle that I

1738
02:13:43,440 --> 02:13:48,320
think still need to to be able to be
improved. So, I think the parent

1739
02:13:46,480 --> 02:13:52,159
communication is one of the pieces that
I want to continue to work on and and

1740
02:13:49,760 --> 02:14:00,079
and figure out what that looks like just
generally a more responsive, transparent

1741
02:13:54,480 --> 02:14:06,400
school system. Um but also um yeah I I I
don't what I got from the training today

1742
02:14:02,719 --> 02:14:10,719
in terms of the the privacy component
piece which I know is alarming to to

1743
02:14:08,239 --> 02:14:16,000
many of us uh is that there are sense
there are approved um tech platforms

1744
02:14:14,320 --> 02:14:22,079
that are a part of like the clever and
canvas suite that educators use to log

1745
02:14:17,920 --> 02:14:27,360
on to and like then teachers are not
supposed to independently vet additional

1746
02:14:25,119 --> 02:14:32,159
um tools or if they are there's a pretty
rigorous set uh process that I would

1747
02:14:29,920 --> 02:14:35,920
even not feel super confident doing um
other than just using my own lens of

1748
02:14:33,920 --> 02:14:41,199
what I know students need to know to
learn the content in my classes. Um so I

1749
02:14:38,880 --> 02:14:44,239
think there's a couple pieces there that
DC

1750
02:14:42,960 --> 02:14:48,079
everyone is kind of still figuring out
to make sure that we feel safe that

1751
02:14:45,760 --> 02:14:52,880
we're not giving data um to the edtech
companies um inappropriately. So, uh, I

1752
02:14:51,599 --> 02:14:56,719
don't have the answers for that yet,
but, um, you know, I think it's

1753
02:14:54,719 --> 02:15:03,199
something that I will am committed to
pushing for clarity for.

1754
02:14:59,840 --> 02:15:08,960
» Thank you, Representative Best.
>> Um, thank you all for uh coming out. I

1755
02:15:06,079 --> 02:15:12,239
have no further questions today.
>> Representative Chang,

1756
02:15:10,560 --> 02:15:16,520
» Representative Coulson, I think you had
a unanswered question.

1757
02:15:17,040 --> 02:15:20,040
» Yes.

1758
02:15:28,719 --> 02:15:35,119
I'm trying to revisit my thoughts to
remember what it was on the question of

1759
02:15:33,520 --> 02:15:40,239
the numbers. I know and I think I was
just saying that as someone who's maybe

1760
02:15:37,119 --> 02:15:43,119
a step back from the detail of how the
talking points are all put together, but

1761
02:15:41,679 --> 02:15:46,239
I know that the screens beyond schools
people have lots of information that

1762
02:15:44,800 --> 02:15:51,360
they could send you on the numbers that
I cited. And um just to say I think to

1763
02:15:49,040 --> 02:15:56,400
your excellent point that screens are
obviously a big part of the conversation

1764
02:15:53,440 --> 02:16:00,719
tonight. That's in recognition that
money that is being allocated towards

1765
02:15:58,880 --> 02:16:04,079
technology in schools that a lot of us
are really concerned about. We see and

1766
02:16:02,639 --> 02:16:08,320
agree with you that there are many many
other concerns and hearing about

1767
02:16:06,400 --> 02:16:14,400
specific schools tonight where I think
we would love to see that money better

1768
02:16:10,159 --> 02:16:20,880
spent and um redirected within the DCPS
budget.

1769
02:16:17,280 --> 02:16:27,840
President Fuches, I'm curious um on your
take whether personally or uh from what

1770
02:16:25,040 --> 02:16:32,080
you've heard from other educators in
response to the asks that the parents

1771
02:16:29,760 --> 02:16:36,479
have come forward with.
>> Yeah, I think maybe we've shared this

1772
02:16:34,479 --> 02:16:41,200
with the parent group as well. I mean,
our concerns are that kind of as we look

1773
02:16:39,040 --> 02:16:46,160
at kind of the balance of where
testimony is headed and how DCPS tends

1774
02:16:44,160 --> 02:16:52,960
to respond to certain families more than
others and how that's clearly taking

1775
02:16:48,800 --> 02:16:58,160
place once again. Um, that we have to be
careful that we are moving all together

1776
02:16:55,200 --> 02:17:02,800
as one, right? DCPS moved very fast on
this roll out. They just met with W2

1777
02:17:00,719 --> 02:17:06,639
today. I've not gotten a chance to talk
to them about the tech policy to look at

1778
02:17:04,800 --> 02:17:11,280
our contract to look at what's going on,
right? And it was 30 minutes.

1779
02:17:09,679 --> 02:17:16,719
So, you know, they're still kind of
doing what they do, which is pick and

1780
02:17:14,080 --> 02:17:21,280
choose who they feel like responding to
and then which issues they choose to

1781
02:17:18,399 --> 02:17:28,080
kind of ignore blatantly.
Um, and so it's not that we're opposed

1782
02:17:25,599 --> 02:17:34,719
to what's happening necessarily, it's
that once again it is hasty. it is being

1783
02:17:30,960 --> 02:17:40,240
done in reaction to families that they
want to appease um in order to try to

1784
02:17:37,439 --> 02:17:43,200
keep the peace I suppose. Um and that
doesn't mean that it's not important

1785
02:17:41,599 --> 02:17:47,359
what parents are advocating for and of
course they should advocate but we're

1786
02:17:44,880 --> 02:17:51,359
just kind of concerned at how all this
is moving in a direction that still is

1787
02:17:49,359 --> 02:17:56,639
not collaborative. It's still this very
just top down like we're going to do

1788
02:17:53,120 --> 02:18:00,160
this. DCS is always fake. central office
never has the reality the pulse on the

1789
02:17:58,639 --> 02:18:05,200
reality in the classrooms like they
acted shocked when we said hey you know

1790
02:18:02,160 --> 02:18:08,479
paper we never have it so like what am I
supposed to do like that's on a good

1791
02:18:06,960 --> 02:18:12,000
year right and they're acting surprised
as if we haven't told them this for 20

1792
02:18:10,319 --> 02:18:15,519
years straight so you know it's just
like it's a it's just classic

1793
02:18:14,719 --> 02:18:19,439
» Miss Fuches
>> yes

1794
02:18:16,319 --> 02:18:22,960
» thank you representative Goule
>> I want to thank you all for your

1795
02:18:20,960 --> 02:18:27,040
testimony today and for coming out I I
am going to focus my uh questions on the

1796
02:18:25,599 --> 02:18:30,080
graduation requirements tonight because
that's going to be coming up and we have

1797
02:18:28,559 --> 02:18:34,160
a couple members on the panel. I want to
thank you for serving on the task force.

1798
02:18:31,679 --> 02:18:38,800
I think the work of the task force was
just absolutely tremendous. Uh people

1799
02:18:36,160 --> 02:18:41,519
dedicated hours of their time, days of
their time probably when you add it all

1800
02:18:40,000 --> 02:18:44,559
together to be able to participate in
that. And I think the product that came

1801
02:18:43,280 --> 02:18:49,200
from the task force was really
phenomenal. And I have fully endorsed

1802
02:18:47,359 --> 02:18:53,120
the task force report since it's been
out. uh which does lead me to some

1803
02:18:51,359 --> 02:18:58,240
concerns on this and and I want to
express my concerns with the high school

1804
02:18:54,559 --> 02:19:01,599
graduation requirements right now and I
think we should do in my personal

1805
02:19:00,080 --> 02:19:06,240
opinion like we did with social studies
is hear from the public here tonight

1806
02:19:03,920 --> 02:19:09,760
what the remaining concerns may be and
then take a month to work on those

1807
02:19:07,840 --> 02:19:14,559
concerns that's that's my position
before the meeting and it it is now as

1808
02:19:12,000 --> 02:19:17,280
well that we because we have one issue
specifically that I'm going to focus in

1809
02:19:16,000 --> 02:19:20,559
on and that's this foreign language
issue and I and I think you mentioned

1810
02:19:19,519 --> 02:19:23,920
mentioned it, Miss Schwarz, is we're
really in the same place we were four

1811
02:19:22,000 --> 02:19:27,760
years ago and four years before that and
that we are talking about implementing

1812
02:19:26,000 --> 02:19:32,639
this, but then the implementation hasn't
really gone anywhere with competency

1813
02:19:29,840 --> 02:19:36,319
based credits. And what we're going to
vote on, you know, at least

1814
02:19:34,639 --> 02:19:40,639
theoretically on the table tonight to
vote on is very much like when we the

1815
02:19:38,800 --> 02:19:45,439
council approves the budget. It's just a
very basic document. It doesn't have any

1816
02:19:42,960 --> 02:19:48,479
of the details in it. It's when you look
at it, you wouldn't know what really the

1817
02:19:47,040 --> 02:19:51,520
graduation requirements were, how
they're implemented, but there's a

1818
02:19:50,000 --> 02:19:55,200
letter that comes with it that explains
that. And I I would liken that to the

1819
02:19:53,280 --> 02:19:58,960
budget books where you explain how all
the money is going to be spent in the

1820
02:19:56,560 --> 02:20:04,399
city. Uh what concerns me is the
implementation on this and and I've

1821
02:20:00,960 --> 02:20:06,800
expressed that concern uh to AIE and you
know, I think they've been very

1822
02:20:05,359 --> 02:20:10,880
responsive and very collaborative in
working with us. Uh but the proposal

1823
02:20:09,280 --> 02:20:14,160
I've seen, you know, in the last couple
days actually shifts it in a direction

1824
02:20:12,560 --> 02:20:19,280
that I'm more concerned about rather
than less. And that is taking this

1825
02:20:16,560 --> 02:20:23,040
waiver process from AI and now having it
be within DCPS and within the public

1826
02:20:21,120 --> 02:20:29,359
charter school board. And the concern I
have with that is essentially that

1827
02:20:25,840 --> 02:20:32,640
you're going to be having bodies picking
and choosing which students get this

1828
02:20:30,960 --> 02:20:36,720
credit. I mean, I think you talked about
access, uh, Representative Williams, and

1829
02:20:34,479 --> 02:20:41,120
I think that's a hugely important issue,
and we have an international city with

1830
02:20:38,880 --> 02:20:46,960
students who know these languages from
home, who come in, who can take an exam,

1831
02:20:44,319 --> 02:20:52,000
and that we want to make sure that their
achievement and their competency and

1832
02:20:50,560 --> 02:20:56,160
proficiency in these languages
recognized. And I don't want to leave

1833
02:20:53,600 --> 02:20:59,600
that up to DCPS or the public charter
school board to have to sit there and

1834
02:20:58,319 --> 02:21:02,720
approve waiverss for individual
students. I just don't think that makes

1835
02:21:00,880 --> 02:21:06,160
any sense. And I think we really would
benefit from sitting down for another

1836
02:21:04,800 --> 02:21:09,120
month and trying to figure out a better
path to doing this. And I I'll be glad

1837
02:21:07,840 --> 02:21:15,319
to speak more when we get to the bill,
but thank you both uh for your voice in

1838
02:21:12,080 --> 02:21:15,319
this tonight.

1839
02:21:15,680 --> 02:21:21,840
» President Patterson.
>> Again, as I always say, I appreciate

1840
02:21:20,000 --> 02:21:26,800
every person who ever comes out and
testifies in front of us. Um it really

1841
02:21:24,640 --> 02:21:31,359
informs me. Um, I don't have any
questions, but as always, I have some

1842
02:21:29,200 --> 02:21:35,439
comments. First, I want to direct my
comments to President Fuges, and I want

1843
02:21:33,600 --> 02:21:41,040
to thank you. I want to thank you for
coming in front of us and telling us

1844
02:21:36,880 --> 02:21:44,720
what the union WTU will be focused on. I
I don't remember anyone ever doing that

1845
02:21:43,040 --> 02:21:48,960
to be quite honest with you. And where
we can be supportive, it is always very

1846
02:21:46,960 --> 02:21:52,640
nice when someone comes to us and say,
"These are the things that we've focused

1847
02:21:50,720 --> 02:21:56,399
on in the past. This is where we're
going to be focused in the future." and

1848
02:21:54,240 --> 02:21:59,840
it allows us to start aligning ourselves
to where we can be supportive. So, I

1849
02:21:58,319 --> 02:22:03,840
appreciate you doing that and I hope
that becomes a tradition. We all know

1850
02:22:02,160 --> 02:22:07,840
that, you know, I'm a president, you're
a president. We may not always be in our

1851
02:22:05,520 --> 02:22:11,680
positions, but we hope that if we set a
precedence that those people will follow

1852
02:22:09,920 --> 02:22:14,640
and continue to do that because it it
makes better for collaboration. So,

1853
02:22:13,359 --> 02:22:19,200
thank you for doing that first and
foremost. Um especially I want to touch

1854
02:22:17,120 --> 02:22:22,800
on a point that you talked about um
green cards um because it's very near

1855
02:22:21,439 --> 02:22:28,000
and dear to my heart because there was a
teacher who totally transformed my

1856
02:22:25,280 --> 02:22:33,040
daughter's understanding of math who has
literally reached out to me asking me

1857
02:22:29,920 --> 02:22:38,880
will I help her stay in the country her
husband's a teacher her child attends a

1858
02:22:35,680 --> 02:22:43,920
DCPS school and she we're in
communication right now see now how I

1859
02:22:40,880 --> 02:22:48,560
can keep this amazing teacher in the
country So, I want to continue to work

1860
02:22:46,240 --> 02:22:51,600
with you on that, whatever we can do. I
think you understand our authorities

1861
02:22:49,840 --> 02:22:55,760
more than most people do. But I do want
to thank you for keeping that in the

1862
02:22:53,280 --> 02:23:01,439
forefront and everything. Secondly, I'm
going to come to Miss uh Swords. Uh

1863
02:22:58,479 --> 02:23:07,040
thank you for serving. As I told Noah,
Mr. Dhy earlier, I appreciate people who

1864
02:23:04,479 --> 02:23:12,720
come and bring their expertise to our
task force um and just really work with

1865
02:23:09,760 --> 02:23:15,840
us to get it right. Um, a lot of people
don't understand, you know, when you're

1866
02:23:14,080 --> 02:23:20,479
doing policy, as they sometimes refer
to, it's like sausage making and all the

1867
02:23:17,920 --> 02:23:24,319
things that go on and everything. Um,
and I think there's up until the 11th

1868
02:23:22,399 --> 02:23:30,080
hour, literally, we have been talking
about this subject for credits for for

1869
02:23:27,040 --> 02:23:33,840
language. Um, and what I will say, I
know it's been said a couple times that,

1870
02:23:32,160 --> 02:23:37,840
yeah, this happened at this point. We've
this happened, but I don't think we've

1871
02:23:35,359 --> 02:23:41,680
ever had the people who are assembled to
say that they're going to work on it.

1872
02:23:40,080 --> 02:23:46,399
And right before we started this
meeting, I appreciate our uh

1873
02:23:44,080 --> 02:23:51,439
superintendent coming up here talking to
us and telling us what's in the

1874
02:23:48,880 --> 02:23:56,800
resolution should be voted on. And I'm
hoping that it's passed. What's in the

1875
02:23:53,680 --> 02:24:00,880
letter we will and she gave me her word
that we will work out to make sure that

1876
02:23:58,640 --> 02:24:04,560
we make this the easiest possible. And I
believe her. I look forward to the

1877
02:24:02,800 --> 02:24:08,479
discussion when we get to that point.
But what I say what's important is the

1878
02:24:06,479 --> 02:24:13,120
people who have been at the table and
the people that have shown themselves to

1879
02:24:10,240 --> 02:24:15,760
be trustworthy and I appreciate you for
being the person that you are. So I look

1880
02:24:14,319 --> 02:24:21,600
forward to voting on that. Okay. And
thank you for your service.

1881
02:24:19,040 --> 02:24:28,520
» Thank you um witnesses for your
testimony this morning. We will now call

1882
02:24:24,160 --> 02:24:28,520
our next round of public witnesses.

1883
02:24:39,760 --> 02:24:45,560
Don,
Don Smith,

1884
02:24:47,120 --> 02:24:54,359
Kathy Riley,
Scott Goldstein,

1885
02:24:56,640 --> 02:24:59,840
Dylan Craig,

1886
02:25:00,640 --> 02:25:04,359
Jeffrey Wood,

1887
02:25:06,960 --> 02:25:10,520
Ara Shelton,

1888
02:25:13,359 --> 02:25:17,000
Lashima Bernett.

1889
02:25:25,920 --> 02:25:32,319
Don, we'll start with you.
>> Thank you.

1890
02:25:29,840 --> 02:25:37,439
» Good evening, members of the state board
of education. I'm Don Smith. I'm a W

1891
02:25:35,359 --> 02:25:42,399
seven resident and a proud native
Washingtonian. I have three wonderful

1892
02:25:39,760 --> 02:25:48,080
children, two who have graduated and my
youngest who is about to start second

1893
02:25:44,720 --> 02:25:52,080
grade at Vaness. I am here today to talk
about the proposed high school

1894
02:25:49,600 --> 02:25:55,600
graduation requirements and to say thank
you.

1895
02:25:53,439 --> 02:26:01,040
I was excited to see that AIE is
recommending that integrated math should

1896
02:25:57,920 --> 02:26:05,439
be named integrated algebra 2 to ensure
that it is clear to all colleges and

1897
02:26:03,359 --> 02:26:10,319
universities that students has fulfilled
their graduation requirements. I look

1898
02:26:08,160 --> 02:26:16,160
forward to seeing how offering
integrated math can expand a student's

1899
02:26:13,760 --> 02:26:20,800
option to help them build strong
understanding of math. My biggest

1900
02:26:18,640 --> 02:26:26,560
concern with the initial proposed change
is about the practical studies diploma.

1901
02:26:24,319 --> 02:26:32,479
Now, I am going to be honest. While
paved parent leaders love each other, we

1902
02:26:29,520 --> 02:26:38,160
don't always see the same I mean have
the same opinion. We love to deeply

1903
02:26:35,439 --> 02:26:43,120
discuss the debate and different ideas.
In all my time with PAVE, I have never

1904
02:26:40,720 --> 02:26:47,439
seen a citywire or advisory board come
together so quickly to oppose something.

1905
02:26:46,080 --> 02:26:52,080
The conversation about the
implementation of a practical studies

1906
02:26:49,520 --> 02:26:56,720
diploma we had came to a unanimous
conclusion. Absolutely not. This does

1907
02:26:55,280 --> 02:27:02,080
not support our students with
disabilities. This is not setting them

1908
02:26:59,040 --> 02:27:06,319
up to success outside of the classroom.
This change cannot guarantee the

1909
02:27:04,000 --> 02:27:12,000
employers will recognize the practical
studies diploma with the same weight as

1910
02:27:08,880 --> 02:27:17,760
a traditional high school diploma. I was
thrilled to see that SBOE, the

1911
02:27:15,600 --> 02:27:21,600
graduating task force, and AIE
recognized that the practical studies

1912
02:27:19,600 --> 02:27:26,880
diploma will not serve students with
disabilities. I look forward to seeing

1913
02:27:24,479 --> 02:27:31,520
AIE fulfill their commitment to
expanding options for students with

1914
02:27:28,800 --> 02:27:36,640
disabilities and hoping they continue to
partner with parents and families as

1915
02:27:33,439 --> 02:27:41,840
they explore options to do so. Lastly,
as a proud mother of two DC graduates

1916
02:27:39,280 --> 02:27:47,040
and a future DC graduate, I know the
value of how postsecary plan for college

1917
02:27:44,720 --> 02:27:52,880
or for entering the workforce right
away. My two oldests have picked two

1918
02:27:50,800 --> 02:27:57,600
different paths. My oldest went straight
to her career and my son is currently in

1919
02:27:55,439 --> 02:28:02,399
college pursuing his degree in animal
science with a concentration in big

1920
02:27:59,680 --> 02:28:06,720
animals. By requiring high school
students to meet with their counselor at

1921
02:28:04,640 --> 02:28:12,000
least once a year to build out
post-secary plan, we are ensuring that

1922
02:28:09,760 --> 02:28:16,160
all DC students have a chance to think
about what comes next and working on the

1923
02:28:14,640 --> 02:28:21,200
steps that they need to take to get
there. While my youngest may have a

1924
02:28:18,560 --> 02:28:25,040
while until she enters high school, I am
looking forward to knowing that Faith

1925
02:28:23,200 --> 02:28:29,600
will be thinking about her post high
school secondary as [clears throat] soon

1926
02:28:26,399 --> 02:28:34,479
as she enters 9th grade. Thank you,
state board of education, the graduating

1927
02:28:32,000 --> 02:28:40,240
task force in Aussie for your commitment
to ensuring DC graduate requirements are

1928
02:28:37,439 --> 02:28:43,840
preparing students for an everchanging
world. I appreciate all of the ways you

1929
02:28:42,720 --> 02:28:48,600
are incorporating.
>> Thank you, ma'am.

1930
02:28:45,280 --> 02:28:48,600
» Thank you.

1931
02:28:49,200 --> 02:28:59,280
» Yeah, I think that's good helpful.
>> Hi. Uh, thank you. Um, I appreciate and

1932
02:28:56,880 --> 02:29:03,760
value the opportunity to testify on your
impending vote for the revisions to the

1933
02:29:01,439 --> 02:29:08,000
graduation requirements to begin with
the ninth graders entering high school

1934
02:29:05,359 --> 02:29:13,200
this week, next week. I was part of the
SBOE task force making recommendations

1935
02:29:10,160 --> 02:29:18,000
to AIE this spring as well as in May of
2018 and I think at least one before

1936
02:29:15,600 --> 02:29:24,080
that. I am the co-founder and executive
director of SHAPE since 1998. My name is

1937
02:29:20,399 --> 02:29:27,840
Kathy Riley. I strongly support the SBOE
recommendation to Azie and appreciate

1938
02:29:25,920 --> 02:29:32,319
the effort of the board on this and the
large number that of recommendations

1939
02:29:29,840 --> 02:29:36,479
that Azie accepted. The changes are
modest and they build on the work done

1940
02:29:34,319 --> 02:29:40,720
eight years ago. I would like
clarification. I noticed in the letter

1941
02:29:38,319 --> 02:29:44,399
last night that it does say that you're
going to increase the graduation

1942
02:29:42,000 --> 02:29:48,960
requirements to 24.5,
which was different than I expected. So,

1943
02:29:46,720 --> 02:29:53,840
I hope that gets clarified. Instead of
the 24 graduation requirements apply to

1944
02:29:52,160 --> 02:29:59,120
students,
not to eleas, they apply to students.

1945
02:29:56,399 --> 02:30:03,520
One of our goals on the SBO task force
was to look at how a student is able to

1946
02:30:00,960 --> 02:30:07,680
attain the necessary credits and have a
transcript that reflects their efforts

1947
02:30:05,920 --> 02:30:13,760
regardless of which one of the high
school level 23 LEAs that they attend.

1948
02:30:11,760 --> 02:30:18,560
We perceived an unnecessary level of
inequity in world language. Any student

1949
02:30:16,640 --> 02:30:24,160
can demonstrate competency through their
performance on an assessment but on the

1950
02:30:21,439 --> 02:30:28,720
you know the assessment but if their LEA
does not choose to apply for a waiver

1951
02:30:26,319 --> 02:30:32,960
they are not eligible to receive credit.
This is a credit that is already fully

1952
02:30:30,720 --> 02:30:37,920
recognized by ASI in their certification
of the seal of biiteracy and with the

1953
02:30:35,359 --> 02:30:42,560
stamp assessment accepted.
Removing the requirement for an LEA to

1954
02:30:39,920 --> 02:30:47,040
request a waiver is a step forward, but
the document forwarded last that I the

1955
02:30:44,720 --> 02:30:51,600
last one that I read does require a
charter LEA to submit an AIE approved

1956
02:30:49,359 --> 02:30:57,840
waiver to the public charter school
board and then DCPS which is an LEA um

1957
02:30:55,520 --> 02:31:02,720
has to have an AI approved waiter waiver
the schools present to them. AIES

1958
02:31:00,479 --> 02:31:06,640
established the validity of the
assessment, the cut score and the

1959
02:31:04,399 --> 02:31:12,080
credit. So, I don't think a waiver
should be needed at this point. Um,

1960
02:31:09,680 --> 02:31:15,280
whether a student's credit applies to
the world language requirement is a

1961
02:31:13,920 --> 02:31:19,840
different issue. We're just talking
about credit and acknowledgement and and

1962
02:31:18,080 --> 02:31:25,760
credit and acknowledgement of languages
not taught in the school. It's to

1963
02:31:22,080 --> 02:31:30,560
expand. Um, world language, which was
identified, you know, in 2018 and again

1964
02:31:28,399 --> 02:31:34,479
this year, is one rare area where
there's strong and accurate assessment

1965
02:31:32,399 --> 02:31:38,880
of competence in being able to read,
write, listen, and speak a world

1966
02:31:36,720 --> 02:31:42,479
language. And there's a shortage of
teachers and what we teach is not

1967
02:31:40,640 --> 02:31:45,760
representative of the many languages our
students speak or can access for

1968
02:31:44,160 --> 02:31:49,520
instruction.
So, I'm cautious. You know, I I can see

1969
02:31:47,680 --> 02:31:54,399
I'm almost over. The one thing I'd say
to what you said uh Prince President

1970
02:31:52,080 --> 02:31:58,560
Patterson is I wish the discussion if
you're going to have a discussion about

1971
02:31:55,760 --> 02:32:01,280
the letter I wish it would be public. I
mean I've actually spent quite a lot of

1972
02:32:00,160 --> 02:32:03,840
time on this.
>> So the thought that you're going to

1973
02:32:02,479 --> 02:32:06,479
figure it out you're going to vote
tonight and then you guys are going to

1974
02:32:05,200 --> 02:32:12,600
all figure it out.
>> It's a little tough to hear.

1975
02:32:08,399 --> 02:32:12,600
» I appreciate Thank you, Miss Riley.

1976
02:32:14,960 --> 02:32:20,160
» Uh good evening. Um, while it is not the
subject of my testimony, uh, my

1977
02:32:18,800 --> 02:32:22,960
colleague Caroline Prior did submit
written testimony on the subject of the

1978
02:32:21,600 --> 02:32:25,920
graduation requirements that you're
voting on tonight, as well as the

1979
02:32:24,640 --> 02:32:30,240
important appointments you're making to
the community schools task force and the

1980
02:32:27,359 --> 02:32:33,359
educator evaluation task force. Um, I I
do want to say that I do have a slightly

1981
02:32:32,240 --> 02:32:36,960
different concern about the world
language requirement, not about the

1982
02:32:35,200 --> 02:32:40,560
waiver itself, but about whether it
actually should supplement the two

1983
02:32:38,319 --> 02:32:44,960
credits or supplant the two credits that
are necessary and how that might narrow

1984
02:32:42,479 --> 02:32:49,120
the experience for some students in in
uh their overall high school experience.

1985
02:32:47,200 --> 02:32:52,000
At Empower, I believe it is fundamental
that students have positive lasting

1986
02:32:50,479 --> 02:32:55,359
relationships with adults in school that
help motivate them and provide them

1987
02:32:53,280 --> 02:32:58,640
guidance along their way. In the past 10
years, alongside advocacy from the state

1988
02:32:57,280 --> 02:33:02,319
board, we've made progress on teacher
retention. Still, turnover across our

1989
02:33:00,720 --> 02:33:05,120
schools remains too high, especially in
our public charter school sector. And

1990
02:33:03,920 --> 02:33:08,319
the beginning of each year is an
opportunity to think about how we can

1991
02:33:06,399 --> 02:33:11,359
approach this issue proactively. So, I'd
like to raise several ways in which the

1992
02:33:09,920 --> 02:33:15,040
board can pay close attention to this
issue over the course of the coming

1993
02:33:12,640 --> 02:33:18,319
year. First, prioritize a holistic
approach to educator and student mental

1994
02:33:16,640 --> 02:33:21,439
health. As many of you know, this past
year, the administration pursued a

1995
02:33:19,760 --> 02:33:26,080
misguided attempt to bring school-based
behavioral health entirely in-house at

1996
02:33:23,359 --> 02:33:29,520
DBH. It's a plan DBH was not ready for,
and luckily, the council rejected in its

1997
02:33:27,920 --> 02:33:33,520
final budget. But the funding for the
CBO model was also cut back. This means

1998
02:33:31,920 --> 02:33:36,800
dozens of schools are starting this
school year without a clinician that

1999
02:33:35,120 --> 02:33:40,640
students depended on last year and had a
relationship with. We need your advocacy

2000
02:33:38,800 --> 02:33:44,000
this year to rebuild and strengthen the
CBO based model for delivering mental

2001
02:33:42,560 --> 02:33:47,680
and behavioral health to students in
schools and your support for expanding

2002
02:33:45,760 --> 02:33:50,399
mental health services to educators both
through the kind of educator wellness

2003
02:33:48,960 --> 02:33:53,840
partnerships that empower ed support
schools with but also clinical support

2004
02:33:52,399 --> 02:33:57,439
like provided by organizations like
MedStar Wise. We're excited to be

2005
02:33:56,160 --> 02:34:02,000
working with both MedStar Wise and
Transcend to launch a citywide educator

2006
02:33:59,439 --> 02:34:05,760
wellness hub this year. Second, use your
platform to elevate educators often left

2007
02:34:03,920 --> 02:34:08,960
out of the conversation. Educators like
our specials teachers have unique

2008
02:34:07,200 --> 02:34:11,920
concerns for curricular support to peer
mentorship that would be that would

2009
02:34:10,560 --> 02:34:15,439
better support their growth. Early
childhood educators have unique concern

2010
02:34:13,600 --> 02:34:19,520
as do our special educators. Please
uplift their unique concerns. Continue

2011
02:34:17,840 --> 02:34:23,040
your advocacy for special education
beyond the graduation requirements

2012
02:34:21,120 --> 02:34:25,680
discussion until we are sure that all of
our educators have access to the

2013
02:34:24,399 --> 02:34:28,880
training that they need to support
students with disabilities and we can

2014
02:34:27,520 --> 02:34:31,600
lower the bureaucratic burden on
educators so they can devote the time

2015
02:34:30,560 --> 02:34:35,600
and attention to students with
disabilities that they need and are

2016
02:34:33,040 --> 02:34:38,800
legally entitled to. for participate in
efforts both through the forthcoming

2017
02:34:36,960 --> 02:34:42,640
council educator evaluation task force
and with the new incoming administration

2018
02:34:40,880 --> 02:34:45,600
to elevate successful growth-based
systems of teacher support and

2019
02:34:43,840 --> 02:34:48,399
evaluation. The state board has the
ability to elevate the experience of

2020
02:34:47,040 --> 02:34:53,120
those who have actually experienced
systems different from our own uh and do

2021
02:34:50,560 --> 02:34:57,439
so in a in the public view. Uh fifth,
while DCPS retention is now over 80%

2022
02:34:55,280 --> 02:35:00,960
overall, it still hovers close to 70% in
the public charter sector. Yet each year

2023
02:34:59,120 --> 02:35:04,560
at a budget time, we hear about advocacy
or equitable school funding driven more

2024
02:35:02,880 --> 02:35:08,399
by large eleas than the small ones that
are at a disadvantage in our system. We

2025
02:35:06,560 --> 02:35:11,680
need your help to al elevate actual
teacher retention challenges that small

2026
02:35:10,080 --> 02:35:15,200
eleas are facing whether different
evaluation systems, approaches to

2027
02:35:13,200 --> 02:35:19,040
educator well-being, scheduling, and
more. And we believe the time has come

2028
02:35:17,359 --> 02:35:22,080
for another revision of the state report
card, which is something that I know it

2029
02:35:20,720 --> 02:35:27,880
seems like it just happened, but we
should make sure we're in that soon.

2030
02:35:24,640 --> 02:35:27,880
Thank you.

2031
02:35:36,399 --> 02:35:41,520
Good evening, state board of education
members. I'm Dylan Craig, former English

2032
02:35:40,080 --> 02:35:44,960
teacher at Garnet Patterson State,
organizer for the Washington Teachers

2033
02:35:42,880 --> 02:35:47,920
Union, and award for resident. Much like
WT President Fuches, I wanted to

2034
02:35:46,479 --> 02:35:51,680
highlight our ambitious plans as the
school year begins. As we move closer to

2035
02:35:50,000 --> 02:35:56,479
our contract expiration in September
2028 and our ability to call for

2036
02:35:53,359 --> 02:35:59,600
negotiations in June 2027, um we do not
want to wait to begin developing our

2037
02:35:57,840 --> 02:36:03,040
vision for a strong public school system
that our families and students deserve.

2038
02:36:01,600 --> 02:36:06,000
But we also know that we cannot envision
this alone as we need all the

2039
02:36:04,399 --> 02:36:09,920
stakeholders we can to fully understand
the needs of our school communities.

2040
02:36:07,840 --> 02:36:12,960
This is why starting in October, while
also engaging our members internally, we

2041
02:36:11,760 --> 02:36:16,720
want to work with the community to
collectively develop a vision of strong

2042
02:36:14,640 --> 02:36:19,920
public education in the district. This
vision and the partnerships created will

2043
02:36:18,319 --> 02:36:23,439
help in crafting and advocating for our
demands as we move forward in our

2044
02:36:21,359 --> 02:36:26,479
negotiations. In order to accomplish
this, we are starting with community

2045
02:36:24,960 --> 02:36:30,399
conversations in each ward throughout
October. These will be meetings to hear

2046
02:36:28,479 --> 02:36:33,439
from parents, students, and educators,
educators, and various community

2047
02:36:31,680 --> 02:36:37,359
stakeholders to identify issues and
utilize our bargaining or other forms of

2048
02:36:35,359 --> 02:36:40,880
advocacy as a vehicle to shape change
for the entire public school community.

2049
02:36:39,280 --> 02:36:44,800
We want to hear the visions, ideas, and
priorities regarding what will make our

2050
02:36:42,479 --> 02:36:47,840
district one that reaches all. Parents
and students are closest to the work we

2051
02:36:46,240 --> 02:36:50,720
do and we need them as partners in this
vision. We want to hear from parents

2052
02:36:49,520 --> 02:36:53,680
about what structures in their
children's schools support them and

2053
02:36:52,160 --> 02:36:57,120
their children the most and what support
can be implemented to improve further.

2054
02:36:55,680 --> 02:36:59,680
We want to hear from students about what
brings them excitement throughout their

2055
02:36:58,479 --> 02:37:03,439
day and what might impede their
engagement, whether that impediment is

2056
02:37:01,359 --> 02:37:06,640
inside or outside the school building.
Of course, we'll be hearing from our

2057
02:37:04,960 --> 02:37:09,920
educators on how we can foster joy in
the important work they do, how they can

2058
02:37:08,319 --> 02:37:13,840
be supported to grow in their profession
and limit the stress that makes so many

2059
02:37:11,600 --> 02:37:16,880
leave. And yes, our members and
membership will be tackling impact no

2060
02:37:15,520 --> 02:37:20,399
matter the outcome of the council's
upcoming task force. We want to hear

2061
02:37:18,720 --> 02:37:24,319
from all those who have have a stake in
our communities working towards the same

2062
02:37:21,920 --> 02:37:27,439
goal of improving these systems. We hope
that we can find support in our state

2063
02:37:25,840 --> 02:37:30,960
board of education members and even
attendance from members. as we engage

2064
02:37:29,200 --> 02:37:35,280
with the communities represented and
work as partners and work as partners as

2065
02:37:33,120 --> 02:37:38,080
we use our contract campaign as one that
serves the community at large.

2066
02:37:36,800 --> 02:37:41,439
Negotiating a contract that the
community can see itself in, inspiring

2067
02:37:39,760 --> 02:37:45,359
bold changes that can move our schools
forward and create partnerships that go

2068
02:37:43,280 --> 02:37:50,920
beyond any contract ratification and
foster true collaboration into the

2069
02:37:46,960 --> 02:37:50,920
future. Thank you.

2070
02:37:56,640 --> 02:38:02,240
Good evening everyone. My name is
Jeffrey Wood, Theodor Roosevelt High

2071
02:38:00,160 --> 02:38:07,600
School, class of 2011, right here in the
district. Go Ruff Riders. In the summer

2072
02:38:04,479 --> 02:38:12,399
of 2009, I never owned a passport, never
been on a plane. Then, as a DC public

2073
02:38:09,920 --> 02:38:17,120
school student, I flew to Beijing for
six weeks of intensive Mandarin. I came

2074
02:38:15,040 --> 02:38:22,399
home in August of 2009, speaking a
language that I hadn't known in June.

2075
02:38:20,000 --> 02:38:26,560
There was no Mandarin at my school, so I
commuted across town to Wilson High

2076
02:38:24,080 --> 02:38:31,840
School after the day ended several days
a week. for an hour at a time

2077
02:38:30,000 --> 02:38:37,600
while I was still taking Spanish as my
requirement. I did two languages. I

2078
02:38:34,560 --> 02:38:41,600
earned credit for one. Beijing, the
commute, the hours after everyone went

2079
02:38:40,000 --> 02:38:46,640
home, none of it appeared on my
transcript. So on paper, that experience

2080
02:38:44,479 --> 02:38:51,439
never happened. I went on to George
Mason University, majored in Chinese and

2081
02:38:49,280 --> 02:38:55,680
won two federal scholarships, the Borne
and the Gilman to study a year in

2082
02:38:53,600 --> 02:38:59,280
Harbin, China. And then while I was
there in 2014, I interviewed former

2083
02:38:58,080 --> 02:39:03,280
first lady of the United States,
Michelle Obama. During her visit, I

2084
02:39:01,680 --> 02:39:07,760
became a foreign service officer with
the State Department and spent my career

2085
02:39:05,359 --> 02:39:12,479
in immigration and consular work.
Everything downstream in my life came

2086
02:39:10,240 --> 02:39:17,120
through that language and still I
couldn't prove I hadn't I didn't have it

2087
02:39:14,640 --> 02:39:22,000
when I went to college. But however, I
was lucky. I had a mentor who helped me

2088
02:39:19,200 --> 02:39:27,600
find the fellowships necessary to make
the rest possible. But as a student and

2089
02:39:25,200 --> 02:39:32,720
students in general, they shouldn't need
to feel as lucky as I was. And so the

2090
02:39:30,720 --> 02:39:37,840
system's answer to a kid who learns a
language on their own time is silence

2091
02:39:35,600 --> 02:39:43,520
based on my own experience. Not a lower
grade, nothing. And think about who that

2092
02:39:40,800 --> 02:39:47,200
silence falls on hard is. Every DC
student has a two-year language

2093
02:39:44,960 --> 02:39:52,000
requirement, but at many schools, the
door open is Spanish one and two. So, a

2094
02:39:50,399 --> 02:39:57,520
student who wants to learn Mandarin like
I did previously or someone who already

2095
02:39:54,560 --> 02:40:01,760
speaks Mharic at home or wants to take a
different language based on their own

2096
02:39:59,600 --> 02:40:05,840
personal interests either takes a
language they don't need or finds one

2097
02:40:03,760 --> 02:40:10,880
themselves either after hours across
town or in some cases self-funded and

2098
02:40:08,880 --> 02:40:14,800
comes back to a transcript that says
they did nothing. We are telling the

2099
02:40:13,040 --> 02:40:19,600
most motivated students in the least
resource buildings that their effort is

2100
02:40:16,880 --> 02:40:24,720
invisible. Competency based credit
doesn't lower a standard. It applies the

2101
02:40:22,080 --> 02:40:31,359
same one, an independent proficiency
assessment, and asks a single question.

2102
02:40:27,920 --> 02:40:36,640
Can this student do it? If yes, the
transcript should say so. The board's

2103
02:40:34,160 --> 02:40:42,080
own task force approved this. The board
approved this. Please don't let this

2104
02:40:38,399 --> 02:40:46,399
disappear now. 17 years ago, I did the
work and the district had no way to

2105
02:40:43,920 --> 02:40:50,479
acknowledge it. Students in DC right now
should not still be waiting. Put

2106
02:40:48,479 --> 02:40:55,720
competency based credit for learn world
language back in and vote yes. Thank

2107
02:40:52,720 --> 02:40:55,720
you.

2108
02:41:02,479 --> 02:41:08,399
Good evening state board of education
representatives. My name is Dashima

2109
02:41:06,479 --> 02:41:12,240
Bernett. I'm a W 8 resident and a proud
mother to two amazing children at

2110
02:41:10,399 --> 02:41:15,920
Steuart Hopson Middle School and
McKinley Techch High School. While I'm

2111
02:41:14,080 --> 02:41:20,960
not a native Washingtonian, I've had the
pleasure of living in DC for over 10

2112
02:41:18,240 --> 02:41:25,920
years and I care deeply about all of our
student success. Um, I would like to

2113
02:41:23,760 --> 02:41:30,240
begin with a thank you for listening to
pay parent leaders feedback on the

2114
02:41:28,000 --> 02:41:34,240
proposed education graduation
requirements. DC is a tale of two

2115
02:41:32,479 --> 02:41:38,800
cities. Those who have access to
resources and those who do not. I am

2116
02:41:36,640 --> 02:41:43,200
hopeful that these new requirements will
will create a more equitable system that

2117
02:41:41,439 --> 02:41:46,560
will allow all students to not only
survive but thrive in the district

2118
02:41:45,040 --> 02:41:50,479
postgraduation.
As the mother of an incoming middle

2119
02:41:48,479 --> 02:41:54,479
schooler and an 11th grader,
post-secondary planning is at the top of

2120
02:41:52,479 --> 02:41:58,960
my mind. Throughout the graduation
requirement update process, I met with

2121
02:41:56,800 --> 02:42:03,600
fellow paid parent leaders, other
community organ organizations, including

2122
02:42:01,200 --> 02:42:07,439
DC policy center. Through these
conversations, I learned more about the

2123
02:42:05,359 --> 02:42:12,160
importance of post-secondary planning
touch points. As a result, I reached out

2124
02:42:09,680 --> 02:42:16,479
to my son's counselor, Mckenley Tech.
Our check-in was a gamecher. Now, my

2125
02:42:14,640 --> 02:42:20,240
son, Landon, is enrolled in two AP
classes for this upcoming school year.

2126
02:42:18,479 --> 02:42:24,240
He's enrolled in a Spark Your Journey
program, and this is going to allow him

2127
02:42:22,080 --> 02:42:29,120
to get ready for his post-secary goal to
go to college and become an engineer. I

2128
02:42:27,200 --> 02:42:33,840
was also glad to see that AIE increased
the number of required touch points to

2129
02:42:31,680 --> 02:42:38,880
four touch points with an adviser one
per year throughout high schoolers

2130
02:42:36,240 --> 02:42:43,040
students career by requiring these touch
points at least once per year. The new

2131
02:42:41,120 --> 02:42:47,600
graduation requirements help to ensure
that all students leave high school with

2132
02:42:45,120 --> 02:42:52,640
a plan. I'm excited to see how this
positively impacts my daughter Lana when

2133
02:42:50,560 --> 02:42:57,840
she eventually enters high school. Thank
you SBOE the gradu for the graduation

2134
02:42:55,600 --> 02:43:02,000
task force and AIE for all your hard
work and throughout your all your

2135
02:43:00,319 --> 02:43:06,920
consideration throughout the process. I
look forward to your continued

2136
02:43:03,120 --> 02:43:06,920
leadership. Thank you.

2137
02:43:07,120 --> 02:43:13,439
» Thank you each for your testimony. We
will now go to our members for a round

2138
02:43:11,359 --> 02:43:17,000
of questions.
Representative Henderson.

2139
02:43:17,520 --> 02:43:26,000
» Thank you all. Um Miss Riley, thanks for
serving on the task force. thanks for

2140
02:43:22,160 --> 02:43:30,720
your years of service. I can clarify um
I'm not sure what you saw, but the final

2141
02:43:28,080 --> 02:43:43,080
proposal does take the total credits
down to 24 um from the um

2142
02:43:36,080 --> 02:43:43,080
electives changing from 3.5 to three. Um

2143
02:43:46,479 --> 02:43:55,240
and I have no other questions.
>> Thanks. Did you double check?

2144
02:43:51,439 --> 02:43:55,240
» Okay. Representics.

2145
02:43:57,760 --> 02:44:02,920
» You good? Representative Johnson Law.

2146
02:44:04,240 --> 02:44:11,040
Sorry guys. I just want to make sure
Representative Henderson was finished.

2147
02:44:07,600 --> 02:44:16,160
And yes, Kathy, it's in the language. Um
that is it's down to 24. Um it's in

2148
02:44:13,840 --> 02:44:20,240
there. Yes. Uh thank you Kathy for
serving on the task force. We always

2149
02:44:17,760 --> 02:44:26,000
appreciate you. Um, Scott, I want to say
thank you to you and Caroline and

2150
02:44:22,720 --> 02:44:28,960
Dominique and everyone at Empower Ed for
really listening to families and

2151
02:44:27,439 --> 02:44:31,760
teachers and different folks around the
practical studies diploma and the

2152
02:44:30,640 --> 02:44:35,439
challenges that they were having with
that. Thank you um my dear, thank you so

2153
02:44:34,160 --> 02:44:39,359
much for all the things you do for the
WTU. Thank you so much, my dear, for

2154
02:44:37,680 --> 02:44:45,600
your testimony.
Missed um Don and Lashima,

2155
02:44:43,760 --> 02:44:49,040
everybody knows I love again to all of
the parents who are here. I love all of

2156
02:44:46,960 --> 02:44:51,840
our families, but I have a special place
in my heart for East of the River

2157
02:44:50,319 --> 02:44:55,439
families. And I always love when we come
out because sometimes we don't come up

2158
02:44:54,000 --> 02:44:59,600
we don't come in the biggest numbers,
but when we come, we we again we are

2159
02:44:57,600 --> 02:45:03,680
still strong and just want to honor um
you all. Miss Lashima, just as a W 8

2160
02:45:02,080 --> 02:45:08,640
resident, thank you for all that you do
and for your advocacy. And I want to

2161
02:45:05,520 --> 02:45:13,279
point out what you said about
a city, a tale of two cities. And

2162
02:45:11,520 --> 02:45:16,399
sometimes I think even in advocacy and
the things that we do as a city, we

2163
02:45:14,800 --> 02:45:19,840
forget about how does it affect the
other side? How does it affect W seven

2164
02:45:18,399 --> 02:45:22,399
and eight? And all and again I know
Representative Thompson represents W

2165
02:45:21,200 --> 02:45:26,319
seven but always just say east of the
river just as an inclusive model because

2166
02:45:24,479 --> 02:45:30,800
a lot of us are dealing with similar
similar situations both Don you know in

2167
02:45:28,560 --> 02:45:35,200
seven and and in eight and so sometimes
I don't think I think it gets lost in

2168
02:45:33,520 --> 02:45:38,479
the narrative. I think when we talk
about equity,

2169
02:45:36,960 --> 02:45:41,920
I think people want equity to look a
certain way instead of what equity

2170
02:45:40,319 --> 02:45:46,080
actually looks like and what is really
going on because sometimes the truth is

2171
02:45:43,920 --> 02:45:49,359
not pretty. Sometimes it is ugly and
sometimes we really don't want to

2172
02:45:47,359 --> 02:45:52,640
address the things that are going on,
especially with I'm just going to say

2173
02:45:50,479 --> 02:45:55,920
with black and brown families and we
don't always get heard like if we were

2174
02:45:54,240 --> 02:46:00,160
to raise issues, are we going to get
heard the same way others are? Is DCPS

2175
02:45:58,640 --> 02:46:02,800
going to hear us? Is the PCSB going to
hear us? Is the council going to hear

2176
02:46:01,279 --> 02:46:05,840
us? Is Aussie going to hear us? Are
people really going to center our voices

2177
02:46:04,080 --> 02:46:09,439
like they do like they do in other parts
of the city? And that I just want to

2178
02:46:07,920 --> 02:46:13,279
make everyone that's not a dig at
anyone, but it is an unfortunate truth

2179
02:46:11,279 --> 02:46:18,000
of what is going on east of the river
and how we just don't get included in a

2180
02:46:15,680 --> 02:46:20,960
lot of conversations. And so I just want
to say thank you to the two of you for

2181
02:46:19,520 --> 02:46:24,160
all of your work. This isn't the first
time you've done it. You all have been

2182
02:46:22,399 --> 02:46:29,680
doing it for years. I don't know if
anyone has publicly said thank you, but

2183
02:46:27,120 --> 02:46:36,319
as a mother we have. Well, we're going
to Dr. Lejoy Johnson law is going to say

2184
02:46:32,960 --> 02:46:40,560
thank you again because sometimes it
gets lost and I'm just really happy that

2185
02:46:38,319 --> 02:46:45,439
with the practical studies diploma that
was a community push and it's not saying

2186
02:46:43,760 --> 02:46:48,479
that
it's not saying that Aussie Aussie

2187
02:46:46,960 --> 02:46:51,600
didn't get it wrong. We just have to
work. We got to flush it out. And I just

2188
02:46:50,160 --> 02:46:55,680
want to say thank you to Andrew and Dr.
Mitchell about coming to the different

2189
02:46:53,920 --> 02:46:58,560
task force not just task force but
different community meetings and really

2190
02:46:57,120 --> 02:47:03,160
listening to what we were saying about
it. So, thank you both so much.

2191
02:47:03,279 --> 02:47:07,479
» Thank you, Representative Thompson.

2192
02:47:10,319 --> 02:47:20,720
» All right. Um,
I uh definitely always appreciate

2193
02:47:16,560 --> 02:47:25,439
everyone's uh testimony. I think uh the
following things uh are I'm telling you

2194
02:47:23,359 --> 02:47:29,439
what's in my head. Uh Kathy, I'm sitting
here digging through the appendences to

2195
02:47:26,800 --> 02:47:35,279
make sure none of us are crazy. Um and
I'm trying to do math uh and listen at

2196
02:47:32,399 --> 02:47:40,399
the same time. Um and I believe uh that
we are at uh 24

2197
02:47:38,640 --> 02:47:45,840
requirements
and then the overall is how like that's

2198
02:47:43,600 --> 02:47:49,840
different than how many classes you have
to take, which I think some people we're

2199
02:47:48,240 --> 02:47:56,560
not talking about the same thing. 24
requirements still the same because we

2200
02:47:51,680 --> 02:48:04,880
now have one uh what is it one for PE.5
for health five for art.5 for math 0.5

2201
02:48:01,920 --> 02:48:07,680
uh for or.5 excuse me for music nobody
shoot me about the math I know we've

2202
02:48:06,240 --> 02:48:14,399
been through all the whole thing about
the math 0.5 for music and 0.5 uh for

2203
02:48:11,439 --> 02:48:20,479
financial literacy um is is where we
landed so um that is a even number that

2204
02:48:17,600 --> 02:48:25,439
I can tell uh which I believe is still
keeping us at the 24. So I just because

2205
02:48:24,000 --> 02:48:31,120
this is something we are talking about
tonight I and I know um there has been a

2206
02:48:28,399 --> 02:48:37,680
lot of very very very uh good work to
get us uh to this point. So I um want to

2207
02:48:33,359 --> 02:48:42,720
say that out loud. Um second and not
second in order of importance just um in

2208
02:48:40,160 --> 02:48:49,760
things happening at Ebony Rose's head.
um we I'm look forward to our discussion

2209
02:48:47,040 --> 02:48:55,200
uh about the what what we're going to do
um between implementation uh and policy.

2210
02:48:52,640 --> 02:49:01,920
Um that is always a dance um that not
just the state board has to do but every

2211
02:48:56,800 --> 02:49:07,200
policy body has to do. Um I um
am hopeful uh that our colleagues will

2212
02:49:04,640 --> 02:49:12,240
have a full uh discussion around that.
Um I will say I I think I was a bit

2213
02:49:09,520 --> 02:49:17,439
surprised. No, Granite, your girl was
late because um roads have been closed

2214
02:49:15,840 --> 02:49:23,439
and all the things. So maybe there is
something I missed. Uh but I do want us

2215
02:49:19,920 --> 02:49:28,240
to talk about um how we both put
together and make sure there is a policy

2216
02:49:26,160 --> 02:49:33,200
uh that has a certain spirit um and
folks can implement with a certain um

2217
02:49:31,120 --> 02:49:37,120
with fidelity to the letter, right? And
so we will have that discussion uh on

2218
02:49:35,279 --> 02:49:41,120
the dis later today. That's not going to
be uh a secret. That's why we have

2219
02:49:39,120 --> 02:49:46,880
public meetings. Um, and we appreciate
everyone um, coming to testify. Um, to

2220
02:49:43,680 --> 02:49:51,600
your point, sir, about like what do we
um, count, what do we measure, what do

2221
02:49:48,960 --> 02:49:55,760
we showcase um, for all of our students.
So, um, I thank everyone for their

2222
02:49:53,600 --> 02:50:00,880
testimony. Um, I thank the task force
for their work. I thank the people who

2223
02:49:57,600 --> 02:50:04,920
have shown up throughout. Um, and I
thank you all for your time tonight.

2224
02:50:05,200 --> 02:50:08,760
Representative Williams.

2225
02:50:09,040 --> 02:50:15,439
» Yeah, thank you all for your testimony.
Um,

2226
02:50:14,080 --> 02:50:21,040
Mr. Kra, I want to kind of start with
you. You would I I'm encouraged by the

2227
02:50:18,479 --> 02:50:25,439
community conversations. I heard a
little bit about what a plan could look

2228
02:50:23,040 --> 02:50:30,640
like. Um, can you share a little bit
more to the best that you have about

2229
02:50:27,439 --> 02:50:34,960
when they'll be, where they'll be? Um
and the big thing that I want to kind of

2230
02:50:33,040 --> 02:50:38,160
um share with that is just that I think
too often and I've heard this from Mr.

2231
02:50:36,720 --> 02:50:42,000
Goldstein and other people too many
times is that teachers interests and

2232
02:50:40,399 --> 02:50:45,680
students interests and families are
being are pitted against each other. You

2233
02:50:43,600 --> 02:50:49,359
know we have to be 100% students first
and you know therefore um we have to do

2234
02:50:48,479 --> 02:50:52,960
something that's against good
instruction or against what's good for

2235
02:50:50,800 --> 02:50:56,479
teachers. I would also see this as a
great opportunity to be able to align

2236
02:50:54,479 --> 02:51:00,399
those interests to be able to um
strengthen our uh advocacy and

2237
02:50:58,479 --> 02:51:03,840
strengthen policy and create healthier
schools. So, um I'm encouraged that

2238
02:51:02,319 --> 02:51:07,760
you're doing this and just wanted to
throw that out there um as the

2239
02:51:06,319 --> 02:51:11,200
conversations unfold.
>> Yeah, and that is the idea. Um be on the

2240
02:51:09,680 --> 02:51:15,840
lookout for the dates. We're finalizing
logistics. We're hoping to get them

2241
02:51:13,920 --> 02:51:20,640
throughout October, mostly on Tuesdays
and Thursdays. And um we're going to

2242
02:51:17,680 --> 02:51:24,880
have two on W 8 ideally um since it is a
larger ward with a large art education

2243
02:51:22,240 --> 02:51:29,439
population. And um yeah, so be on the
lookout with uh more information to

2244
02:51:27,120 --> 02:51:32,960
come, but uh it'll be a time to align
that vision to really kind of come up

2245
02:51:31,359 --> 02:51:36,240
with what we want to push forward
collectively. So that is the idea.

2246
02:51:35,120 --> 02:51:40,479
» Thank you. Yeah, I look forward to
attending. Um yeah, just want to say a

2247
02:51:38,399 --> 02:51:43,600
couple quick things. Um Mr. Wood, I
really appreciate your story. It's very

2248
02:51:41,680 --> 02:51:47,120
inspiring. Um thank you for being here
tonight. It was great to great to hear

2249
02:51:44,880 --> 02:51:51,520
and listen to and the and uh hear the
impact that the experience had on you.

2250
02:51:49,520 --> 02:51:54,640
Um and then Mr. Riley, thank you so much
for your engagement on this. I

2251
02:51:52,720 --> 02:51:59,359
understand your your feelings on the
lack of transparency at the end of this

2252
02:51:56,240 --> 02:52:03,680
process. Um and I think that your
advocacy and clarifying kind of what we

2253
02:52:01,920 --> 02:52:07,600
were solving for throughout this process
and what the purpose is and making sure

2254
02:52:06,080 --> 02:52:12,000
we're we're doing right by students and
centering students has been helpful for

2255
02:52:09,600 --> 02:52:16,160
me throughout this process. So, um I
think we clarified some important things

2256
02:52:13,520 --> 02:52:20,080
last minute and um I agree with
Representative Thompson that you know

2257
02:52:17,520 --> 02:52:23,760
this to me is not the end of the process
like we still have to continue to

2258
02:52:21,600 --> 02:52:28,399
collaborate with implementation
um to make sure that um all of these

2259
02:52:26,640 --> 02:52:33,760
things you know whether it be financial
literacy or the competency based things

2260
02:52:31,359 --> 02:52:37,800
are actually implemented um effectively.
So thank you for your work here.

2261
02:52:38,560 --> 02:52:46,160
Thank you, Representative Best.
>> Um, no further questions,

2262
02:52:45,040 --> 02:52:52,479
» Representative Chang.
>> Also, no further questions. Thank you.

2263
02:52:50,080 --> 02:52:56,240
» Representative Coulson, thank you all
for your testimony. Thank you for the

2264
02:52:54,160 --> 02:52:59,920
parents always coming out. I'm so
excited. Don't even know your babies,

2265
02:52:57,760 --> 02:53:04,640
but I'm excited for what's going on with
them. And thank you for sharing your

2266
02:53:01,600 --> 02:53:09,120
experience as a DCPS grad. Uh thank you
my ward four friend for your work with

2267
02:53:06,640 --> 02:53:13,120
uh WTU. Again like my colleagues have
said I look forward to the work. Uh Miss

2268
02:53:11,439 --> 02:53:17,520
Raleigh, thank you so much for
continuing to push and advocate uh for

2269
02:53:16,000 --> 02:53:20,800
some things that were discussed, some
things that we missed. I really

2270
02:53:18,880 --> 02:53:26,160
appreciate that. I've learned more from
your perspective. I will say that I am

2271
02:53:23,439 --> 02:53:30,640
still on the fence tonight uh and I look
forward to the discussion about this.

2272
02:53:28,399 --> 02:53:37,680
I'm still on the fence because uh as we
share stories about DCP DCPS experiences

2273
02:53:34,160 --> 02:53:42,560
or our experiences, I remember many
years ago I was at a high school and I

2274
02:53:40,240 --> 02:53:47,840
should have had a credit and I had an
empty spot on my schedule and even with

2275
02:53:45,279 --> 02:53:52,240
parent advocacy I did not get that class
that I needed which meant that I would

2276
02:53:50,000 --> 02:53:55,920
have needed to go to summer school. And
I know that that was a long time ago,

2277
02:53:53,840 --> 02:54:00,800
but sometimes we still have experiences
like that where parents cannot get up to

2278
02:53:58,800 --> 02:54:05,120
the school or do what is necessary to
really push the needle. And so for me,

2279
02:54:03,040 --> 02:54:10,319
when it comes to policy, it's really
important that things are very clear in

2280
02:54:07,680 --> 02:54:14,560
the policy so that there's no ambiguity
in the implementation. I want us to be

2281
02:54:12,560 --> 02:54:17,920
very clear with all that we're doing to
support our students that we don't drop

2282
02:54:16,800 --> 02:54:23,040
the ball when it comes to
implementation. I do I would really hate

2283
02:54:20,640 --> 02:54:28,800
for our students to have the skills
necessary to pass this to get the seal

2284
02:54:26,399 --> 02:54:33,840
all of those things but cannot get that
because of a roadblock in terms of their

2285
02:54:31,200 --> 02:54:37,520
local school uh in their school body. So
I look forward to discussing

2286
02:54:35,279 --> 02:54:41,920
implementation but I thank you all for
the work that has been done. Thank you

2287
02:54:39,359 --> 02:54:46,680
Dr. Mitchell and everyone the task force
for getting us here. I yield my time.

2288
02:54:47,200 --> 02:54:54,880
Representative Goule,
>> Mr. Wood, that was a very inspirational

2289
02:54:52,960 --> 02:54:59,200
story. Uh, thank you for coming and
sharing it. I think that really actually

2290
02:54:56,640 --> 02:55:03,439
I mean it's incredible what you're able
to achieve there through your hard work

2291
02:55:01,279 --> 02:55:07,439
and it's it's what we want to provide as
an option for all our students here and

2292
02:55:05,359 --> 02:55:11,200
and I think that is exactly what we
should be trying to get done with this.

2293
02:55:08,960 --> 02:55:16,319
And I mean DC is such an international
city. We have so many families with such

2294
02:55:13,279 --> 02:55:19,680
diverse backgrounds and like we have
families who speak all sorts of

2295
02:55:18,240 --> 02:55:23,680
languages at home that we would never
teach in in DC public schools or even in

2296
02:55:21,439 --> 02:55:28,800
public charter schools. And so to be
able to recognize like the unique

2297
02:55:26,479 --> 02:55:33,920
backgrounds, the unique experiences of
those families and to be able to let

2298
02:55:30,240 --> 02:55:37,600
them have credit for for their skills on
their diploma is is exactly what we

2299
02:55:35,760 --> 02:55:42,000
should be doing with this. So that
inspired me to keep going on this and

2300
02:55:39,439 --> 02:55:44,800
thank you for sharing it here. Uh, I
mean, we're we're at a place right now

2301
02:55:43,120 --> 02:55:49,600
where we have been working on this for a
very long time and and I think taking an

2302
02:55:47,200 --> 02:55:52,720
additional month to figure this out
makes perfect sense. It's what we did

2303
02:55:51,200 --> 02:55:57,680
with the social studies standards and we
got a better product. I I agree with

2304
02:55:55,040 --> 02:56:02,080
you, Miss Riley. I think transparency is
key and this is a very transparent body

2305
02:55:59,840 --> 02:56:06,479
and we always do, I think, a very good
job. I go above and beyond of working

2306
02:56:03,920 --> 02:56:10,160
with the public. And in this case, I
think there's no there's no villain in

2307
02:56:08,640 --> 02:56:14,160
the process. Everybody's working hard.
is just we're working up to a deadline.

2308
02:56:12,399 --> 02:56:17,359
Uh you know and Aussie's been a great
partner in this. My colleagues are great

2309
02:56:15,920 --> 02:56:20,800
partners. I mean I think the challenge
is we just kind of ran out of time to

2310
02:56:18,800 --> 02:56:25,840
get it done tonight. So I think those
discussions should continue and I think

2311
02:56:23,279 --> 02:56:29,040
a month from now we we may nail this and
have really a perfect product and that's

2312
02:56:27,439 --> 02:56:32,880
what I want to get to on this. I don't
want to get to after all this hard work

2313
02:56:31,040 --> 02:56:37,359
95% of the way there I want to get to
100%. So, I mean, things that are still

2314
02:56:35,920 --> 02:56:41,680
confusing to me a little bit with this
waiver process is I don't see the need

2315
02:56:40,000 --> 02:56:46,160
for it in the first place. I think if a
student, you know, like Mr. Wood talked

2316
02:56:43,359 --> 02:56:49,840
about, has achieved those skills, they
shouldn't have to worry that DCPS is

2317
02:56:48,240 --> 02:56:52,640
going to approve a waiver, that the
charter school board is going to approve

2318
02:56:51,520 --> 02:56:55,840
a waiver. I mean, the charter school
board may not even know they're

2319
02:56:53,600 --> 02:56:59,680
approving waiverss because the charter
school alliance wasn't even aware that

2320
02:56:58,160 --> 02:57:03,680
they were going to be doing that today.
So, I think we've just got some more

2321
02:57:00,960 --> 02:57:08,240
work to do on this. And then, you know,
making sure that if the student has

2322
02:57:06,399 --> 02:57:12,000
those skills, we want to make sure it's
not a process that drags them down and

2323
02:57:10,640 --> 02:57:15,760
prevents them from doing it. It's not
that that one DCPS school is doing one

2324
02:57:14,160 --> 02:57:20,000
thing and another school's doing
something else. We need equity,

2325
02:57:17,760 --> 02:57:23,359
consistency, and we need to recognize
our students achievements here. So, I'm

2326
02:57:21,920 --> 02:57:26,880
willing to wait a month to be able to
try to get us there to do that. And uh I

2327
02:57:25,439 --> 02:57:30,720
just encourage my colleagues to do the
same. I want to thank you all for your

2328
02:57:28,080 --> 02:57:35,359
testimony tonight.
President Patterson,

2329
02:57:32,319 --> 02:57:39,279
» thank you. Um, thank every single one of
you for again coming here. For those who

2330
02:57:37,680 --> 02:57:43,760
have served on task forces like Miss
Riley, um, I believe you directed um, a

2331
02:57:42,000 --> 02:57:47,520
question at me, so to speak, as far as
how we handled last week, and I believe

2332
02:57:45,439 --> 02:57:51,680
Vice President uh, Goule has kind of
said that we were just basically working

2333
02:57:49,520 --> 02:57:55,439
right up to the to the deadline, so to
speak, before we got here to make sure

2334
02:57:53,359 --> 02:58:00,240
we were responsive. And I appreciate my
colleagues who pressed, you know, as a

2335
02:57:58,319 --> 02:58:04,000
person, you know, um, that's sitting in
the seat right now, presidency to say,

2336
02:58:02,319 --> 02:58:08,319
Jacques, we still there are things that
need to be addressed. It was never to be

2337
02:58:06,479 --> 02:58:12,319
kind of exclusive or anything like that.
And as you stated, when we got answers,

2338
02:58:10,479 --> 02:58:17,120
we shared that with those who had raised
those questions were who are outside of

2339
02:58:14,399 --> 02:58:22,319
the elected body. And we always will do
that. Um, and I just appreciate even the

2340
02:58:20,720 --> 02:58:26,720
um, superintendent for answering
questions all the way up to the end. So,

2341
02:58:24,640 --> 02:58:30,319
we're always going to be transparent as
best as we possibly can, especially for

2342
02:58:28,880 --> 02:58:32,640
those who are actually advocating and
everything like that. And I want

2343
02:58:31,359 --> 02:58:36,080
everyone to know that for the record
that I believe all my colleagues and

2344
02:58:34,560 --> 02:58:41,520
everybody that they work with are the
most transparent people and processes

2345
02:58:38,479 --> 02:58:45,600
that I've met in public service. And I
appreciate everybody who works even up

2346
02:58:43,279 --> 02:58:49,840
to the 11th, you know, 12th hour,
whatever. Yes, I appreciate that. So, I

2347
02:58:48,319 --> 02:58:55,200
just want to make sure I answered that
specifically as far as and going forward

2348
02:58:51,920 --> 02:58:59,279
we will be the same. Okay. Um secondly,
um I would like to say I appreciate you

2349
02:58:57,040 --> 02:59:02,640
bringing up the touch points. That's
important to me. I love that that Azie

2350
02:59:01,359 --> 02:59:08,960
has put in there's going to be four
touch points, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th.

2351
02:59:05,279 --> 02:59:12,720
Um yes, because I am a person who when I
was in school, no one talked to me. So

2352
02:59:11,279 --> 02:59:16,319
when I got to the 12th grade and I was
getting ready to do things, they were

2353
02:59:14,319 --> 02:59:19,760
like, "No, you can't go there. you can't
apply there cuz you know you don't have

2354
02:59:18,560 --> 02:59:22,479
the right things, you didn't take the
right classes, you know, I want to go to

2355
02:59:21,359 --> 02:59:24,720
the University of Washington at that
particular time. They're like, no,

2356
02:59:23,520 --> 02:59:28,960
you'll probably be going to a community
college, which I did. Eventually, I

2357
02:59:26,560 --> 02:59:33,760
caught up and I'm now I'm a doctor. But
I I get it. So, I appreciate you calling

2358
02:59:32,240 --> 02:59:38,560
that out because there are students,
even myself, you know, who truly needs

2359
02:59:36,640 --> 02:59:42,319
that because our students need to have
that touch point every single year of

2360
02:59:40,640 --> 02:59:46,080
their education in high school. So, I
appreciate that. from going to three to

2361
02:59:44,160 --> 02:59:50,800
four. The last thing that I will say,
I'm gonna talk to you, sir. You marry my

2362
02:59:48,240 --> 02:59:54,160
daughter. And I say that because as far
as you said, 17 years and everything

2363
02:59:52,240 --> 02:59:59,120
like that. My daughter took a Mandarin
Chinese class when she was at TMA. She

2364
02:59:56,560 --> 03:00:02,319
did the program downtown and she didn't
get any credit for it. Now, it worked

2365
03:00:01,120 --> 03:00:05,200
well for her because she put on her
college, you know, kind of letter and

2366
03:00:03,680 --> 03:00:09,359
got into the school of her dreams,
Spellman, but she got nothing outside

2367
03:00:07,680 --> 03:00:13,279
of, you know, any type of credit for.
She took two years of managing Chinese

2368
03:00:11,600 --> 03:00:18,319
right there in Chinatown, right there on
8th Street and nothing, you know,

2369
03:00:15,600 --> 03:00:24,000
whatsoever. And to sum this all up, she
missed being validictorian by like.5.

2370
03:00:22,560 --> 03:00:27,279
What would that have done had and she
was saludiatoran. What would that have

2371
03:00:25,279 --> 03:00:30,720
done for her had she got that credit?
So, I come to this as a parent. I will

2372
03:00:29,520 --> 03:00:35,880
always look at this from a parent
perspective and I appreciate your story.

2373
03:00:32,479 --> 03:00:35,880
So, thank you.

2374
03:00:38,000 --> 03:00:44,240
» Okay.
I believe we have one last person now.

2375
03:00:42,800 --> 03:00:47,760
Two. Okay. So, I'm going to turn it over
to you for those last two.

2376
03:00:45,680 --> 03:00:52,680
» Okay. Thank you all so much for coming
and testify. We will have our last two

2377
03:00:49,680 --> 03:00:52,680
witnesses.

2378
03:00:53,600 --> 03:01:02,600
Dominique Moore.
Oh, we have our last witness, Jessica

2379
03:00:59,600 --> 03:01:02,600
Giles.

2380
03:01:03,600 --> 03:01:07,479
I thought people

2381
03:01:11,120 --> 03:01:15,640
just because you're alone, you're not
alone.

2382
03:01:20,560 --> 03:01:28,245
All right, that means I get a lot of
time, right? Three times. [laughter]

2383
03:01:31,600 --> 03:01:38,800
Okay,
I didn't bring my laptop. I'm I'm

2384
03:01:36,240 --> 03:01:43,279
screenless.
All right.

2385
03:01:41,279 --> 03:01:47,040
Um, greetings represents of the DC State
Board of Education. My name is Jessica

2386
03:01:45,040 --> 03:01:50,479
Jiles. I'm a W7 resident and executive
director of the Washington DC office of

2387
03:01:48,880 --> 03:01:56,319
the Center for Strong Public Schools
Action Fund. CSPS Action Fund is a 501c4

2388
03:01:54,240 --> 03:01:59,600
organization committed to ensuring that
every student, especially black, brown,

2389
03:01:57,920 --> 03:02:03,920
and low-income kids, attends a
highquality public school regardless of

2390
03:02:02,399 --> 03:02:08,800
their zip code. Today, I'll be
testifying about the state board of

2391
03:02:05,279 --> 03:02:12,960
education's resolution 2613.
AIE released recommendations that

2392
03:02:10,479 --> 03:02:16,640
outlined a vision for college and career
readiness. AIE, the high school

2393
03:02:14,800 --> 03:02:20,960
graduations requirements task force and
the state board of education engaged in

2394
03:02:18,479 --> 03:02:24,399
thoughtful dialogue with the community
to get us to a place where we have

2395
03:02:22,560 --> 03:02:29,439
substantially improved graduation
requirements to vote on today. Exciting.

2396
03:02:27,439 --> 03:02:32,800
CSPS Action Fund has been proud to be a
part of the process. We attended the

2397
03:02:30,960 --> 03:02:36,000
task force's community meeting, shared
feedback, and testify at the April

2398
03:02:34,319 --> 03:02:39,439
public meeting. During those
interactions, we've consistently

2399
03:02:37,520 --> 03:02:43,040
reiterated that all students must be
held to high standards of excellence,

2400
03:02:41,359 --> 03:02:46,720
that there should be more flexibility to
ensure every student can reach their

2401
03:02:44,720 --> 03:02:51,120
full potential, and that there continues
to be urgency to ensure we prepare

2402
03:02:48,560 --> 03:02:55,279
students for future success. We maintain
that DC's graduation requirements can

2403
03:02:53,200 --> 03:02:58,880
remain rigorous while allowing for
greater flexibility in student schedule.

2404
03:02:57,600 --> 03:03:02,880
We're proud to see many of our
recommendations reflected in the

2405
03:03:00,560 --> 03:03:08,240
resolution today,
including the following. Students must

2406
03:03:05,279 --> 03:03:12,000
receive four in-person graduation and
post-secondary plan touch points once

2407
03:03:10,319 --> 03:03:17,040
every year. Students can choose from six
diploma endorsement options. Financial

2408
03:03:14,640 --> 03:03:20,000
literacy is required as a uh half a
credit course, but content can be

2409
03:03:18,560 --> 03:03:24,000
incorporated into other courses.
Students are required to earn 60

2410
03:03:21,600 --> 03:03:29,200
community engagement hours which can
include paid and unpaid opportunities

2411
03:03:26,399 --> 03:03:32,560
which is really important. Um, we also
appreciate that students can take

2412
03:03:30,800 --> 03:03:37,120
integrated math given how important
algebra is for post-secary outcomes. And

2413
03:03:35,120 --> 03:03:41,359
we are pleased to see that the practical
studies diploma recommendation was

2414
03:03:39,520 --> 03:03:44,880
removed and that Aussie dropped the
required career preparation course

2415
03:03:43,279 --> 03:03:48,479
because there uh is a lack of clear
guidance in place. So, we support these

2416
03:03:46,960 --> 03:03:52,000
changes and we appreciate the time and
work that has been devoted to this

2417
03:03:49,760 --> 03:03:56,000
effort. Still, we continue to stress the
importance of DC dramatically expanding

2418
03:03:54,000 --> 03:03:59,359
access to intensive high-quality career
programming to ensure every high school

2419
03:03:57,680 --> 03:04:02,240
student, not just older students or a
limited view, has meaningful career

2420
03:04:01,200 --> 03:04:07,359
building opportunities before
graduation. We won't stop saying that.

2421
03:04:04,800 --> 03:04:12,479
The district has seen greater um higher
graduation uh graduation rates. However,

2422
03:04:10,720 --> 03:04:16,399
our public education system continues to
produce too few degree and credential

2423
03:04:14,240 --> 03:04:19,359
holders. Additionally, DC has struggled
with disconnected young people in a

2424
03:04:17,920 --> 03:04:23,920
workforce system that leaves native
Washingtonians, many of them locked out

2425
03:04:21,520 --> 03:04:27,600
of living wage careers. As we shared
earlier, um findings from the education

2426
03:04:25,920 --> 03:04:33,840
through employment data system, DC
alumni early career outcome survey. Um

2427
03:04:31,920 --> 03:04:36,640
those uh who participated in career
oriented experiences in the high school

2428
03:04:35,200 --> 03:04:40,960
were significantly more likely to report
feeling prepared for careers. Skipping

2429
03:04:39,120 --> 03:04:44,080
around. Um thank you for the opportunity
to testify. We look forward to

2430
03:04:42,160 --> 03:04:47,319
partnering with future conversations on
these topics.

2431
03:04:48,880 --> 03:04:54,479
» Thank you so much for your testimony. We
will now have a round of questions from

2432
03:04:52,399 --> 03:04:59,399
our elected state board members.
Representative Johnson Law.

2433
03:05:00,640 --> 03:05:04,720
» Thank you so much, Jess, for your
testimony. We love you. I just have a

2434
03:05:03,600 --> 03:05:07,520
quick comment and then I was going I'm
going to actually yield the rest of my

2435
03:05:05,840 --> 03:05:10,319
time to you to finish to actually finish
because I know you skipped around. Um,

2436
03:05:09,200 --> 03:05:15,439
just wanted to say like thank you for
like all all you do and to publicly say

2437
03:05:13,200 --> 03:05:19,439
thank you for also supporting our W 8
back to school bash that's also

2438
03:05:17,120 --> 03:05:23,279
happening on this Saturday from Wonder
Sigcorn Oak. That's a little plug. But

2439
03:05:21,600 --> 03:05:26,399
um again, just thank um you and Victor
and the entire team for all the work

2440
03:05:24,479 --> 03:05:29,120
that you're doing. Again, it's not easy.
And so just again want to publicly say

2441
03:05:27,920 --> 03:05:32,160
thank you. I say thank you all the time,
but also want to say it publicly. And

2442
03:05:30,880 --> 03:05:35,680
then I'm just going to yield the rest of
my time for you to finish what you were

2443
03:05:34,800 --> 03:05:37,040
saying because I know you skipped
around.

2444
03:05:36,399 --> 03:05:39,920
» Thank you.
>> You're welcome.

2445
03:05:45,680 --> 03:05:53,120
Currently, only 16% of DC students meet
the SAT college and career ready

2446
03:05:49,840 --> 03:05:57,600
benchmark and only 18% of 2011 2012 nth
graders had completed an associates or

2447
03:05:54,880 --> 03:06:02,399
bachelor's degree by 2022.
And so um the find the findings of the

2448
03:06:00,319 --> 03:06:07,279
studies that I mentioned earlier with
regards to the DC alumni ear early

2449
03:06:04,880 --> 03:06:13,439
career outcome survey shows that
providing students multi-layered career

2450
03:06:09,840 --> 03:06:18,960
focused experiences is increasing
for students to uh be ready for what

2451
03:06:16,240 --> 03:06:22,640
comes next after high school. Um, our
nonpartisan nonprofit affiliate, the

2452
03:06:21,359 --> 03:06:27,359
Center for Strong Public Schools
commissioned a poll which also showed

2453
03:06:24,560 --> 03:06:30,960
that 88% of DC Democratic voters believe
every high school student should have

2454
03:06:28,720 --> 03:06:34,640
had access to meaningful career or
connected learning experiences before

2455
03:06:33,120 --> 03:06:38,479
graduation.
In addition, we also want to continue to

2456
03:06:36,399 --> 03:06:42,479
stress the importance of DC graduation
requirements allowing for flexibility in

2457
03:06:40,479 --> 03:06:46,399
students schedules. Students deserve
multiple rigorous pathways to

2458
03:06:44,240 --> 03:06:50,000
demonstrate mastery through academics,
expanded course equivalency offers

2459
03:06:48,560 --> 03:06:54,160
offerings, career connected learning,
and real world exper real world

2460
03:06:52,000 --> 03:06:58,479
experience all at a pace that meets
their needs. So we believe these

2461
03:06:56,479 --> 03:07:02,160
improved graduation requirements rec
represent a crucial step in that

2462
03:07:00,240 --> 03:07:06,080
direction. And so we look forward to
being a part of the conversations that

2463
03:07:03,840 --> 03:07:10,640
the SPOE has with regards to
implementation. We totally uh want to

2464
03:07:09,200 --> 03:07:15,200
underscore the importance of of
implementation and getting this right

2465
03:07:12,720 --> 03:07:19,359
and um being a part of the conversations
around the integrated math proposal so

2466
03:07:17,439 --> 03:07:22,800
that DC can continue to lead the nation
with strong public schools and real

2467
03:07:21,040 --> 03:07:25,279
opportunity for every student. Thank
you.

2468
03:07:23,600 --> 03:07:31,680
» Thanks Jess. I appreciate you. I yield
the rest of my time.

2469
03:07:28,479 --> 03:07:34,680
» Thank you Representative
Thompson.

2470
03:07:38,160 --> 03:07:44,640
Um,
thank you for braving the traffic and

2471
03:07:41,840 --> 03:07:51,520
make it here. Um, hopefully that wasn't
too terrible for you. Um,

2472
03:07:47,680 --> 03:07:56,880
what uh you you mentioned a a survey um
about uh recent graduate Well, maybe not

2473
03:07:54,319 --> 03:07:59,840
that recent. Um what what was the
survey?

2474
03:07:58,479 --> 03:08:06,319
I'm trying to pull up your testimony.
our computers and it's hyperl um but

2475
03:08:03,120 --> 03:08:11,920
it's the uh education through employment
data system DC alumni early career

2476
03:08:09,120 --> 03:08:16,880
outcome survey that might be DC
>> yeah it's a it's a DME survey so I

2477
03:08:14,560 --> 03:08:21,680
realized when and and and I don't think
I had thought about this before I've

2478
03:08:19,520 --> 03:08:31,520
I've I've thought about it in other ways
but when you cited uh the stat about um

2479
03:08:26,720 --> 03:08:36,479
completing a AA a or a bachelor's.
>> Um, and I need to dig into the survey

2480
03:08:34,960 --> 03:08:40,800
that doesn't necess that might not
necessarily include folks who went a

2481
03:08:38,479 --> 03:08:48,000
different path like who were um who
decided to take on a trade um or who

2482
03:08:45,840 --> 03:08:52,840
I don't know started their own business.
Correct.

2483
03:08:49,840 --> 03:08:52,840
Um,

2484
03:08:52,880 --> 03:09:00,160
so are you talking about the 18% of
ninth graders that completed?

2485
03:08:59,439 --> 03:09:01,359
» Yes.
>> Associate.

2486
03:09:00,880 --> 03:09:07,600
» Uhhuh.
>> That comes from AIE's data that they put

2487
03:09:03,920 --> 03:09:14,560
together. And um it has lots of data for
those who had graduated high school and

2488
03:09:11,040 --> 03:09:17,520
gone on to college and for those that
another there's other statistics there

2489
03:09:16,399 --> 03:09:22,399
for students that didn't graduate.
>> Yeah. I I think so and I I'll tell you

2490
03:09:19,920 --> 03:09:29,439
why I'm asking not to I'm not trying to
um discredit the data but I am um

2491
03:09:26,800 --> 03:09:38,000
particularly thinking about a shift um
in how we have thought about education

2492
03:09:32,080 --> 03:09:44,160
because um in the years where like 2008
20ou the the 2000s and then some of the

2493
03:09:40,640 --> 03:09:50,640
2010s all we were tracking was college.
>> Correct. Um, and college is a specific

2494
03:09:47,840 --> 03:09:54,319
destination uh on a path to success, but
it's not the only destination. Now, I'm

2495
03:09:52,240 --> 03:09:57,040
not the person who's going to say, "Oh,
you know, college isn't for everybody."

2496
03:09:55,600 --> 03:10:01,359
Cuz honestly, I think anybody could do
college um with the right supports. I'm

2497
03:09:59,600 --> 03:10:06,720
not saying everybody has to do college
to be successful, though. That's a

2498
03:10:02,960 --> 03:10:10,720
different thing. Um, and let me tie this
up in a bow. Um, some of what I believe

2499
03:10:09,359 --> 03:10:15,359
that we have gotten right with the
graduation requirements is thinking

2500
03:10:12,399 --> 03:10:19,760
about how folks can be on multiple paths
and so like how do we have endorsements

2501
03:10:16,800 --> 03:10:25,920
for CTE? But one of the key things I
hear from my constituents um is actually

2502
03:10:22,960 --> 03:10:30,319
more access to career and technical
education. Um, and so I'm looking

2503
03:10:28,479 --> 03:10:35,200
forward to digging in a bit more with
that lens and not just the college

2504
03:10:33,359 --> 03:10:39,439
completion lens because it is the
overall success. Yes. So that caught my

2505
03:10:37,359 --> 03:10:45,160
ear. Thank you.
>> Thank you both.

2506
03:10:41,520 --> 03:10:45,160
Representative Williams.

2507
03:10:45,840 --> 03:10:51,680
» Thank you for your testimony. I have no
questions at this time.

2508
03:10:49,680 --> 03:10:57,520
» Representative Best.
>> Uh thank you for your partnership uh in

2509
03:10:54,960 --> 03:11:01,840
ensuring that all schools and all
students are supported regardless of the

2510
03:10:59,359 --> 03:11:08,840
sector. Uh I don't have any questions at
the time, but I just appreciate the work

2511
03:11:03,439 --> 03:11:08,840
that you do. Representative Chang.

2512
03:11:09,200 --> 03:11:13,279
» Also, no questions at this time, but I
may take a picture of you because I

2513
03:11:12,000 --> 03:11:16,880
think this is a a moment to [laughter]
remember.

2514
03:11:15,359 --> 03:11:23,840
» I'll make sure I'm frowning when you do
it.

2515
03:11:19,760 --> 03:11:27,920
» Um, Representative Coulson,
>> thank you for your testimony. I think

2516
03:11:25,760 --> 03:11:33,520
often when we hear testimony here in the
chambers, it's always, I won't say

2517
03:11:30,080 --> 03:11:38,319
always, often comparing one LEA to the
other. and I appreciate your testimony

2518
03:11:35,760 --> 03:11:42,640
for highlighting or spotlighting the
outcomes what we hope our children will

2519
03:11:40,720 --> 03:11:46,319
be able to achieve. So I just want to
say thank you for continuing to elevate

2520
03:11:44,399 --> 03:11:53,120
that. I do not believe that we should be
in competition in DC one LA against the

2521
03:11:50,399 --> 03:11:57,920
other but looking at who's doing it best
in the nation and what we can learn from

2522
03:11:55,600 --> 03:12:02,319
them and how we can implement that here.
Uh, so I guess my question is now that

2523
03:11:59,760 --> 03:12:07,439
we've come to the the voting part in
terms of implementation, is there any

2524
03:12:05,120 --> 03:12:13,720
one specific thing that you would really
love for us to see to ensure that it

2525
03:12:09,760 --> 03:12:13,720
doesn't fall by the wayside?

2526
03:12:13,840 --> 03:12:17,479
Wow. Um,

2527
03:12:20,880 --> 03:12:27,520
I'm gonna cheat and say everything. Make
sure everything doesn't fall by the

2528
03:12:24,319 --> 03:12:31,600
wayside. Um I really am interested in
participating in the conversations

2529
03:12:28,960 --> 03:12:36,319
around um the integrated math pathways.
So I know that there's more work to be

2530
03:12:33,120 --> 03:12:39,800
done there. So um I'm really interested
in those conversations.

2531
03:12:39,920 --> 03:12:47,600
» I also say well you give me a moment. I
also say that it's really important that

2532
03:12:43,920 --> 03:12:51,600
when we talk about um dual enrollment
um that it's not just that students are

2533
03:12:49,920 --> 03:12:54,880
taking those courses, but we have to
also make sure that there's

2534
03:12:52,880 --> 03:13:01,479
opportunities for students to really
truly um earn college college credit as

2535
03:12:58,479 --> 03:13:01,479
well.

2536
03:13:02,000 --> 03:13:11,359
Okay. Representative Henderson.
>> Thank you. I don't have any questions.

2537
03:13:08,080 --> 03:13:15,439
» Vice President Goule.
>> Mr. Jos, I want to thank you for coming

2538
03:13:13,200 --> 03:13:19,520
to testify tonight and, you know, for
your leadership on this and so many

2539
03:13:17,600 --> 03:13:23,359
issues here in the city. I think one
thing you said really resonated with me

2540
03:13:21,760 --> 03:13:27,600
in your testimony and that was talking
about the flexibility to ensure students

2541
03:13:25,279 --> 03:13:30,399
reach their full potential and I'm
really excited about the high school

2542
03:13:28,960 --> 03:13:33,359
graduation requirements things we have
in there. Like I'm excited to see

2543
03:13:31,760 --> 03:13:36,880
financial literacy, but I'm also
realistic about what we approved and

2544
03:13:35,120 --> 03:13:41,600
what we, you know, have have in there
right now. that's we have one half

2545
03:13:38,720 --> 03:13:46,560
credit less of flexibility uh than we
did before and we we've added financial

2546
03:13:43,439 --> 03:13:51,600
literacy removed an elective credit half
credit of electives and so we've reduced

2547
03:13:49,680 --> 03:13:55,520
flexibility which I I know wasn't quite
our goal when we set out but that's

2548
03:13:53,040 --> 03:14:00,560
where we ended up u for me on this
that's why I think the foreign language

2549
03:13:56,960 --> 03:14:03,680
issue is so important because uh when we
we want to be able to provide

2550
03:14:02,080 --> 03:14:06,800
flexibility to our students that would
include students who have mastered a

2551
03:14:05,760 --> 03:14:12,479
language at home and who are fluent
fluent in it that they could then go

2552
03:14:09,600 --> 03:14:16,880
take a competency based exam, get those
credits, get that seal of biiteracy and

2553
03:14:15,120 --> 03:14:21,040
then have flexibility to do other
things, other interests they may have uh

2554
03:14:19,120 --> 03:14:25,359
instead of going back and taking maybe
Spanish one or uh taking a language that

2555
03:14:23,680 --> 03:14:29,840
they've already mastered. So, so for me
that's a way to improve flexibility when

2556
03:14:27,680 --> 03:14:34,239
we haven't addressed it already. Also
for our English language learner

2557
03:14:31,200 --> 03:14:39,520
students, we have so many students uh
who may have a language uh that they've

2558
03:14:37,439 --> 03:14:43,279
learned that they know much better than
English. So they may be fluent in

2559
03:14:40,880 --> 03:14:48,800
Spanish. They have come to DC. Uh they
could simply take an exam to demonstrate

2560
03:14:46,080 --> 03:14:53,760
that fluency, but they may need help in
other coursework. Uh that would benefit

2561
03:14:51,040 --> 03:14:57,760
them a great deal more than just taking
uh Spanish uh or another foreign

2562
03:14:55,920 --> 03:15:02,880
language. They may they may need may
need help on their English. And so as we

2563
03:15:00,160 --> 03:15:07,120
look at flexibility, that's another way
uh that we have an opportunity right now

2564
03:15:04,960 --> 03:15:11,200
uh or within the next month to be able
to add the flexibility that I think

2565
03:15:09,359 --> 03:15:15,439
you've talked about. So I just want to
kind of get your take on this and if

2566
03:15:13,279 --> 03:15:18,439
that's a way you see of improving
flexibility.

2567
03:15:18,800 --> 03:15:26,160
I think you're asking some important
questions um with regards to the world

2568
03:15:24,080 --> 03:15:30,239
language competency credit and I'm
interested to hear what your colleagues

2569
03:15:28,080 --> 03:15:33,120
have to say, you know, in addition to
the points you've raised.

2570
03:15:31,600 --> 03:15:37,279
» Yeah. Well, thank you for everything you
do for the city. I appreciate it very

2571
03:15:34,720 --> 03:15:42,160
much,
>> President Patterson.

2572
03:15:39,279 --> 03:15:47,520
» Thank you. Um,
thank you, Miss Giles, for bringing up

2573
03:15:45,200 --> 03:15:52,800
something in the course of your uh,
testimony. And I was going to save this

2574
03:15:49,840 --> 03:15:57,520
comment until we got into the discussion
about the graduation requirements, but

2575
03:15:54,560 --> 03:16:02,720
because you said a certain number um,
during your testimony, 16%. I'm going to

2576
03:16:00,479 --> 03:16:10,000
bring it up now because recently you and
I um, we saw a video and there was a

2577
03:16:06,560 --> 03:16:14,720
teacher. He was a a senior's teacher and
he was literally crying

2578
03:16:12,560 --> 03:16:19,200
because
he knew that his class he had given a

2579
03:16:17,200 --> 03:16:24,560
test and he was crying because none of
the students in his class could read. He

2580
03:16:21,680 --> 03:16:31,200
said even when he gave them prompts that
only needed them to fill in four words

2581
03:16:28,399 --> 03:16:37,359
to finish the sentence, they couldn't do
it. And you and I made a comment about

2582
03:16:34,560 --> 03:16:44,560
it because it touched us to see this man
crying about his seniors that could not

2583
03:16:41,200 --> 03:16:49,279
read or finish a sentence or put four
words in that. And I was going to save

2584
03:16:47,359 --> 03:16:53,439
this till the end, but I just because
you and I talked about it. We have a

2585
03:16:51,920 --> 03:17:01,200
graduation rate since we're talking
about graduation requirements of 79%.

2586
03:16:57,040 --> 03:17:05,279
We have a career and readiness rate of
16%.

2587
03:17:02,960 --> 03:17:08,279
And from my last math, that's 63%
difference.

2588
03:17:08,399 --> 03:17:14,560
That's horrible. We're about to have a
big discussion about graduation

2589
03:17:13,040 --> 03:17:18,960
requirements,
which I think we're doing the right

2590
03:17:16,479 --> 03:17:25,680
thing. I do. all the debates that we've
had and all of this conversation,

2591
03:17:22,160 --> 03:17:29,760
but if we're still graduating students
that are not college and career

2592
03:17:27,279 --> 03:17:34,960
readiness and we're still saying numbers
like 16%.

2593
03:17:32,720 --> 03:17:38,880
That's a problem.
That's a major problem. I have a

2594
03:17:37,359 --> 03:17:44,319
colleague who wrote an article about it
and I want to thank um Representative

2595
03:17:41,200 --> 03:17:49,760
Chang for writing his article about that
because then we're we're not aligned.

2596
03:17:48,160 --> 03:17:56,319
It's nice that we're going to do these
graduation requirements, but they will

2597
03:17:52,000 --> 03:18:02,960
mean nothing at all if we continue to
have students who are at 16% proficiency

2598
03:18:00,239 --> 03:18:06,399
as far as college and career readiness.
So, I want to thank you for the

2599
03:18:04,160 --> 03:18:09,760
conversation that we had. I look forward
to the conversation that we're going to

2600
03:18:07,840 --> 03:18:16,080
have about the graduation requirements,
but I just wanted to pull that out

2601
03:18:12,000 --> 03:18:20,239
because again, at the end of the day,
the end of the day, we're supposed to be

2602
03:18:17,680 --> 03:18:26,160
graduating students, our main goal, our
north star who are career and college

2603
03:18:24,399 --> 03:18:31,120
ready.
That is our goal. That is our north

2604
03:18:28,080 --> 03:18:35,520
star. Everything else kind of builds on
to that to get us to that point. So, I

2605
03:18:33,760 --> 03:18:39,040
appreciate you just alluding to that to
allow me to say that um as we get ready

2606
03:18:37,760 --> 03:18:43,319
for that discussion. Thank you very
much.

2607
03:18:39,520 --> 03:18:43,319
» Thank you. Thank you all.

2608
03:18:43,520 --> 03:18:48,319
» Thank you for your testimony this
evening

2609
03:18:47,600 --> 03:18:51,279
» and thank you again.
>> Can't wait till the last minute this

2610
03:18:49,600 --> 03:18:56,080
afternoon. [laughter]
>> And so, normally when we have an expert

2611
03:18:53,359 --> 03:19:00,160
panel, we would have a break in between
that and the public testimony. My

2612
03:18:58,479 --> 03:19:04,720
colleagues up here, including myself,
has been needing a break, a bio break,

2613
03:19:02,319 --> 03:19:08,319
so to speak. And so, we're gonna take a
five minute

2614
03:19:06,399 --> 03:19:11,120
» five minute
just to allow people to have that

2615
03:19:09,760 --> 03:19:14,640
because I know this discussion we're
about to have is about to be rich and I

2616
03:19:13,200 --> 03:19:18,640
don't want people jumping up and missing
parts of that because they have to go to

2617
03:19:16,160 --> 03:19:21,920
the restroom. Five minute break. It is
currently

2618
03:19:20,160 --> 03:19:31,960
8:58.
I will see you guys at 9. Well, it's not

2619
03:19:25,520 --> 03:19:31,960
8:59. I will see you guys at 9:04 prom.

2620
03:19:43,040 --> 03:19:49,479
I love you. [laughter]
resist.

2621
03:27:54,880 --> 03:28:00,720
All right. I know there are some great
conversations that's going on. Um, and I

2622
03:27:59,200 --> 03:28:05,120
know they could go on for some time, but
I'm going to gavvel us in because I know

2623
03:28:03,760 --> 03:28:16,319
that everybody wants to get out here
before 12:00 the next day. So, members,

2624
03:28:09,439 --> 03:28:22,920
members, make your way back to the DAS.
Members,

2625
03:28:17,920 --> 03:28:22,920
make your way back to the dis.

2626
03:28:30,880 --> 03:28:36,479
Representative Williams and Thompson, if
you could make your way back.

2627
03:28:34,960 --> 03:28:40,200
Representative Henderson, if you could
conclude your conversation.

2628
03:28:51,200 --> 03:28:54,279
All right.

2629
03:29:02,160 --> 03:29:10,000
» Okay. I know there are conversations
that are still kind of being had and I'm

2630
03:29:07,600 --> 03:29:17,160
going to try to be gracious and letting
our members have those conversations.

2631
03:29:12,479 --> 03:29:17,160
But I am going to proceed at this point.

2632
03:29:19,279 --> 03:29:27,239
We will now move to consider our state
resolutions for administrative votes.

2633
03:29:30,800 --> 03:29:38,720
We will now move to vote on state
resolution SR26-11

2634
03:29:36,319 --> 03:29:43,040
supporting student access to
identification real IDs in the District

2635
03:29:40,880 --> 03:29:45,680
of Columbia.
Is there a motion?

2636
03:29:44,960 --> 03:29:50,080
» So moved.
>> It has been moved by Representative

2637
03:29:47,680 --> 03:29:52,720
Johnson Law. Is there a second?
>> Second.

2638
03:29:50,720 --> 03:29:55,720
» It has been seconded by Vice President
Goule.

2639
03:29:59,920 --> 03:30:06,640
The motion has been properly moved and
seconded. Executive Butler, will you

2640
03:30:04,080 --> 03:30:09,680
read the resolution into the record
unless there are members who think

2641
03:30:09,120 --> 03:30:15,680
otherwise
>> can I move to uh read uh wave the

2642
03:30:12,560 --> 03:30:18,080
reading of the of the um resolution?
>> Second.

2643
03:30:16,319 --> 03:30:23,279
» There has been a motion and it have been
second. It is moved by Representative uh

2644
03:30:20,720 --> 03:30:31,600
Williams and seconded by Representative
uh Johnson Law. All in favor?

2645
03:30:26,560 --> 03:30:37,040
» I I nays. All right, we will go forego
the reading.

2646
03:30:33,680 --> 03:30:40,880
» Is there discussion on the resolution?
I'm going to go first to Representative

2647
03:30:39,600 --> 03:30:44,000
Johnson Law.
>> Um just going to make this really quick.

2648
03:30:42,479 --> 03:30:48,239
Just want to say thank you to the board.
Um again for all your support with this.

2649
03:30:46,399 --> 03:30:51,920
Um we know many of our young people,
especially our homeless students and our

2650
03:30:50,319 --> 03:30:56,080
students for this opportunity. We want
to make sure that they have every

2651
03:30:53,359 --> 03:30:58,960
resource at the at their disposal um at
their disposal. And so some of our

2652
03:30:57,760 --> 03:31:01,680
babies are, you know, going to
internships, they're traveling. There's

2653
03:31:00,239 --> 03:31:05,760
a lot going on in the city and we just
want to make sure that they have as much

2654
03:31:03,840 --> 03:31:10,080
access as possible. So looking forward
to um folks supporting this and also

2655
03:31:07,840 --> 03:31:14,319
advocating to council about this because
I it has to get more attention. We got

2656
03:31:11,920 --> 03:31:16,720
to get our babies their IDs so that way
they can have them for their

2657
03:31:15,279 --> 03:31:20,319
internships. They can have them when
they're going to college. I think it is

2658
03:31:18,399 --> 03:31:24,640
unacceptable for students to come to me
in the 12th grade and say, "Hey, I need

2659
03:31:22,479 --> 03:31:28,319
to get on a plane. I'm 18 and I need my
ID. Hey, I need it for college and I

2660
03:31:26,720 --> 03:31:32,560
don't have it." And it's just happening
just way too often. It's happening way

2661
03:31:30,479 --> 03:31:36,080
too often with our homeless families.
And I understand that people can just go

2662
03:31:34,080 --> 03:31:38,479
on dmv.dc.gov
and you can just be able to look at some

2663
03:31:37,359 --> 03:31:42,080
of these things. But families are
already doing that and there's still a

2664
03:31:39,680 --> 03:31:44,880
disconnect though about connecting folks
to how am I supposed to do certain

2665
03:31:43,760 --> 03:31:47,760
things, especially if they are
experiencing homelessness. I'm going to

2666
03:31:46,560 --> 03:31:50,080
wrap it up here because I know there's a
bigger discussion coming down the

2667
03:31:48,800 --> 03:31:53,600
pipeline, but just want to say thank you
to the board.

2668
03:31:51,680 --> 03:31:56,080
» All right. Thank you, Representative. Or
is there other discussion?

2669
03:31:54,640 --> 03:31:59,279
Representative Coulson.
>> Yes, I want to say thank you to the

2670
03:31:57,359 --> 03:32:03,680
board and thank you also to repres
Representative Johnson Law. Uh you named

2671
03:32:01,760 --> 03:32:07,600
several reasons why this is important. I
just want to also elevate elevate that.

2672
03:32:05,920 --> 03:32:13,279
We know that the National Guard will be
with us until 2029 and many of our

2673
03:32:10,560 --> 03:32:16,960
students do not have ID. So, it's also a
security concern as well. So, I'm happy

2674
03:32:15,120 --> 03:32:20,800
that we're doing this. Thank you for the
work and for everyone else who has

2675
03:32:18,399 --> 03:32:24,279
supported this.
>> Further discussion?

2676
03:32:24,319 --> 03:32:29,600
» Well, I'll chime in at this point. I
just want to thank you, Representative

2677
03:32:27,439 --> 03:32:34,160
Johnson Law, for staying uh consistent
and not letting this die. I know we've

2678
03:32:32,160 --> 03:32:38,239
been talking about this for some time.
Um, and how important it is for our

2679
03:32:36,720 --> 03:32:42,720
students, especially those who will be
profiled. um because we as was just

2680
03:32:40,960 --> 03:32:47,680
stated by Representative Coulson will
have the National Guard in our city till

2681
03:32:45,359 --> 03:32:52,960
2029 until the end of this current
president's uh end of his tenure. And so

2682
03:32:50,880 --> 03:32:57,040
I think it's even more important as we
see these things happening in our city

2683
03:32:55,120 --> 03:33:01,760
um that our children are be will be able
to be identified um with something that

2684
03:32:59,920 --> 03:33:05,840
they can also identify our children
with. Um so I just want to thank you for

2685
03:33:03,760 --> 03:33:10,160
your persistence in moving this forward.
Thank you so much.

2686
03:33:08,080 --> 03:33:16,000
I'm going look around once, twice again
just to make sure there's no further

2687
03:33:11,520 --> 03:33:19,520
discussion. All right. Um,
seeing there is no um no more

2688
03:33:18,000 --> 03:33:23,840
discussion, the motion is to adopt
SR26-11.

2689
03:33:21,760 --> 03:33:27,840
D Executive Director Butler, will you
call the role?

2690
03:33:26,479 --> 03:33:30,239
» Representative Best,
>> I.

2691
03:33:29,040 --> 03:33:32,399
» Representative Chang,
>> I.

2692
03:33:31,040 --> 03:33:34,319
» Representative Coulson,
>> I.

2693
03:33:32,960 --> 03:33:38,000
» Representative Henderson,
>> I. Representative Johnson Law.

2694
03:33:37,040 --> 03:33:40,479
» I,
>> Representative Thompson.

2695
03:33:39,680 --> 03:33:42,640
» I,
>> Representative Williams.

2696
03:33:41,840 --> 03:33:45,120
» I,
>> Vice President Goule.

2697
03:33:44,080 --> 03:33:47,520
» I,
>> President Patterson.

2698
03:33:46,399 --> 03:33:52,960
» I,
>> State Board of Education Resolution

2699
03:33:50,239 --> 03:33:58,160
26-11 supporting students access to
identification real IDs in the District

2700
03:33:55,279 --> 03:34:02,560
of Columbia passes unanimously.
>> Thank you, director.

2701
03:34:00,399 --> 03:34:07,120
Next, we will move to vote on state
resolution SR26-12

2702
03:34:05,680 --> 03:34:10,399
approving the District of Columbia's
physical education standards. Is there a

2703
03:34:09,279 --> 03:34:13,760
motion?
>> So, moved.

2704
03:34:11,359 --> 03:34:18,880
» Okay, I'm hearing two. Um, I'm going to
go with it was moved first. Well, he's

2705
03:34:15,680 --> 03:34:23,359
being a gentleman. Uh, it was moved by
Representative Johnson Law and seconded

2706
03:34:20,319 --> 03:34:27,520
by Representative uh Williams. All
right.

2707
03:34:25,520 --> 03:34:30,800
Okay. Since it has been properly moved
and seconded, Executive Bullet, will you

2708
03:34:29,200 --> 03:34:34,160
read the resolution into the record?
>> Mr. President, may I move at this time a

2709
03:34:32,960 --> 03:34:36,560
motion to wave the reading of the
resolution?

2710
03:34:34,720 --> 03:34:40,800
» You have move Representative Goule have
moved a motion. Second,

2711
03:34:38,479 --> 03:34:46,080
» it has been seconded by Goule. All in
favor?

2712
03:34:42,000 --> 03:34:50,960
» I any naysay
>> Coulson. My fault. It was seconded by

2713
03:34:48,080 --> 03:34:55,200
Representative Coulson. Um,
all in favor?

2714
03:34:52,640 --> 03:35:01,479
» I. Any nazs?
Okay, we will forgo the reading. Is

2715
03:34:57,520 --> 03:35:01,479
there discussion on the resolution?

2716
03:35:03,279 --> 03:35:09,040
Wow. Okay. Well, yes, there is. Okay.
Representative Johnson Law,

2717
03:35:08,000 --> 03:35:13,279
» because I know we're getting to like the
big kahuna in a second. And again, just

2718
03:35:11,200 --> 03:35:16,160
want to thank AIE for their work with us
on this. It's a lot of work that we're

2719
03:35:14,880 --> 03:35:19,600
doing together. And just want to say
thank you for your partnership on the PE

2720
03:35:18,239 --> 03:35:23,279
standards. And I know we also talked
about kids with disabilities and that

2721
03:35:20,960 --> 03:35:27,359
was raised up and also included. And so
to the entire team, to Glenn, to Andrew,

2722
03:35:25,439 --> 03:35:31,200
to Dr. Mitchell, again, just want to say
thank you because this is what this is

2723
03:35:29,040 --> 03:35:35,279
really hard work even though even if we
don't all agree all the time, I think

2724
03:35:32,880 --> 03:35:38,239
it's important to center why we're all
here and that's for our kids. So, thank

2725
03:35:36,880 --> 03:35:45,720
you so much for your partnership with
the PE standards.

2726
03:35:41,200 --> 03:35:45,720
» All right. Is there further discussion?

2727
03:35:46,479 --> 03:35:52,239
» All right. Seeing no further discussion,
the motion is to adopt SR26-12.

2728
03:35:50,560 --> 03:35:55,680
Executive Director Butler, will you
please call the role?

2729
03:35:53,200 --> 03:35:58,640
» Representative Best,
>> I.

2730
03:35:56,640 --> 03:36:00,960
» Representative Chang,
>> I.

2731
03:35:59,359 --> 03:36:02,800
» Representative Coulson,
>> I.

2732
03:36:01,600 --> 03:36:04,960
» Representative Henderson,
>> I.

2733
03:36:03,279 --> 03:36:07,920
» Representative Johnson Law,
>> I.

2734
03:36:05,840 --> 03:36:10,000
» Representative Thompson,
>> I.

2735
03:36:08,720 --> 03:36:11,920
» Representative Williams,
>> I.

2736
03:36:10,640 --> 03:36:15,359
» Vice President Gulan.
>> I,

2737
03:36:13,040 --> 03:36:19,920
» President Patterson. I
>> State Board of Education resolution

2738
03:36:17,520 --> 03:36:24,720
26-13,
excuse me, 26-12,

2739
03:36:23,200 --> 03:36:28,160
approving the District of Columbia
physical education standard passes

2740
03:36:26,319 --> 03:36:35,720
unanimously.
>> Thank you. We will now move to vote on

2741
03:36:31,680 --> 03:36:35,720
state resolution SR26-13

2742
03:36:35,920 --> 03:36:42,080
approving a approving amendments to the
District of Columbia's high school

2743
03:36:39,920 --> 03:36:46,160
graduation requirements. Is there a
motion?

2744
03:36:44,880 --> 03:36:49,680
So moved.
>> It has been moved by Representative

2745
03:36:48,160 --> 03:36:51,725
Coulson. Is there a second?
>> Second.

2746
03:36:50,080 --> 03:36:54,960
» Second.
[laughter]

2747
03:36:52,720 --> 03:36:59,520
» Seconded by Representative Williams.
I'll go again. Okay. Um All right. The

2748
03:36:58,319 --> 03:37:05,359
motion has been properly moved and
seconded. Um Executive, would you read?

2749
03:37:03,840 --> 03:37:08,560
» Yes, Representative Goule.
>> At this time, I move a motion to wave

2750
03:37:07,040 --> 03:37:13,680
the reading of the resolution.
>> There has been a motion to wave the the

2751
03:37:11,120 --> 03:37:15,040
reading of the resolution. Is there a
second?

2752
03:37:14,399 --> 03:37:20,000
» Second.
>> Has been seconded by Representative

2753
03:37:16,720 --> 03:37:24,720
Jeff. Um, Johnson [snorts] Law. All in
favor?

2754
03:37:21,279 --> 03:37:29,840
» I. Any nays?
All right.

2755
03:37:26,479 --> 03:37:34,640
Is there discussion on the resolution?
Let's have fun.

2756
03:37:32,800 --> 03:37:40,000
» All right.
Representative Goule. Okay. So, I'm

2757
03:37:38,000 --> 03:37:43,680
going to come back on second round and
and move a motion to postpone, but I

2758
03:37:42,239 --> 03:37:48,000
want to put some some points on the
record at this time. So, I want to first

2759
03:37:46,239 --> 03:37:52,160
of all congratulate Aussie for all their
work on this and specifically thank uh

2760
03:37:50,399 --> 03:37:56,000
my colleagues uh Representative
Thompson, Representative Henderson for

2761
03:37:53,680 --> 03:38:01,040
co-chairing the task force. I think uh
that was really got us to a great place

2762
03:37:58,319 --> 03:38:05,279
on this. Uh I support the task force's
recommendations. Uh I think they were

2763
03:38:02,880 --> 03:38:08,800
they were fantastic. So, and I want to
thank all the people who volunteered

2764
03:38:06,640 --> 03:38:12,960
their time to participate on the task
force. U I have concerns though and I

2765
03:38:11,920 --> 03:38:16,800
want to put those on the record too
right now. And and my concerns I think

2766
03:38:14,640 --> 03:38:20,800
could be alleviated with another month's
work on this. We we've put so much

2767
03:38:18,880 --> 03:38:25,600
effort in and I just don't want to see
us rush this. Uh the board doesn't have

2768
03:38:22,880 --> 03:38:29,439
a lot of formal duties. Uh we have
certain things we have to do and I think

2769
03:38:27,040 --> 03:38:34,319
this is the most important thing uh that
we have to do this year. uh maybe

2770
03:38:31,600 --> 03:38:38,319
perhaps in the last four years even I
think right now my concern is that if

2771
03:38:36,080 --> 03:38:43,040
you have a student who has achieved
competency and they've demonstrated that

2772
03:38:40,560 --> 03:38:47,040
competency on an ASI approved exam by
meeting an ASI approved score that they

2773
03:38:45,439 --> 03:38:50,880
should get those two foreign language
credits they should get their seal of bi

2774
03:38:48,640 --> 03:38:54,960
literacy and that they really have a
right to that now that's what the task

2775
03:38:53,279 --> 03:38:59,200
force recommended and that's where I
think we should land I I think we were

2776
03:38:57,279 --> 03:39:04,720
willing to to try to address a concern
that was raised and not force this upon

2777
03:39:01,600 --> 03:39:07,920
ELEAS if it had operational concerns. Uh
but what really still concerns me is

2778
03:39:06,319 --> 03:39:12,399
having a waiver process because I think
this is going to create uh even if it's

2779
03:39:10,080 --> 03:39:18,560
a short waiver uh a lot of problems and
I simply don't support it. Uh we had

2780
03:39:15,600 --> 03:39:24,160
concerns when it was with ASI uh and I
think now the new proposal which we saw

2781
03:39:21,520 --> 03:39:28,160
yesterday actually raises new concerns
and even more concerns for me. I'm not

2782
03:39:26,479 --> 03:39:30,880
sure if anyone has even talked you know
up here. I haven't had a conversation

2783
03:39:29,520 --> 03:39:35,359
with the public charter school board
about this. I'm not sure how they would

2784
03:39:33,040 --> 03:39:41,279
approve these waiverss. I'm concerned
about DCPS doing it as well because I I

2785
03:39:39,359 --> 03:39:45,359
think there should be uniformity among
schools. Like DCPS should just simply

2786
03:39:43,760 --> 03:39:50,560
grant this credit once the state
superintendent determines that like a

2787
03:39:48,800 --> 03:39:54,640
certain standard needs to be met and it
is met by students for foreign language.

2788
03:39:52,800 --> 03:39:59,120
So I don't know why there would be
different schools doing different things

2789
03:39:56,160 --> 03:40:03,520
on this. that that makes little sense to
me. And I think ultimately this has to

2790
03:40:01,840 --> 03:40:07,120
be about the students. It has to be
about the students who achieve

2791
03:40:05,120 --> 03:40:13,040
proficiency, who demonstrate
proficiency, uh should be able to get

2792
03:40:09,840 --> 03:40:17,760
that. And I can't possibly imagine a
situation where you have students who at

2793
03:40:15,279 --> 03:40:22,560
home have demonstrated this proficiency
who then have to go to their their

2794
03:40:19,520 --> 03:40:26,560
charter school and ask for then a waiver
to be sent to the public charter school

2795
03:40:24,160 --> 03:40:30,080
board that then has to be approved so
the student can get the credit that

2796
03:40:28,319 --> 03:40:35,120
they've already achieved by meeting the
ASI standard already. like that's two

2797
03:40:32,239 --> 03:40:38,880
extra steps that could potentially keep
that student from getting the credit

2798
03:40:36,640 --> 03:40:42,880
because it just gets bogged down in
unnecessary

2799
03:40:40,640 --> 03:40:48,080
uh administrative burdens. I mean, we
can still report data uh of the number

2800
03:40:45,680 --> 03:40:53,760
of students that have uh achieved this
and received the credit. So, I I just am

2801
03:40:51,600 --> 03:40:57,520
very confused at this point. Uh we've
talked a lot about flexibility

2802
03:40:55,200 --> 03:41:00,479
throughout this process and and I think
something that's really important in

2803
03:40:58,720 --> 03:41:05,200
generating flexibility is making sure
we're not making students take

2804
03:41:02,479 --> 03:41:09,760
unnecessary courses uh that they don't
need. So if you have a a student whose

2805
03:41:07,680 --> 03:41:14,479
first language is Spanish, who is fluent
in Spanish, they can go get their seal

2806
03:41:12,399 --> 03:41:18,640
by literacy and then maybe have courses
to help their English uh so that they

2807
03:41:16,319 --> 03:41:23,600
can make sure they're able to stay on
course there. Uh if you have a student

2808
03:41:20,800 --> 03:41:26,960
who uh you know has traveled overseas or
is fluent at home in another language,

2809
03:41:25,359 --> 03:41:30,479
they can get their seal of bi literacy,
they can get their two credits and they

2810
03:41:28,960 --> 03:41:34,800
can explore other elective credits
because we've reduced in this proposal

2811
03:41:32,880 --> 03:41:38,960
the number of elective credits from
three and a half to three despite

2812
03:41:36,800 --> 03:41:42,720
talking about as a board priority trying
to create more flexibility. So I think

2813
03:41:41,279 --> 03:41:46,800
we've done a lot of good things in here.
I definitely support financial literacy.

2814
03:41:44,960 --> 03:41:52,319
I really support reducing the number of
community service hours from 100 to 60.

2815
03:41:49,359 --> 03:41:56,720
But I think this one last issue, it's
just strange to me that we wouldn't take

2816
03:41:54,319 --> 03:42:00,479
a month to continue the good work we've
had with ASI and the positive

2817
03:41:58,080 --> 03:42:04,800
collaboration to try to just get to a
place where we understand this because I

2818
03:42:02,160 --> 03:42:10,560
do not support the implementation plan
that's in the letter and we are voting

2819
03:42:08,000 --> 03:42:14,800
by reference to that letter in the same
way that when council votes on the

2820
03:42:12,080 --> 03:42:18,800
budget, uh, it's voting the budget books
by reference. So, we're essentially

2821
03:42:16,239 --> 03:42:22,479
adopting a plan that that I don't agree
with on this. I don't agree with the

2822
03:42:20,160 --> 03:42:27,920
waiver process and I would rather set a
waiver process that we support and and

2823
03:42:25,600 --> 03:42:31,439
approve that today than have a waiver
process that we don't support and then

2824
03:42:30,080 --> 03:42:36,720
we have to try to clean it up through
implementation. So, I'm going to move it

2825
03:42:34,560 --> 03:42:39,680
later round to postpone this one month
and then keep up the great work that

2826
03:42:38,160 --> 03:42:44,640
everybody's been doing on it. Thank you
very much.

2827
03:42:42,399 --> 03:42:47,640
» Thank you, Vice President. Is there more
discussion?

2828
03:42:48,479 --> 03:42:58,000
Representative Thompson.
>> Um

2829
03:42:52,720 --> 03:43:05,200
I I have the following thoughts. Um I um
here's where I agree uh with um

2830
03:43:00,319 --> 03:43:09,120
Representative Goule. I agree uh that uh
this is some of the most important work

2831
03:43:06,800 --> 03:43:13,760
before the board. I've said that um from
the beginning before we ever even um

2832
03:43:10,960 --> 03:43:19,199
embarked on this work. This is our high
school our high school graduation

2833
03:43:15,920 --> 03:43:24,319
requirements are essentially the road
map to what we are saying will if they

2834
03:43:21,600 --> 03:43:31,120
if students take the following steps
they will be prepared um when they leave

2835
03:43:28,319 --> 03:43:34,960
our high schools doesn't matter which
high school um doesn't matter where the

2836
03:43:33,359 --> 03:43:39,840
high school is located as long as you
are in the District of Columbia uh you

2837
03:43:37,840 --> 03:43:47,520
will be prepared to do what you want in
life uh that is something that I

2838
03:43:43,920 --> 03:43:53,040
personally am very uh committed to as a
person, as a human. Um, and so I

2839
03:43:50,960 --> 03:44:00,479
absolutely agree with Representative
Goule that this is one of the most

2840
03:43:56,160 --> 03:44:09,760
important votes this board will take.
I will say um I also really appreciate

2841
03:44:06,880 --> 03:44:16,319
Representative Goule's point about um
implementation and and knowing what we

2842
03:44:13,279 --> 03:44:23,040
are voting for and saying we support. I
will say I am I don't have and and I

2843
03:44:19,760 --> 03:44:26,479
have been um I tend to be very very
thorough. I'm someone who has been very

2844
03:44:24,800 --> 03:44:32,720
engaged in this process. I've been in
the conversations around uh the

2845
03:44:28,640 --> 03:44:41,520
competency based um most recently and I
am a little confused about um the roles

2846
03:44:37,520 --> 03:44:47,920
and the why like why is the PTSB the
best party to do this? Um why is it not

2847
03:44:44,800 --> 03:44:51,760
AIE? Like why is is was the compromised
language the best language? Are there

2848
03:44:49,840 --> 03:44:56,880
other constraints that I don't know to
consider from AIE? Um, and I know I have

2849
03:44:54,080 --> 03:45:02,800
asked a few times um, and and I do
appreciate very much uh, Representative

2850
03:44:58,960 --> 03:45:06,720
Goule's uh, push to get us to uh, a
compromise on this. Um, because I

2851
03:45:04,880 --> 03:45:11,199
absolutely uh, would have like would
like this to be my birthday present this

2852
03:45:09,120 --> 03:45:17,359
month uh, to vote on this and put a bow
on it. Um, but I do still have some

2853
03:45:14,640 --> 03:45:22,960
things that if a constituent asked me, I
would not be able to explain and I don't

2854
03:45:20,800 --> 03:45:29,199
know and specifically around this
implementation piece. Um, I do not I and

2855
03:45:26,319 --> 03:45:35,120
and if someone could help me understand
that in this discussion, that would be

2856
03:45:31,600 --> 03:45:40,479
particularly helpful. Um, because this
language we saw today

2857
03:45:37,840 --> 03:45:45,760
um, and we have been very uh,
consistent. We've been very open. We've

2858
03:45:42,960 --> 03:45:50,399
been very transparent and uh we have
been in an ongoing conversation with AIE

2859
03:45:48,000 --> 03:45:54,560
and they have provided us a lot to weed
through and we've taken the time to weed

2860
03:45:52,000 --> 03:45:59,359
through that. They've done a ymen's job
of responding uh to all the things uh

2861
03:45:57,600 --> 03:46:03,600
that we have raised and the public's
raised and everyone's raised. Um but I

2862
03:46:01,680 --> 03:46:08,000
am someone who and this is one of the
reasons I thought the task force was

2863
03:46:05,520 --> 03:46:13,199
particularly important. I always want to
understand why I'm supporting something

2864
03:46:10,560 --> 03:46:18,479
or why I'm not supporting something. And
it would be really helpful during this

2865
03:46:15,120 --> 03:46:24,479
discussion um if someone can't explain
why this is the right answer. Um I think

2866
03:46:22,080 --> 03:46:29,800
that is helpful to know since it was put
on the t this version was put on the

2867
03:46:26,560 --> 03:46:29,800
table today.

2868
03:46:32,399 --> 03:46:38,000
» Thank you, Representative Thompson. I
don't know if there's someone who wants

2869
03:46:35,840 --> 03:46:42,720
to speak to that specifically in this
the course of the discussion.

2870
03:46:39,920 --> 03:46:48,000
» I mean, I would imagine uh somewhere
between uh Vice President Goule and

2871
03:46:45,520 --> 03:46:52,640
President Patterson since you all are
the ones who negotiate on behalf of the

2872
03:46:50,080 --> 03:46:58,560
board. Um
and uh you spoke to earlier uh that

2873
03:46:56,000 --> 03:47:04,479
there was um a conversation with Dr.
Mitchell um which you said you had full

2874
03:47:01,040 --> 03:47:08,880
confidence in. Um if I would I would
expect it would be

2875
03:47:05,680 --> 03:47:11,520
» so you're asking me because if I would I
would imagine so you're asking me can I

2876
03:47:10,560 --> 03:47:14,880
speak to it for you
>> unless there's someone else who was part

2877
03:47:12,960 --> 03:47:16,399
party to the conversation but
>> no I can do that.

2878
03:47:16,000 --> 03:47:21,680
» Okay.
>> All right. Thank you. Um

2879
03:47:19,199 --> 03:47:25,920
what I will say directly to your
response uh Representative Thompson is

2880
03:47:24,399 --> 03:47:32,239
that
first and foremost I appreciate all that

2881
03:47:28,319 --> 03:47:37,120
has gone into this process. Um, as I've
stated in earlier conversations,

2882
03:47:35,279 --> 03:47:41,040
um, we weren't going to even have a task
force until you personally started

2883
03:47:39,439 --> 03:47:46,160
talking about a task force so that we
could get the input that we could get

2884
03:47:42,800 --> 03:47:50,319
into get for this. So, I appreciate the
process that we have gone through. As

2885
03:47:48,560 --> 03:47:56,960
far as the conversations that were at
the 11th hour, um, if we want to use

2886
03:47:52,960 --> 03:48:01,199
that term, that was in response to, and
I, and I'll take you down the

2887
03:47:58,640 --> 03:48:07,760
chronological order, is that we had a
meeting with the deputy mayor. Um, I did

2888
03:48:06,080 --> 03:48:12,880
not attend that meeting because I could
not because of a personal situation. And

2889
03:48:10,479 --> 03:48:18,800
so, Representative Goule attended that
meeting. And at that time, that's when

2890
03:48:15,359 --> 03:48:22,080
this was brought up kind of like, can we
there's still some problems. We have

2891
03:48:20,640 --> 03:48:26,560
some constituents who are here in the
audience that are raising some issues

2892
03:48:24,239 --> 03:48:31,199
about this. We want to tackle this
again. And so what happened after that,

2893
03:48:29,279 --> 03:48:35,439
and this happened in very short order
within the span of about 5 days. And

2894
03:48:33,760 --> 03:48:40,560
that's why you probably didn't see this
play out all over the place like, you

2895
03:48:38,479 --> 03:48:43,920
know, like some things do. It was like,
well, we need a letter and we're working

2896
03:48:42,560 --> 03:48:48,800
with the staff and we're saying, okay,
we need a letter. So, that's how we got

2897
03:48:46,399 --> 03:48:53,040
to the letter that was sent out
yesterday. And I believe that letter was

2898
03:48:50,560 --> 03:48:58,399
sent out about 607 somewhere
thereabouts. And basically, I had called

2899
03:48:56,560 --> 03:49:01,120
and I'm a very transparent person. I
called the deputy mayor's office. I

2900
03:48:59,600 --> 03:49:05,520
said, "Where's this letter that we have
requested from AIE? Can we get this

2901
03:49:04,160 --> 03:49:10,560
letter as soon as possible so we can go
through it?" We get the letter back from

2902
03:49:07,840 --> 03:49:17,359
uh Dr. Mitchell, it has this new
language in it specifically around um

2903
03:49:14,319 --> 03:49:23,680
the foreign languages and everything.
People had some time to read it. Um

2904
03:49:21,439 --> 03:49:27,520
and today we see where we at. People's
like, I feel confused. I still don't

2905
03:49:25,120 --> 03:49:34,319
understand it. But it wasn't any type of
meeting where we said we tried to like

2906
03:49:31,359 --> 03:49:39,120
not be transparent with it is what I'll
say is what I'll say is that I think

2907
03:49:36,239 --> 03:49:43,279
that language was kind of rushed and
then we came the letter was and we're

2908
03:49:40,960 --> 03:49:46,960
discussing it now.
>> And I don't know if this is helpful to

2909
03:49:45,359 --> 03:49:50,640
clarify because
>> um I am not asking the how did we get

2910
03:49:49,920 --> 03:49:56,399
here question.
>> Okay. I am specifically asking why this

2911
03:49:54,479 --> 03:49:57,920
is the right solution and what the
language means.

2912
03:49:57,520 --> 03:50:02,880
» Okay.
>> Um because I want to be able to say yes,

2913
03:50:01,120 --> 03:50:08,640
I fully support the language that's
here. I am not I I know better than

2914
03:50:06,479 --> 03:50:14,880
probably anybody else sitting here.
>> Um how much work happens between working

2915
03:50:11,920 --> 03:50:18,000
sessions and um what it looks like to
negotiate with AIE, right?

2916
03:50:16,479 --> 03:50:23,680
» Um I've done that more than anybody
else. I so I am not at all implying that

2917
03:50:22,160 --> 03:50:27,040
that was wrong to do.
>> Okay.

2918
03:50:24,560 --> 03:50:30,399
» Or uh that that is in any way
inappropriate to do.

2919
03:50:29,040 --> 03:50:34,720
» I think that is always the
responsibility of the leadership to do

2920
03:50:32,399 --> 03:50:40,560
is to do their best to get to the finish
line on behalf of the board. Um and I

2921
03:50:37,359 --> 03:50:46,080
think that uh was done here
>> and I think it is also an important step

2922
03:50:43,279 --> 03:50:53,680
to take and turn around and say hey
board uh this is what this means. This

2923
03:50:49,760 --> 03:50:59,439
is why um it's not the language that we
put forth as a task force and this is

2924
03:50:57,120 --> 03:51:02,399
why this is the place that arrives and
this is what this means for the public

2925
03:51:00,880 --> 03:51:06,399
charter school board and this is what it
means for imple and I'm so I am more so

2926
03:51:04,560 --> 03:51:08,720
asking
trying to understand the language

2927
03:51:07,840 --> 03:51:14,640
itself.
>> Okay. Um, and I'm and I think I'm making

2928
03:51:10,720 --> 03:51:18,399
the assumption since you and you and
Vice President Goule have been carrying

2929
03:51:16,720 --> 03:51:22,399
that ball forward
>> that that was shared with you

2930
03:51:20,640 --> 03:51:26,720
» and so therefore you should be able to
share with us

2931
03:51:24,399 --> 03:51:32,319
» more about the solution and why this is
the appropriate solution and or if there

2932
03:51:29,279 --> 03:51:40,000
is a reason that August matters more
than September. Okay. Because what I

2933
03:51:34,319 --> 03:51:41,279
hear your counterpart saying is a month
matters.

2934
03:51:40,880 --> 03:51:45,920
» Okay.
>> Um for getting everybody on the same

2935
03:51:44,000 --> 03:51:51,120
page and people voting in full
confidence. Um even if the language like

2936
03:51:48,960 --> 03:51:56,479
whether it changes, whether it doesn't,
I tend to be able to want to explain

2937
03:51:52,880 --> 03:52:02,080
that to people. I have not heard um
again the why this solution so we can

2938
03:51:59,520 --> 03:52:05,600
explain it to the public and and there
might be really good reasons for that

2939
03:52:03,359 --> 03:52:10,720
but I want to consider them and I have
not heard

2940
03:52:07,520 --> 03:52:15,439
why we should or should not vote tonight
versus in September with so therefore I

2941
03:52:13,359 --> 03:52:20,479
can consider any motion Vice President
Goule would put before us.

2942
03:52:17,199 --> 03:52:25,199
» Okay. So what I will say is as far as me
explaining

2943
03:52:22,000 --> 03:52:29,520
this to you, I received it, as I said at
the time stamp that I gave you, I

2944
03:52:27,359 --> 03:52:34,479
understand it as much as you do. Okay?
So I am not in a position myself any

2945
03:52:32,560 --> 03:52:38,640
more so than you are in your reading of
it or your interpretation of it to give

2946
03:52:36,239 --> 03:52:42,479
you any more clarity on that particular
aspect. That's I I can't give that to

2947
03:52:41,199 --> 03:52:46,319
you if that's what you're searching for.
So let me let me state that to you first

2948
03:52:44,399 --> 03:52:52,880
and foremost. Okay? I received the
language and I disseminated it to

2949
03:52:49,359 --> 03:52:57,120
everyone and was assuming like you were
that they would look at the language and

2950
03:52:55,120 --> 03:53:02,880
understand it and they would say okay I
can vote yes or no. I believe I put in

2951
03:52:59,359 --> 03:53:07,680
my email to all the members basically
please read this over. It may affect

2952
03:53:04,640 --> 03:53:12,640
your ability on how you vote but I was
not trying to interpret the language.

2953
03:53:10,239 --> 03:53:17,520
Okay. So I I have no more understanding
of the language or how it was proposed

2954
03:53:14,880 --> 03:53:24,000
or put together any more so than you do.
We asked Aussie for a particular thing

2955
03:53:21,520 --> 03:53:29,359
um as far as implementation. They gave
us that that language back to us. So

2956
03:53:27,680 --> 03:53:34,479
other than that, I can't give you any
more understanding of how to explain

2957
03:53:31,279 --> 03:53:40,000
something to a particular um constituent
that may come to you. I can't give you

2958
03:53:36,640 --> 03:53:45,199
that particular thing. I I'm listening
to see if we need another month. I'm

2959
03:53:42,720 --> 03:53:50,479
with everyone else, listening to my
colleague, my vice president, and

2960
03:53:47,600 --> 03:53:54,160
everyone else. Why should we or
shouldn't we? So, that's why I am. I'm

2961
03:53:51,920 --> 03:53:56,960
with I'm in the same place as you are.
Even though I'm in a leadership

2962
03:53:55,359 --> 03:54:00,199
position, I'm in the same exact place as
you are.

2963
03:54:02,720 --> 03:54:09,359
» Discussion. I see. I don't know which
hands went up first or I'll go with

2964
03:54:06,640 --> 03:54:13,600
Chang. Is a question okay for this part?
>> Sure.

2965
03:54:09,760 --> 03:54:18,720
» Okay. I I um I think I I would love some
help

2966
03:54:15,439 --> 03:54:22,279
from from either of you just to lay out
what what are we actually

2967
03:54:29,680 --> 03:54:35,800
there's currently no motion to delay
anything before the board.

2968
03:54:48,800 --> 03:54:54,800
Representative Chang, we can't hear you
online. Your mic is not on.

2969
03:54:52,560 --> 03:55:01,800
» What is the What is the consequence of
delaying for a month? What What is the

2970
03:54:57,199 --> 03:55:01,800
downside of delaying for a month?

2971
03:55:04,399 --> 03:55:08,560
I don't believe there is a downside to
that.

2972
03:55:06,560 --> 03:55:12,479
» Okay.
>> To be honest with you, I don't I don't

2973
03:55:10,479 --> 03:55:17,120
know of Representative Chang of any
deadline that has to be met. It pushes

2974
03:55:14,560 --> 03:55:20,160
back when you can institute it um or
anything just by delaying by a month.

2975
03:55:18,720 --> 03:55:25,520
So, that's my answer.
>> So, so I think what what I'm hearing is

2976
03:55:22,960 --> 03:55:32,720
a lot of these conversations are things
that we should be discuss discussing in

2977
03:55:28,160 --> 03:55:37,760
a working session as well. Um, and so
would propose that, and I I hear your

2978
03:55:35,680 --> 03:55:43,040
point, Kathy, that these conversations
need to be open and transparent, but it

2979
03:55:39,920 --> 03:55:49,439
it does feel like we have either three
hours here or um or work that we can do

2980
03:55:47,680 --> 03:55:57,359
more efficiently
>> outside of this setup. And and so uh you

2981
03:55:53,680 --> 03:56:01,920
know I think for for those reasons would
uh I hear what what Ebony Rose is saying

2982
03:55:59,520 --> 03:56:04,399
and and and what what what Eric is
saying.

2983
03:56:02,399 --> 03:56:08,800
» Okay.
>> Other discussion,

2984
03:56:06,560 --> 03:56:14,800
Representative Coulson.
>> Um I want to echo Oh, I'm so sorry.

2985
03:56:12,239 --> 03:56:18,239
» Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry,
Representative Coulson, because I turned

2986
03:56:16,000 --> 03:56:21,600
and I know that you had stated put your
hand up, Representative Johnson Law, so

2987
03:56:20,160 --> 03:56:25,880
I apologize.
>> Go right ahead.

2988
03:56:22,880 --> 03:56:25,880
» Okay,

2989
03:56:26,640 --> 03:56:33,279
this is a weird request,
but

2990
03:56:31,439 --> 03:56:36,239
in the Do you all have your computers?
Can we look at the memo? I'm trying to

2991
03:56:34,640 --> 03:56:42,640
figure out where the point of confusion
is. Is it based on the the letter that

2992
03:56:39,439 --> 03:56:47,600
was sent about like the specific waiver?
Like where is there

2993
03:56:45,840 --> 03:56:51,199
there seems to be confusion. Is it that
we don't understand like the updated

2994
03:56:49,040 --> 03:56:56,399
language? Do we need to go old school
and literally read like just read it

2995
03:56:54,239 --> 03:56:59,920
together? Aussiey's updated language
together as a board because if that's

2996
03:56:58,160 --> 03:57:04,960
the case, we can do that. I'm just
trying to gain understanding about

2997
03:57:02,640 --> 03:57:08,960
kind of building off of Ebony I'm sorry,
Representative Thompson's concern is

2998
03:57:07,279 --> 03:57:13,279
like, okay,
where's the disconnect here? I'm

2999
03:57:11,439 --> 03:57:19,120
confused about the disconnect and where
is it specifically in the resolution? Is

3000
03:57:15,279 --> 03:57:22,399
it about the entire is it specifically
just about the language that's in again

3001
03:57:21,279 --> 03:57:26,479
I'm just going to really quick like as
described in the proposed policy

3002
03:57:23,600 --> 03:57:30,560
regarding a new DC steel I mean state
seal by literacy like is it something in

3003
03:57:28,239 --> 03:57:34,720
here? Is it talking about the DC code
when it comes to um the language

3004
03:57:33,120 --> 03:57:39,600
requirements and the waiver of who it's
going to like where like can we you know

3005
03:57:38,160 --> 03:57:44,720
how they say in church baby go to your
Bible go to Can we just go there

3006
03:57:42,000 --> 03:57:48,000
together and figure out where we are
because I'm lost a little bit.

3007
03:57:46,399 --> 03:57:52,640
» I believe Representative Goule would
like to respond to your question.

3008
03:57:50,000 --> 03:57:56,479
» So So I I I think Representative Johnson
law I think that's a very helpful point.

3009
03:57:54,800 --> 03:57:59,600
I mean so I think we have three
documents at play here. I mean one we

3010
03:57:58,319 --> 03:58:00,960
have the resolution itself which you're
not going to see that level of detail

3011
03:58:00,720 --> 03:58:02,960
in.
>> Yes.

3012
03:58:01,279 --> 03:58:07,199
» The second thing is the attachment to it
that breaks it down to the next level

3013
03:58:04,560 --> 03:58:10,960
which is showing the uh like the credits
that you have per subject. And and the

3014
03:58:09,359 --> 03:58:17,120
third thing is like like we have when we
have like the budget with DC, you have

3015
03:58:13,439 --> 03:58:21,520
then the the plan and uh in this case uh
I want to give AI credit. They've been

3016
03:58:18,880 --> 03:58:26,319
very responsive to us. You know uh we
had our working session where we we we

3017
03:58:24,080 --> 03:58:29,040
had concerns that were raised. I'll give
uh Representative Henderson,

3018
03:58:27,920 --> 03:58:33,199
Representative Williams, you raised
concerns at the meeting and you know

3019
03:58:31,439 --> 03:58:37,600
leadership went back and took those
concerns to the state superintendent.

3020
03:58:35,600 --> 03:58:39,439
» The the letter that was sent over
>> correct. Correct. We talked about the

3021
03:58:38,720 --> 03:58:44,560
letter
>> and uh and addressed those concerns. Uh

3022
03:58:42,319 --> 03:58:49,279
we then met with the deputy mayor again
reiterated those concerns and and then

3023
03:58:46,479 --> 03:58:53,600
AI provided a new letter to us with kind
of a different implementation strategy.

3024
03:58:51,520 --> 03:58:57,680
I think the po the point I have is I I
don't it's not that I don't I can't read

3025
03:58:56,000 --> 03:59:02,720
the language. It's just that I think we
need more time as a board to be able to

3026
03:59:00,000 --> 03:59:05,439
articulate that plan and be sure we can
explain it to our constituents and make

3027
03:59:04,319 --> 03:59:08,800
sure that that's the best way to go
because it is different from what was

3028
03:59:06,720 --> 03:59:13,760
there before. It's a different waiver
process. So for me, it's just about

3029
03:59:11,279 --> 03:59:17,040
having the time to try to continue the
work we've been doing, go through a

3030
03:59:15,359 --> 03:59:20,560
working session, have that transparency
that the public's talked about, and do

3031
03:59:19,040 --> 03:59:25,439
what we did during social studies, which
is to take the time to to bring the

3032
03:59:22,880 --> 03:59:29,439
public feedback in, get a product where
we all enthusiastically voted for. And I

3033
03:59:28,239 --> 03:59:32,960
think we can get there within a month.
So I I don't think it's uh anything more

3034
03:59:31,520 --> 03:59:36,960
than that. I think it's everybody's just
working. It's just kind of we hit an

3035
03:59:34,239 --> 03:59:41,439
artificial deadline and now we just need
a little bit more time to get to the

3036
03:59:38,479 --> 03:59:45,199
finish line for this and hopefully have
unonymity for it.

3037
03:59:43,439 --> 03:59:50,239
» Got it. Okay.
>> Other discussion, Representative

3038
03:59:46,319 --> 03:59:59,600
Henderson. Um, so just to elucidate some
of like the rub, um, my understanding,

3039
03:59:54,319 --> 04:00:02,880
um, the board sent a letter to Aussie,
>> right,

3040
04:00:00,239 --> 04:00:10,160
» asking them to remove the requirement
for an Aussie waiver to grant the the

3041
04:00:07,120 --> 04:00:17,359
competency based credit. They came back
to us with a proposal that did that,

3042
04:00:13,439 --> 04:00:21,359
» right? And it pointed to regulations
that require

3043
04:00:19,760 --> 04:00:25,920
le
>> like the DCPS

3044
04:00:23,040 --> 04:00:31,920
» schools to go to DCPS and PCSB,
>> right? That's like the old like the

3045
04:00:27,520 --> 04:00:36,319
original code like the DCMR 20 2203.7
that the original one that one,

3046
04:00:34,080 --> 04:00:42,399
» right? So then then representative
Thompson's question is relevant of is

3047
04:00:39,840 --> 04:00:48,399
that the solution that
>> Got it. Okay. works that we want

3048
04:00:45,920 --> 04:00:51,920
um or not.
Um my

3049
04:00:50,319 --> 04:00:56,199
» with you
>> thought is um

3050
04:00:57,279 --> 04:01:04,239
I think we do need to be careful around
like having

3051
04:01:01,760 --> 04:01:09,760
a clear
policy for waving

3052
04:01:06,880 --> 04:01:19,920
credit hours and we need to protect
that. Um, and so I don't know if there's

3053
04:01:14,479 --> 04:01:28,640
a solution that protects that and maybe
it needs to alter those regulations that

3054
04:01:24,000 --> 04:01:33,920
point to DCPS and PCSB.
Um, I get the perspective from Aussie

3055
04:01:31,279 --> 04:01:37,439
that like they
from their perspective we asked them to

3056
04:01:36,000 --> 04:01:44,160
remove something and then they removed
it. Um but we're

3057
04:01:41,199 --> 04:01:50,880
we're now dealing with that proposal and
considering the implications of that and

3058
04:01:48,640 --> 04:01:58,319
um it doesn't solve all the problems
that we were trying to solve with uh our

3059
04:01:54,880 --> 04:02:05,120
proposed language. Um I appreciate the
compromise um that Aussie offered. um as

3060
04:02:02,160 --> 04:02:10,479
everyone has said like they have been
collaborating

3061
04:02:07,520 --> 04:02:16,479
for years now and up to you know moments
ago. [clears throat] Um and all

3062
04:02:12,560 --> 04:02:23,199
appreciation for that. Um
I also feel like the

3063
04:02:20,399 --> 04:02:27,600
this is complicated by the fact that the
um the resolution that we have that

3064
04:02:25,600 --> 04:02:32,560
speaks to the graduation requirements
doesn't actually touch this other

3065
04:02:29,600 --> 04:02:39,920
proposal about
competency based credits. Um

3066
04:02:36,800 --> 04:02:47,439
so like I feel comfortable voting on the
resolution um and what it has. I would

3067
04:02:42,960 --> 04:02:54,479
also like to continue working on this
competencybased

3068
04:02:49,600 --> 04:02:59,680
uh foreign language credit. Um I I think
we could could do that. Um even if we

3069
04:02:57,439 --> 04:03:05,439
did vote for the graduation requirements
today, um I also

3070
04:03:03,040 --> 04:03:08,800
um do think it's important that
everybody understand what we're voting

3071
04:03:07,199 --> 04:03:14,640
on and be able to explain it to
constituents. That is important. And if

3072
04:03:11,040 --> 04:03:22,720
there is confusion um
that may be reason for pause um but I

3073
04:03:17,920 --> 04:03:29,760
hope that illuminates a little bit uh I
may have spoken from too many sides uh

3074
04:03:26,560 --> 04:03:34,080
during that but that's my read
>> that's helpful because now that puts

3075
04:03:32,000 --> 04:03:37,279
into perspective about when they when
you're talking about the DC code and it

3076
04:03:35,840 --> 04:03:43,680
going if it you know with the waiver
with DCPS or a charter But then in the

3077
04:03:40,640 --> 04:03:47,920
law it also states that
the DCPS or PC PCSB respectively shall

3078
04:03:46,560 --> 04:03:51,439
review the school's application in
accordance with the standards and

3079
04:03:49,120 --> 04:03:56,880
requirements established by AIE. So if
Aussie's already establishing it and it

3080
04:03:54,960 --> 04:04:01,199
has to go through the LEA then I think
I'm trying to figure out what the

3081
04:03:59,439 --> 04:04:05,520
disconnect is.
>> Yeah, because I think Aussie is doing

3082
04:04:02,880 --> 04:04:10,880
that in their latest language. I think
they're very clear on they would set um

3083
04:04:09,359 --> 04:04:15,359
the scores that you would have to get
and they would approve the tests that

3084
04:04:12,640 --> 04:04:23,880
you would have to get. The rub is that
there's another layer of having the

3085
04:04:18,560 --> 04:04:23,880
schools having to apply for the waiver.

3086
04:04:26,399 --> 04:04:33,680
» Got it.
>> Second round and we'll go to

3087
04:04:30,960 --> 04:04:37,279
Representative Gle.
>> Oh, Representative Coulson. Sorry, did

3088
04:04:35,199 --> 04:04:40,279
we not get Sorry.
>> Um

3089
04:04:40,399 --> 04:04:51,760
I agree that this is the most important
vote. Um I agree that uh as a board I

3090
04:04:47,120 --> 04:04:58,239
believe we want to get this right and as
um a resident who also runs into her

3091
04:04:55,439 --> 04:05:02,160
students years beyond their time with
her. I want to know I want to be able to

3092
04:05:00,560 --> 04:05:07,439
look at their face in their face and
know that we did right by them. So I I

3093
04:05:05,439 --> 04:05:12,160
whether we have a vote on this or not, I
just want to be clear that I would feel

3094
04:05:09,199 --> 04:05:17,120
better waiting to further discuss this
and sit with this to make sure that we

3095
04:05:14,000 --> 04:05:23,120
get this right. Um because when I think
about my time working in the school

3096
04:05:20,000 --> 04:05:28,399
building, we are the implementers of the
policies that come down to us and it is

3097
04:05:26,319 --> 04:05:35,600
with good intention that we receive
these policies. But often just by nature

3098
04:05:32,399 --> 04:05:41,359
of the work, nature of the day, nature
of the staffing,

3099
04:05:37,680 --> 04:05:46,960
these policies are often not implemented
at the highest level at which they were

3100
04:05:43,520 --> 04:05:53,920
written. So when I read
advisor, counselor or other designate

3101
04:05:51,520 --> 04:05:58,640
that can end up being anybody can fill
the other designate portion. I'm also

3102
04:05:56,640 --> 04:06:04,239
thinking about our work on chronic
absenteeism. what our rate is right now

3103
04:06:01,120 --> 04:06:08,239
in the city and with implementation. If
we're saying that, and this is just the

3104
04:06:06,319 --> 04:06:13,920
way I'm thinking about it, if we're
saying that the student should meet with

3105
04:06:10,399 --> 04:06:18,319
an advisor once every year, what if the
child is absent during that time? Do

3106
04:06:16,640 --> 04:06:22,399
they get a chance to meet with that
advisor when they return back to school?

3107
04:06:20,319 --> 04:06:27,040
Do they wait the next year? If they've
only seen seen their advisor two out of

3108
04:06:25,359 --> 04:06:30,880
the four years, is that going to hinder
them from graduating? All of those

3109
04:06:29,279 --> 04:06:35,279
things are the things that I think about
with implementation. And I know that

3110
04:06:33,279 --> 04:06:40,640
maybe we can't get into the weeds like
that with this language, but as much as

3111
04:06:37,840 --> 04:06:45,600
possible, I want to remove the barrier
of interpretation from the LEAS and from

3112
04:06:43,520 --> 04:06:49,120
the schools so that we can make sure
that the students are receiving

3113
04:06:47,120 --> 04:06:53,920
everything that they deserve. It means
nothing for us to make a policy and then

3114
04:06:51,840 --> 04:06:57,680
when implementation strikes, it's not
being done well or done with fidelity.

3115
04:06:56,239 --> 04:07:03,840
That's the same thing that happens now
when we're looking at our uh grading

3116
04:07:00,960 --> 04:07:08,960
policy or our attendance policy. We have
to make sure that we remove the

3117
04:07:06,319 --> 04:07:13,600
possibility of human error or lack of
implementation. And for that reason, I

3118
04:07:11,760 --> 04:07:18,640
appreciate the work that everyone has
done. I appreciate all the compromise

3119
04:07:16,080 --> 04:07:22,960
and the back and forth. Um but for Ward
4 and all of our students, I want to

3120
04:07:20,640 --> 04:07:28,000
make sure that we absolutely without a
doubt get this right.

3121
04:07:26,080 --> 04:07:32,880
Thank you, Representative Coulson. I
believe we're at second round and I

3122
04:07:29,600 --> 04:07:39,199
believe Vice President Goule,
I just uh I want to again thank uh

3123
04:07:36,880 --> 04:07:41,760
everyone who who works so hard on this
on the board, people who put in a lot

3124
04:07:40,640 --> 04:07:45,359
more work than me. I mean,
Representatives, you know, Thompson,

3125
04:07:44,160 --> 04:07:48,960
Representative Henderson, I want to
thank you both uh for your work, and I

3126
04:07:47,840 --> 04:07:54,080
want to thank everybody on the task
force. So, you know, for me on this,

3127
04:07:51,359 --> 04:07:58,399
it's just about making sure that we we
do everything we can as a board to

3128
04:07:56,000 --> 04:08:01,520
exercise really our mo most important
duty of the year on this, and that's to

3129
04:08:00,239 --> 04:08:05,920
make sure we fully understand the
proposal, make sure we fully vet it,

3130
04:08:03,920 --> 04:08:09,680
make sure we're transparent about it,
and I think we are we are right near the

3131
04:08:08,160 --> 04:08:13,520
finish line on this, but we just have a
little bit more work to do to get us to

3132
04:08:11,199 --> 04:08:17,840
the point where we'll be able to go out
and explain this to our constituents

3133
04:08:15,040 --> 04:08:21,920
that we'll be confident with it. And uh
I again want to just thank AIE for all

3134
04:08:19,680 --> 04:08:25,920
of the work it's done uh in
collaborating with us and working on

3135
04:08:23,520 --> 04:08:29,279
this and it's just such a positive uh
working relationship with you Dr.

3136
04:08:27,359 --> 04:08:34,160
Mitchell and your leadership has got us
to this point and I just want to you

3137
04:08:31,359 --> 04:08:39,199
know thank you for that. Uh at this time
I I think given where we are uh I'd like

3138
04:08:36,640 --> 04:08:43,199
to move a motion to postpone
because I do want to make you

3139
04:08:40,800 --> 04:08:50,520
» well it'll be debatable so you can so
I'd like to to move a motion to postpone

3140
04:08:45,439 --> 04:08:50,520
which will be debatable and then uh

3141
04:08:51,359 --> 04:08:58,479
» so
parliamentary point of order.

3142
04:08:55,439 --> 04:09:03,680
» So um
Vice President Goule can make a motion

3143
04:09:01,520 --> 04:09:06,960
now. that motion then will suspend
discussion on the current issue and you

3144
04:09:05,199 --> 04:09:12,000
would take up the whatever issue at
hand. Um

3145
04:09:09,520 --> 04:09:16,160
but Vice President Goule had already
been recognized to speak and so he had

3146
04:09:14,239 --> 04:09:19,920
not and since there's no time limit on
the comment period he can continue to

3147
04:09:18,239 --> 04:09:24,479
speak and unfortunately President
Patterson can't disrupt his discussion

3148
04:09:23,199 --> 04:09:26,960
time.
>> So if he'd like to make a motion during

3149
04:09:25,920 --> 04:09:30,560
this time he can.
>> I'll I'll I'll just be clear. This isn't

3150
04:09:28,800 --> 04:09:34,560
a motion that would cut anybody's
opportunity to speak further on this

3151
04:09:31,920 --> 04:09:39,279
off. This is a motion that would move us
along in the discussion, I think. So,

3152
04:09:36,239 --> 04:09:42,880
this is a motion to postpone this uh for
one month. That motion is debatable.

3153
04:09:41,279 --> 04:09:46,800
Like a motion to table would not be
debatable, but a motion to postpone is

3154
04:09:45,199 --> 04:09:50,080
debatable. So, you can comment on the
motion. You can comment on the

3155
04:09:48,080 --> 04:09:53,680
underlying measure uh to the degree that
you want. Uh you know, but but this

3156
04:09:52,080 --> 04:09:57,680
isn't an opportunity. This would not cut
off anyone's opportunity for another

3157
04:09:56,080 --> 04:10:03,840
round. and I would not do that to any of
you. So, I move at this time a motion to

3158
04:10:00,239 --> 04:10:06,479
postpone this until the next uh public
meeting. Uh and that motion is

3159
04:10:05,359 --> 04:10:09,279
debatable.
>> Motion has been

3160
04:10:07,520 --> 04:10:13,319
» A motion has been moved by Vice
President Goule. Is there a second?

3161
04:10:13,520 --> 04:10:19,160
» I'll second it.
>> Has been seconded by Representative

3162
04:10:16,160 --> 04:10:19,160
Thompson.

3163
04:10:19,359 --> 04:10:27,040
» There needs to be a vote.
>> All in favor?

3164
04:10:23,760 --> 04:10:30,080
Well, we call a roll.
>> It is a voice vote, but if you can

3165
04:10:28,720 --> 04:10:34,279
request a roll call vote.
>> I'm going request a roll call vote.

3166
04:10:35,760 --> 04:10:38,319
» Discussion.
>> No, it's to move for it be open to

3167
04:10:37,680 --> 04:10:40,319
discussion.
>> The motion.

3168
04:10:38,880 --> 04:10:46,399
» Yeah, we're still in the motion of the
of the discussion. He made a

3169
04:10:42,479 --> 04:10:49,520
» he moved that there be postponement of
the

3170
04:10:47,760 --> 04:10:53,199
» voting on this particular matter to the
next public meeting. So there's that

3171
04:10:52,080 --> 04:10:58,520
vote hasn't occurred. It's just been
moved and seconded. The board hasn't

3172
04:10:54,640 --> 04:10:58,520
voted to actually do that.

3173
04:11:02,960 --> 04:11:08,239
» Yes.
>> Why don't we take a roll call before the

3174
04:11:07,520 --> 04:11:11,680
discussion?
>> I thought it was just to have the

3175
04:11:09,359 --> 04:11:15,439
discussion to put it on the table.
>> Once it's been moved as laid, y'all once

3176
04:11:13,920 --> 04:11:22,000
it's been seconded, it's already on the
table. Right. So,

3177
04:11:17,439 --> 04:11:22,000
» thank you. Discussion. There you go.

3178
04:11:25,359 --> 04:11:28,359
discussion.

3179
04:11:30,080 --> 04:11:37,520
» Let's speak first.
>> Uh I'll just say if we do vote to

3180
04:11:35,520 --> 04:11:42,560
postpone
um just to underline, it's incumbent on

3181
04:11:40,479 --> 04:11:50,080
all of us to
make sure we are prepared uh and do

3182
04:11:46,080 --> 04:11:54,720
everything we need to do. Um I think you
know we we did receive the latest

3183
04:11:52,239 --> 04:12:00,800
language just yesterday and so that is a
short amount of time to process that but

3184
04:11:57,040 --> 04:12:07,399
just to make sure that we are proactive
in settling everything not at the last

3185
04:12:04,399 --> 04:12:07,399
hour

3186
04:12:07,840 --> 04:12:18,479
» other before I go representative
Williams. Yeah, I um

3187
04:12:14,479 --> 04:12:22,720
we'll simply say that um I I think I
have I have some questions around how to

3188
04:12:20,960 --> 04:12:26,960
interpret some of the final language in
what was sent over yesterday. But at the

3189
04:12:24,880 --> 04:12:32,080
same time, when I think about this whole
process for the last 3 years, like I

3190
04:12:29,920 --> 04:12:36,720
feel good about it, good enough about it
at this point. So if people want to put

3191
04:12:35,040 --> 04:12:40,720
in the work, like I will engage in that
work and I will work to continue to

3192
04:12:38,239 --> 04:12:47,120
clarify things. And yet I do not
necessarily see it as necessary. So I

3193
04:12:43,520 --> 04:12:51,199
will be voting no um to uh postpone uh
but I will understand if people want to

3194
04:12:49,199 --> 04:12:54,840
clarify things to be able to explain it
to their constituents.

3195
04:12:55,680 --> 04:13:03,439
» Okay. Representative Thompson.
>> Um so I'm I'm going to say something

3196
04:13:00,960 --> 04:13:10,159
actually very plainly um because I don't
have a better way to say it. Um my fear

3197
04:13:07,760 --> 04:13:14,800
um is that what if the school won't
apply for the waiver?

3198
04:13:12,399 --> 04:13:19,680
Where does that leave the young person?
Like what if they just refuse to reply?

3199
04:13:16,880 --> 04:13:27,040
And I say that from a place of my
graduating class had 21 people.

3200
04:13:23,439 --> 04:13:30,640
What was offered is what was offered. My
neighborhood school when I was a kid,

3201
04:13:29,040 --> 04:13:35,279
the same neighborhood school my mom went
to is my neighborhood school now. I am

3202
04:13:32,560 --> 04:13:40,399
someone who made a choice to come back
to my community and had a lot of

3203
04:13:37,279 --> 04:13:46,800
different experiences. Um, some because
of my school and some things I did not

3204
04:13:42,399 --> 04:13:53,840
get because of my school. And I am not
saying uh at all that anyone is acting

3205
04:13:50,399 --> 04:13:58,800
in bad faith. But I do want to
understand the answer to that question

3206
04:13:56,239 --> 04:14:01,520
in a very real way. What um and I'm
sorry I cannot remember your name but

3207
04:14:00,239 --> 04:14:03,520
and I'm going to call you a young man
because you younger than me,

3208
04:14:02,800 --> 04:14:11,760
» Mr. Woods.
>> Uh what uh the young man Mr. was said

3209
04:14:06,880 --> 04:14:20,800
earlier um is a real example
and I am wrestling with is that still

3210
04:14:16,000 --> 04:14:27,760
true with if we put this policy in place
because I actually don't know I can't

3211
04:14:24,239 --> 04:14:33,520
say consistently how each LEA makes
decisions because we have upwards of 60

3212
04:14:30,640 --> 04:14:41,840
of them probably upwards of 70 of them
and I want to be honest when I say to my

3213
04:14:38,560 --> 04:14:46,319
kids who are from board seven who go to
pretty much all of them, this is what

3214
04:14:44,239 --> 04:14:51,840
this means for you. So I I do want to
speak very plainly in the why I'm

3215
04:14:49,439 --> 04:14:55,840
pushing about this particular language
of why why like and if there are real

3216
04:14:54,399 --> 04:15:01,040
constraints there are real constraints
and we need to um deal with I'm not I'm

3217
04:14:58,080 --> 04:15:07,760
not pretending that any of it is uh
light or artificial or uncomplicated.

3218
04:15:04,399 --> 04:15:11,439
Um, I am saying that if we understand
the implications, we should actually

3219
04:15:09,760 --> 04:15:15,439
deal with the complications. And I was
like, I don't know what this means. If a

3220
04:15:13,520 --> 04:15:19,840
school has to apply to the PCSB, is
there something I don't understand here?

3221
04:15:16,960 --> 04:15:22,479
Am I reading this wrong? That literally
if a school just says, yeah, we're not

3222
04:15:21,439 --> 04:15:27,920
going to do that because we don't have
the capacity. as somebody who went to a

3223
04:15:25,279 --> 04:15:33,040
very small LEA and I know a lot of my
kids that I represent go to very small

3224
04:15:29,920 --> 04:15:38,239
LEAs and we hear so much testimony about
people going to their LEA and getting

3225
04:15:36,080 --> 04:15:42,960
nothing of a response after we just sat
here for I don't know how many hours and

3226
04:15:40,560 --> 04:15:49,520
listened to folks and assured them that
we cared about engagement and followth

3227
04:15:45,439 --> 04:15:55,920
through and screen time. That is a real
potential consequence.

3228
04:15:51,680 --> 04:16:02,159
And so I do believe um that there has
been so much good work put into this

3229
04:15:59,120 --> 04:16:09,120
and I believe that across the board. And
I want to make sure that I can say yes,

3230
04:16:06,479 --> 04:16:12,399
this means you too kid, no matter what
school you go to, no matter what

3231
04:16:10,560 --> 04:16:17,359
neighborhood you come from, no matter if
they're going to apply to PCSB or

3232
04:16:14,960 --> 04:16:22,960
they're applying through DCPS, this
policy does apply to you in a real way.

3233
04:16:20,720 --> 04:16:27,199
And so for that reason, I seconded
Representative Goule's motion uh to

3234
04:16:25,600 --> 04:16:33,040
postpone because I think that is
worthwhile for figuring out over the

3235
04:16:30,479 --> 04:16:37,880
course of a month and I have not heard
any reason to not do that.

3236
04:16:40,800 --> 04:16:47,600
» I'm turning look both ways before I add
comments. See if there's other

3237
04:16:45,040 --> 04:16:51,560
discussions.
Representative Johnson Law.

3238
04:16:54,159 --> 04:17:00,000
It's it's a question about what
representative Henderson said earlier

3239
04:16:57,760 --> 04:17:03,199
because I don't all the work that the
task force has done, all the work that

3240
04:17:01,680 --> 04:17:07,199
we have done, all the work that the
co-chairs have done, all the work that

3241
04:17:04,560 --> 04:17:10,159
Aussie has done and Representative
Henderson, didn't you say something

3242
04:17:08,319 --> 04:17:15,920
about like can't we vote for the
resolution and then still look into this

3243
04:17:13,040 --> 04:17:20,319
issue or did I misar that or did I mis
hear you?

3244
04:17:18,239 --> 04:17:24,800
» I did say that. Uh, I said I would be
comfortable with that, but I don't know

3245
04:17:21,920 --> 04:17:27,359
that everyone else is.
>> Okay. I didn't know if that was like

3246
04:17:26,159 --> 04:17:32,960
maybe could be an option. I was trying
to think through solutions, but okay.

3247
04:17:29,359 --> 04:17:38,720
Thank you. I just wanted clarity.
>> All right. I want to thank everyone for

3248
04:17:35,040 --> 04:17:45,000
their comments. As far as my own um what
I will say is this is

3249
04:17:41,600 --> 04:17:45,000
I appreciate

3250
04:17:45,120 --> 04:17:56,159
the work and the responses from AIE.
I

3251
04:17:52,159 --> 04:18:01,279
know we will continue to talk regardless
if we delay or any other way that we

3252
04:17:58,960 --> 04:18:06,319
decide to do it the language of the
letter so that we get more clarity um

3253
04:18:04,319 --> 04:18:12,319
about implementation. I know that's
going to continue

3254
04:18:09,680 --> 04:18:17,120
and I want to state that what we're
talking about is the implementation

3255
04:18:13,920 --> 04:18:20,880
letter not the resolution. We're talking
about the implementation and I

3256
04:18:18,640 --> 04:18:27,120
understand and I appreciate
Representative Henderson

3257
04:18:23,439 --> 04:18:34,479
specifically and how he spelled that out
um about he's comfortable

3258
04:18:31,680 --> 04:18:39,120
with the resolution even as we continue
the discussion on the implementation

3259
04:18:36,960 --> 04:18:44,880
aspect.
um

3260
04:18:42,000 --> 04:18:49,439
that provides me because I will tell you
as I told Representative Thompson when I

3261
04:18:47,439 --> 04:18:52,920
received the language I received it like
everyone else.

3262
04:18:53,279 --> 04:19:00,640
I didn't get all of it, but I knew I was
still comfortable with the resolution

3263
04:18:58,479 --> 04:19:05,120
itself.
And I know we're going to go back and

3264
04:19:02,159 --> 04:19:09,520
forth with the implementation aspect.
In that interim time, we've had

3265
04:19:07,439 --> 04:19:14,720
conversations
um with individuals even to the point

3266
04:19:12,880 --> 04:19:19,680
I'm looking the directly at Sally right
now as she smiles at me

3267
04:19:17,439 --> 04:19:25,760
where we're talking about that specific
part and I wanted to hear from her

3268
04:19:21,600 --> 04:19:32,960
specifically as a task force um member
who has extensive experience in this

3269
04:19:27,920 --> 04:19:37,120
particular area um to hear if I told her
we were going to make sure during the

3270
04:19:35,120 --> 04:19:42,560
implementation that we were going to be
transparent

3271
04:19:39,520 --> 04:19:48,479
about how we do implementation.
You know, I wanted to know and look her

3272
04:19:45,279 --> 04:19:51,600
in the face and talk to her personally,
you know, to give me a better gauge of

3273
04:19:50,159 --> 04:19:55,600
how I was going to vote. I came away
from our conversation that I'm still at

3274
04:19:53,279 --> 04:19:59,680
the same point that has been reiterated
by Representative Henderson. I'm

3275
04:19:58,080 --> 04:20:05,520
comfortable with the resolution. I'm
comfortable on voting yes on the

3276
04:20:01,920 --> 04:20:12,159
resolution this evening. That's me. But
I also

3277
04:20:07,600 --> 04:20:18,080
listen to because I'm one vote to my
peers who feel like

3278
04:20:15,760 --> 04:20:24,159
delaying or getting a better
understanding or how they respond to

3279
04:20:19,920 --> 04:20:28,080
their um constituents matters.
Implementation, as you said, Dr.

3280
04:20:25,520 --> 04:20:34,479
Coulson, matters.
Um so I know how I'm going to vote. I'm

3281
04:20:32,080 --> 04:20:40,800
going to be not voting to delay
representative vice vice president goule

3282
04:20:37,199 --> 04:20:46,640
but I'm going to respect the re the
votes of my other um

3283
04:20:44,239 --> 04:20:50,319
members that are here. So
>> second round

3284
04:20:47,760 --> 04:20:57,279
» this third oh second round for this part
this so I I I thank you for for sharing

3285
04:20:54,720 --> 04:21:02,319
that. I think my concern I'm going to
put this on the record and be very brief

3286
04:20:59,199 --> 04:21:06,000
about it is that this resolution that
we're talking about approving I mean the

3287
04:21:04,159 --> 04:21:11,760
whereas is just talk about a chronology
and a timeline. All this resolution says

3288
04:21:09,040 --> 04:21:16,159
is now therefore it be resolved that the
DC state board of education approves AIE

3289
04:21:14,399 --> 04:21:23,199
to amend the district's graduation
requirements in chapter 22 subtitle A of

3290
04:21:20,000 --> 04:21:27,600
title 5 of the DCMR to consistent with
this resolution. So, so all all that

3291
04:21:25,840 --> 04:21:32,800
really is saying is the same thing it
would have said before we started the

3292
04:21:29,120 --> 04:21:36,399
high school graduation task force. So,
like approving this resolution is really

3293
04:21:34,560 --> 04:21:40,960
nothing. Where it gets down to the
details is the letter that talks about

3294
04:21:38,880 --> 04:21:45,520
what we're going to be doing. And that's
what I really believe we need to get

3295
04:21:43,680 --> 04:21:50,880
right. We we can't be up here with a
fuzzy understanding of what's in that

3296
04:21:48,720 --> 04:21:55,199
because then we have not done our most
important duty as a board. And our most

3297
04:21:52,960 --> 04:22:00,399
important duty as a board is to make
sure we get those limited statutory

3298
04:21:57,040 --> 04:22:04,800
areas and know them like like the back
of our hand. Be able to explain that to

3299
04:22:02,239 --> 04:22:09,840
any constituent who asks and make sure
that we're doing the right thing in

3300
04:22:06,319 --> 04:22:12,800
terms of how we're going to get to uh
all of those elements that fit into

3301
04:22:11,520 --> 04:22:17,760
those three sentences in that
resolution. So I I want to make sure we

3302
04:22:16,239 --> 04:22:24,080
can speak with clarity and know we're
doing the right thing today so we don't

3303
04:22:19,359 --> 04:22:28,080
end up a month from now, a week from now
figuring out that we we made a mistake.

3304
04:22:26,479 --> 04:22:32,080
And that's what really is making me very
uncomfortable tonight is feeling like

3305
04:22:30,319 --> 04:22:36,319
there's a lack of clarity on this
process at the end because right now

3306
04:22:34,640 --> 04:22:40,640
when we're voting on something like we
were social studies, we should be

3307
04:22:38,399 --> 04:22:45,359
crystal clear about what the impact is.
and I and I think it's very apparent

3308
04:22:42,720 --> 04:22:49,279
that we're not yet. So I I think a month
will give us that clarity and it will

3309
04:22:47,439 --> 04:22:54,040
get everybody on board in an
enthusiastic way. So thank you all.

3310
04:22:54,399 --> 04:23:02,800
I'm not seeing any further discussion
and we have had a motion that has been

3311
04:22:59,520 --> 04:23:09,199
properly moved and seconded to postpone
is the word that was used and I asked as

3312
04:23:06,800 --> 04:23:13,159
as opposed to just a yay and nay for a
roll call. So, Director Butler,

3313
04:23:13,279 --> 04:23:20,040
» Representative Best.
>> Hi,

3314
04:23:16,399 --> 04:23:20,040
» Representative Chang.

3315
04:23:21,520 --> 04:23:26,479
» Hi,
>> Representative Coulson.

3316
04:23:25,199 --> 04:23:29,520
» I
>> Representative Henderson.

3317
04:23:28,000 --> 04:23:33,840
» No.
>> Representative Johnson Law.

3318
04:23:31,840 --> 04:23:36,880
» I.
>> Representative Thompson.

3319
04:23:35,680 --> 04:23:39,760
» I.
>> Representative Williams.

3320
04:23:38,560 --> 04:23:42,640
» No.
Representative Goule.

3321
04:23:41,040 --> 04:23:45,120
» Hi.
>> President Patterson.

3322
04:23:44,080 --> 04:23:52,479
» No.
>> No. No.

3323
04:23:49,120 --> 04:23:56,840
» The eyes have it on a voice. Excuse me.
A voice count of

3324
04:23:57,680 --> 04:24:07,000
Lord Jesus. It's 7 to three. That's not
it. 64.

3325
04:24:02,319 --> 04:24:07,000
63. Thank you.

3326
04:24:08,319 --> 04:24:14,239
Thank you, ma'am. Um,
>> so to be clear,

3327
04:24:12,800 --> 04:24:17,680
there's no longer discussion on this
issue on the agenda. The matter has been

3328
04:24:16,720 --> 04:24:21,600
postponed.
>> Exactly.

3329
04:24:19,279 --> 04:24:26,319
Thank you so much. So, that's where we
are on um

3330
04:24:24,720 --> 04:24:31,120
that particular resolution, which is
SR26-13,

3331
04:24:28,640 --> 04:24:35,040
approving amendments to the District of
Columbia's high school graduation

3332
04:24:32,560 --> 04:24:38,040
requirements. It has been voted to
postpone.

3333
04:24:39,359 --> 04:24:46,800
With that being said, um we will next
move to the vote on the state resolution

3334
04:24:44,479 --> 04:24:52,479
SR2614
appointing representatives to the DC

3335
04:24:48,640 --> 04:24:57,199
council's community schools task force
and the DCPS educator evaluation and

3336
04:24:55,120 --> 04:25:00,199
performance working group. Is there a
motion?

3337
04:25:00,239 --> 04:25:04,159
» So moved.
>> It has been moved by Dr. Coulson. Is

3338
04:25:03,120 --> 04:25:09,720
there a second?
>> Second.

3339
04:25:04,800 --> 04:25:09,720
» It has been seconded by Dr. Johnson Law.

3340
04:25:10,560 --> 04:25:17,840
» Okay. Having properly been moved and
seconded, the Executive Butler, will you

3341
04:25:14,560 --> 04:25:21,920
read the resolution into the record?
>> State Board of Education resoluting

3342
04:25:19,760 --> 04:25:26,720
appointing representatives to the DC's
Council Community Schools Task Force and

3343
04:25:24,399 --> 04:25:32,159
DCPS Educator Evaluation and Performance
Working Group SR26-15.

3344
04:25:29,840 --> 04:25:36,000
Whereas the DC State Board of Education
is committed to leveraging research,

3345
04:25:34,239 --> 04:25:39,120
advocacy, positive relationships, and
policy recommendations to drive

3346
04:25:37,279 --> 04:25:42,080
improvements in the quality of public
education in the District of Columbia,

3347
04:25:40,640 --> 04:25:45,520
especially for our most vulnerable
students. Whereas the state board

3348
04:25:43,359 --> 04:25:48,640
contains standing committees and ad hoc
committees and task forces to enhance

3349
04:25:47,199 --> 04:25:51,279
fundamental education related matters
such as student attendance, out of

3350
04:25:49,760 --> 04:25:54,399
school time, academic standards,
literacy, teacher retention, and more.

3351
04:25:53,120 --> 04:25:56,960
Whereas in addition to the state's
board's internal committees, there are

3352
04:25:55,680 --> 04:26:00,720
certain external committees, working
groups, and task forces related to

3353
04:25:58,640 --> 04:26:03,680
education policy that require appointing
a member of the state board of education

3354
04:26:02,159 --> 04:26:07,359
to those entities. Whereas the council
of the District of Columbia, Bill

3355
04:26:05,439 --> 04:26:12,080
26-0661
fiscal year 2027 budget support act of

3356
04:26:09,840 --> 04:26:16,479
2026 establishes
the community school task force and DCPS

3357
04:26:14,800 --> 04:26:20,000
educated evaluation and performance
working groups, both of which require

3358
04:26:18,640 --> 04:26:25,520
representation from the state board of
education. Now therefore, be it resolved

3359
04:26:23,120 --> 04:26:28,479
that the state board appoints W 7
Representative Ebony Rose Thompson to

3360
04:26:26,960 --> 04:26:32,399
the DC Council Community School Task
Force. Be it further resolved that the

3361
04:26:30,159 --> 04:26:36,880
state board also appoints Ward 4
representative

3362
04:26:34,080 --> 04:26:41,359
T. Michelle Coulson to the DC council's
DCPS educator evaluation and performance

3363
04:26:39,760 --> 04:26:45,920
working group. Be it further resolved
that the representative listed above are

3364
04:26:43,359 --> 04:26:50,000
directed to report all updates monthly
to the state board at working sessions

3365
04:26:47,520 --> 04:26:53,120
as relevant. Be it finally resolved that
these appointments will continue until

3366
04:26:51,359 --> 04:26:58,640
each representative entity and
objectives are accomplished.

3367
04:26:56,800 --> 04:27:02,359
» Thank you for the reading. Is there
discussion on the resolution?

3368
04:27:03,279 --> 04:27:11,680
» Representative Thompson.
>> Can I just note that I too want to go

3369
04:27:07,840 --> 04:27:17,520
home um and it is after 10 o'clock. Um,
and uh I do uh I don't know if anyone

3370
04:27:15,199 --> 04:27:22,880
else um raised their hand uh for the
community schools appointment. Um I do

3371
04:27:19,760 --> 04:27:28,720
appreciate um
um I do appreciate the appointment. Um I

3372
04:27:26,880 --> 04:27:35,040
do know that more than one person raised
their hand um for the impact

3373
04:27:32,000 --> 04:27:41,680
appointment. Um and I will say that I
know prior to um understanding that the

3374
04:27:39,680 --> 04:27:45,920
board was going to make an appointment
um Mendlesson's office have reached out

3375
04:27:43,600 --> 04:27:52,399
for suggestions of folks. I know to me
as an individual I am wondering if

3376
04:27:48,880 --> 04:27:57,600
because we get a seat uh if we should
also maybe say and we would recommend

3377
04:27:55,760 --> 04:28:02,000
others. I know repres former
representative uh Olirri has expressed

3378
04:28:00,479 --> 04:28:08,159
interest and has done a lot of work
around this and I know our current um

3379
04:28:05,359 --> 04:28:12,159
representative from W one um has also
has a a different perspective around

3380
04:28:10,080 --> 04:28:19,120
this because he is a current teacher and
so I'm actually asking the board if not

3381
04:28:16,479 --> 04:28:25,040
not to not appoint the word like that
that be our appointed seat and we

3382
04:28:22,080 --> 04:28:29,279
actually make a push um for two other
people to also be on the task force just

3383
04:28:27,199 --> 04:28:32,960
because that would give us kind of the
band of all the work that has been done

3384
04:28:31,359 --> 04:28:37,760
across the years since we have been such
an authority on this. Um

3385
04:28:36,159 --> 04:28:43,760
so that is my discussion to see if
that's something we can consider because

3386
04:28:39,279 --> 04:28:50,159
I would love for us um to have to you
know I always want more um and I'm I'm

3387
04:28:47,279 --> 04:28:53,920
wondering if that is a way to get more
because I'm sure there was a very hard

3388
04:28:51,680 --> 04:28:57,120
decision made.
>> Thank you. Representative Thompson. Is

3389
04:28:55,439 --> 04:29:00,960
there other discussion? Representative
Williams.

3390
04:28:58,800 --> 04:29:05,199
» Yeah. So, just to clarify then,
Representative Thompson, what you're

3391
04:29:02,159 --> 04:29:10,960
saying is that we would still keep
like you as the community schools

3392
04:29:08,720 --> 04:29:16,159
appointee and Representative Coulson as
the state board appointee.

3393
04:29:13,279 --> 04:29:21,279
Um but then just add if there are other
seats like that we would not be like

3394
04:29:18,960 --> 04:29:25,040
from the state board but if they're
dealing with the configuration of the

3395
04:29:22,960 --> 04:29:27,439
task force and they and they had other
people for us to like be in

3396
04:29:26,159 --> 04:29:32,159
consideration.
>> Yes. So I'm essentially saying I know uh

3397
04:29:30,000 --> 04:29:37,600
that Menohen's office reached out and
said we want recommendations for folks.

3398
04:29:34,560 --> 04:29:42,720
I am not saying that um I I understand
fully that the state board gets an

3399
04:29:40,000 --> 04:29:46,239
appointment as the state board. I'm also
saying because they asked us for like I

3400
04:29:45,120 --> 04:29:50,399
know they asked me I don't know if they
asked maybe they reached out to you um

3401
04:29:47,840 --> 04:29:54,319
as a teacher um but I know they reached
out and said are there recommendations

3402
04:29:52,159 --> 04:29:58,479
I'm asking since we also have another
member who has said who has expressed

3403
04:29:56,479 --> 04:30:04,080
interest and we have a former member
who's a longtime teacher who's expressed

3404
04:30:00,319 --> 04:30:08,960
interest if we can also just say we
would like them to be considered for the

3405
04:30:06,159 --> 04:30:12,720
task force not that they are the state
board's appointment um because they are

3406
04:30:11,199 --> 04:30:17,920
looking for IND individuals and they
want more individuals and I think that

3407
04:30:15,120 --> 04:30:25,439
all three of these people have really
valuable um perspectives and insights.

3408
04:30:22,960 --> 04:30:29,279
» Other discussion
did that did that get your answer your

3409
04:30:27,760 --> 04:30:35,880
question?
>> Okay. Is there other discussion? I'm

3410
04:30:32,880 --> 04:30:35,880
seeing

3411
04:30:38,960 --> 04:30:45,359
» I just he asked me if it clarified.
>> Could you speak on your mic?

3412
04:30:43,439 --> 04:30:48,239
» President Patterson asked me if
Representative Thompson's response

3413
04:30:46,800 --> 04:30:52,880
clarified my question. I just said that
it clarified my question.

3414
04:30:51,359 --> 04:30:55,880
» Was there further discussion? Dr.
Coulson,

3415
04:30:56,640 --> 04:31:01,840
» I don't think there's necessarily
further discussion. I just know that

3416
04:31:00,239 --> 04:31:06,000
when we have resolutions and
discussions, we usually have

3417
04:31:03,359 --> 04:31:10,399
conversations offline with one another
so that we are at least have a clear

3418
04:31:08,640 --> 04:31:16,000
understanding of where we stand going
into these votes. And so I made that

3419
04:31:14,000 --> 04:31:20,159
attempt to do that and moving forward I
hope that that's a practice that we can

3420
04:31:17,680 --> 04:31:24,720
try to implement with having discussions
and then wherever we stand still having

3421
04:31:22,800 --> 04:31:30,000
that discussion here on the dis but at
least having an understanding of where

3422
04:31:27,040 --> 04:31:35,439
votes lie or where people stand that's
my only thought

3423
04:31:32,239 --> 04:31:42,080
» thank you um not seen any further
discussion so I'll hands um what I will

3424
04:31:39,199 --> 04:31:48,000
say did did
Okay. Okay. Um what I will say um in

3425
04:31:46,319 --> 04:31:51,760
regards to this appointment and I
appreciate your comments uh

3426
04:31:49,359 --> 04:31:59,359
Representative Thompson that they gave
us um one appointment for each of those

3427
04:31:56,560 --> 04:32:07,040
uh external committees as what I'll call
them. um after which I looked in the

3428
04:32:03,520 --> 04:32:11,439
bylaws and then I went beyond that and I
talked with um the chairman's office and

3429
04:32:10,000 --> 04:32:16,479
he were the one that made the initial
kind of request for them um because

3430
04:32:14,800 --> 04:32:19,120
um from talking to their office staff
members they didn't know exactly how

3431
04:32:17,760 --> 04:32:22,960
that worked. They had people's names
that they heard but they said okay

3432
04:32:21,279 --> 04:32:27,359
what's your process for doing this? So I
explained that to their staff and how we

3433
04:32:24,560 --> 04:32:33,439
do that what our resolution process with
was um and then I said I will get back

3434
04:32:30,239 --> 04:32:38,000
with you um after
um I talked to individuals who have

3435
04:32:34,960 --> 04:32:42,560
shown interest as you stated and you
asked the question I can answer

3436
04:32:39,279 --> 04:32:46,880
definitively community engagement I mean
not community schools you were the

3437
04:32:45,199 --> 04:32:51,920
person that showed the interest no one
else showed interest I got two members

3438
04:32:48,960 --> 04:32:58,479
who showed interest in the evaluation
aspect ect of it. I spoke to both of the

3439
04:32:55,520 --> 04:33:04,480
individuals. Then I also asked so to
speak questions about their tenure and

3440
04:33:02,800 --> 04:33:09,520
what they had done, their experience
with impact and I took those all into

3441
04:33:07,359 --> 04:33:15,039
consideration and I made the nominations
which we are reading currently. That's

3442
04:33:12,400 --> 04:33:20,080
how I did it. When I had a further
discussion, and Representative Williams

3443
04:33:17,119 --> 04:33:25,359
can um attest to this, um we talked
about the the particular um nominees

3444
04:33:23,920 --> 04:33:29,760
that I put forth that are in this
resolution. I gave him my my opinion. He

3445
04:33:28,320 --> 04:33:33,680
gave me what he thought about those
opinions and everything. And at that

3446
04:33:31,760 --> 04:33:39,199
point, to your point, Representative
Thompson, um he said he feels that there

3447
04:33:37,439 --> 04:33:43,840
should be other individuals that can be
considered. I said at that particular

3448
04:33:41,520 --> 04:33:49,199
point, I've done what my
responsibilities were

3449
04:33:46,320 --> 04:33:52,959
and if that's something that we want to
do,

3450
04:33:50,799 --> 04:33:57,520
as I said, we can take that up with a
constituting entity

3451
04:33:55,439 --> 04:34:01,119
if that's what we choose to do. So
basically, I was saying that's not a

3452
04:33:59,279 --> 04:34:04,160
that's not for me to to do. Me
personally as the president, I've

3453
04:34:02,320 --> 04:34:08,480
executed my responsibilities, but if
this board decides that that's something

3454
04:34:06,320 --> 04:34:10,879
that they want to do, I'm fine with
that.

3455
04:34:09,840 --> 04:34:15,119
they would have to take that out with
the with the entity. So that that was my

3456
04:34:12,719 --> 04:34:18,320
final conclusion because I've put forth
and it's in the resolution of who I was

3457
04:34:16,719 --> 04:34:21,279
nominating from this board. Okay.
Representative Thompson.

3458
04:34:19,600 --> 04:34:28,080
» Uh I appreciate that.
>> I um literally had this thought today

3459
04:34:25,119 --> 04:34:31,760
» um real time in the meeting. Um and so I
was suggesting it because when I and in

3460
04:34:29,920 --> 04:34:36,879
in in full transparency, I've been much
more focused on high school graduation

3461
04:34:33,279 --> 04:34:42,320
requirements um than anything else. and
I figured uh there was a hard decision

3462
04:34:39,840 --> 04:34:47,439
made. I'm not questioning that decision,
nor am I saying um that Representative

3463
04:34:45,039 --> 04:34:54,400
Cosen is not someone who could represent
us well. I am actually saying that we as

3464
04:34:50,799 --> 04:35:01,039
a board could also push for more people.
Um, and I'm making a suggestion to say

3465
04:34:58,320 --> 04:35:06,160
and these people can also be considered
not to replace her, not not as

3466
04:35:03,119 --> 04:35:12,080
alternates, but because I did not see
anywhere and and I will say they did

3467
04:35:08,561 --> 04:35:17,279
reach out ask me about um folks who
should be considered I think prior to

3468
04:35:15,199 --> 04:35:23,520
they when they knew what the board was
supposed to do, right? Mhm.

3469
04:35:19,279 --> 04:35:30,080
» Um and so if there is value, I guess I
am suggesting that we also say we say

3470
04:35:27,840 --> 04:35:36,719
the board for the board seat that comes
virtue by virtue of us as a body, it is

3471
04:35:32,719 --> 04:35:42,719
representative Coulson and um we would
also recommend the following people be

3472
04:35:40,240 --> 04:35:48,160
considered for the task force because
they have um you know good teaching

3473
04:35:46,160 --> 04:35:51,439
experience or whatever ample like I just
I'm just thinking about the fact that

3474
04:35:49,760 --> 04:35:56,879
we've done a lot of work around this as
a board and both of those people I know

3475
04:35:54,639 --> 04:35:59,840
are people who have expressed interest
and the reason that they've expressed

3476
04:35:58,320 --> 04:36:04,879
interest is because of the work we've
done as a board and I think would be it

3477
04:36:02,799 --> 04:36:10,160
would be a value ad to the larger
conversation um and we as a body um can

3478
04:36:08,799 --> 04:36:15,920
be a champion for that
>> okay

3479
04:36:10,719 --> 04:36:20,000
» um instead of being constrained um by
by a particular piece piece of

3480
04:36:18,639 --> 04:36:23,920
legislation. I think we should make the
legislation work for us. Um, we can

3481
04:36:22,561 --> 04:36:27,439
always have more people at the table
rather than less.

3482
04:36:25,520 --> 04:36:32,240
» I'm going to go to representative, if
I'm I looked around on both sides.

3483
04:36:29,760 --> 04:36:37,359
Representative uh Coulson,
>> I I want to go back because this is

3484
04:36:34,400 --> 04:36:42,959
really reminiscent of the discussion,
the lengthy discussion that we had with

3485
04:36:40,160 --> 04:36:49,119
the administrative vote and who was
going to be on that committee. And at

3486
04:36:45,359 --> 04:36:53,439
that time there was a nomination or a
recommendation for appointment and then

3487
04:36:51,359 --> 04:37:00,080
we had the lengthy back and forth going
through the bylaws of if uh to decide if

3488
04:36:56,959 --> 04:37:05,039
additional people could be added. Um I
will say that there are multiple task

3489
04:37:02,160 --> 04:37:10,080
force that come up that I think multiple
representatives of this board could sit

3490
04:37:07,279 --> 04:37:16,799
on. I think there are also times where
the space will call for one or two

3491
04:37:13,359 --> 04:37:21,760
people and during our time I hope that
we will have the opportunity to have

3492
04:37:19,359 --> 04:37:28,240
multiple people to sit on external
committees. Um I again would like to say

3493
04:37:25,119 --> 04:37:32,000
that when we have situations like this I
think it's great that we reach out and

3494
04:37:29,920 --> 04:37:38,160
we talked to other board members. I
reached out to Representative Williams.

3495
04:37:34,561 --> 04:37:42,959
we had an understanding uh and I I just
want to note that uh that we should have

3496
04:37:40,320 --> 04:37:49,279
these discussions and be clear on what
we're going to do uh rather than having

3497
04:37:45,439 --> 04:37:53,119
all of this now. It it it's
>> it is interesting. Thank you.

3498
04:37:51,680 --> 04:37:58,561
» And to your point, I'm looking if
there's any further discussion. What I

3499
04:37:55,039 --> 04:38:02,561
will say is this. Um I believe we have a
resolution that is on the floor that

3500
04:38:00,240 --> 04:38:08,320
we're going to vote on. I believe that
there is room um at the suggestion of

3501
04:38:05,920 --> 04:38:12,959
representative Thompson to discuss what
that if there's possibility a lobbying

3502
04:38:11,039 --> 04:38:17,520
is the word I'll use for board
representatives are more voices on that

3503
04:38:15,279 --> 04:38:21,680
thing I think that can be worked out in
our working meeting that can be a

3504
04:38:19,439 --> 04:38:26,240
discussion that can happen there but I
believe we have a resolution currently

3505
04:38:23,680 --> 04:38:30,879
that is been properly formatted and done
the ways and that I would like to vote

3506
04:38:28,240 --> 04:38:30,879
on this evening

3507
04:38:31,520 --> 04:38:37,279
Representative Thompson. Wait.
>> Okay. I don't know who on this side

3508
04:38:36,320 --> 04:38:41,680
raised the hand first.
>> Go ahead if you'd like to speak.

3509
04:38:39,199 --> 04:38:47,920
» Okay. Okay. Representative.
>> No, I I just uh want to support I I we

3510
04:38:45,600 --> 04:38:52,400
we had it sounds like we had uh great
choices for this. Uh I know you've

3511
04:38:50,080 --> 04:38:55,279
always got the unenviable choice of
having to pick between two very

3512
04:38:53,680 --> 04:39:00,561
qualified people for it and you made a
selection as president. Uh, and I'm

3513
04:38:57,920 --> 04:39:04,400
going to support you on that. And I I do
like what Representative Thompson's also

3514
04:39:02,320 --> 04:39:09,760
talking about is always having ongoing
conversations to see if we can have uh,

3515
04:39:07,520 --> 04:39:14,080
you know, you know, more uh, support
like more engagement from this board

3516
04:39:12,400 --> 04:39:17,279
with policy makers in the city, I think
is a good thing, too. So, if that's

3517
04:39:15,359 --> 04:39:20,240
possible, that sounds great. But, I'm
going to I'm going to vote for this

3518
04:39:18,240 --> 04:39:24,639
resolution tonight. Thank you for having
to make the tough call on this one, uh,

3519
04:39:22,000 --> 04:39:28,959
President Patterson, and then I'll look
forward to, you know, working on any

3520
04:39:26,879 --> 04:39:32,000
ways we can expand engagement with other
members and former members who are

3521
04:39:30,400 --> 04:39:35,279
interested. So, thank you all.
>> Thank you so much, Representative Goule.

3522
04:39:33,760 --> 04:39:41,120
Was there a last comment, Representative
Thompson?

3523
04:39:36,160 --> 04:39:48,160
» Um, I think two. One, uh, I
will say I apologize if I caught anyone

3524
04:39:43,760 --> 04:39:52,638
offguard. Um because literally I
read this and thought, "Oh, this was a

3525
04:39:50,320 --> 04:39:55,680
really hard decision." Um and we have
multiple people who want to serve and

3526
04:39:54,240 --> 04:40:02,080
I've had to make those enviable
decisions. Um I think that I would have

3527
04:39:59,440 --> 04:40:07,200
liked um for us to discuss this more
robustly at our working session before

3528
04:40:04,798 --> 04:40:12,160
tonight. Um but it did not feel like we
had the opportunity to do so. And I know

3529
04:40:09,280 --> 04:40:16,000
I personally asked some questions
because I was like I want to make sure

3530
04:40:14,240 --> 04:40:21,440
if I am raising my hand I know what I'm
raising my hand for. My question would

3531
04:40:18,718 --> 04:40:26,320
be since we have to vote on this this
evening.

3532
04:40:23,200 --> 04:40:30,560
Um if
what is the because I know Hannah has

3533
04:40:28,480 --> 04:40:34,878
already reached out to me uh about
sending in a resume and like that. What

3534
04:40:32,320 --> 04:40:39,040
is the larger timeline? Because if that
is the case, I would like to move I I'm

3535
04:40:37,760 --> 04:40:44,000
going to put forth my amendment and
someone can second it or not and we can

3536
04:40:40,718 --> 04:40:48,160
discuss it. But if the timeline is we
have to vote on this tonight, um I would

3537
04:40:46,480 --> 04:40:52,320
urge us to go the amendment route
because we did not we were we did not

3538
04:40:50,240 --> 04:40:57,520
have the larger discussion in a working
session about the task force and

3539
04:40:54,718 --> 04:41:01,520
appointees as we normally would do. We
just said this is something that's

3540
04:40:59,440 --> 04:41:05,280
coming and I get that you know things
were put in front of us at a certain

3541
04:41:02,958 --> 04:41:11,040
time. I'm not blaming anyone.
>> Um I'm only looking for um a

3542
04:41:08,798 --> 04:41:16,560
collaborative remedy.
>> Okay. And and what I'll say is I

3543
04:41:14,080 --> 04:41:22,560
appreciate and you know you're going to
propose an amendment. What I will say is

3544
04:41:19,200 --> 04:41:27,120
um I attended virtually the meeting um
that we had um the working meeting.

3545
04:41:25,440 --> 04:41:32,798
There was discussion. There was a
process that said reach out to the

3546
04:41:29,760 --> 04:41:36,000
president who is nominating. There was a
discussion about that. I don't know if

3547
04:41:34,000 --> 04:41:40,160
we want to have more discussion about
who was interested, but I believe we had

3548
04:41:38,080 --> 04:41:45,280
some in in you know discussion at that
particular point. I discussed who you

3549
04:41:43,600 --> 04:41:49,280
know I discussed with the individuals
who expressed interest and this was the

3550
04:41:47,280 --> 04:41:54,958
decision per the bylaws that I came up
with. So I will not be supporting the

3551
04:41:51,760 --> 04:42:01,520
amendment. I am always open to having
the discussion about if we could add

3552
04:41:57,200 --> 04:42:05,200
other individuals. I don't believe we've
unless you can correct me where we went

3553
04:42:03,200 --> 04:42:11,840
back after the resolution and said we
want to do something of this nature but

3554
04:42:08,400 --> 04:42:15,760
okay so um I will not be supporting the
amendment but you're welcome to put

3555
04:42:14,240 --> 04:42:19,120
forward the amendment
>> before the amendment made is made can I

3556
04:42:18,320 --> 04:42:24,000
be recognized
>> sure you can recognize is it possible

3557
04:42:21,360 --> 04:42:27,280
then to to just send an email after this
that it's not included in the amendment

3558
04:42:25,680 --> 04:42:29,440
I mean we don't this doesn't need to
>> it could be

3559
04:42:27,920 --> 04:42:33,840
» yeah I think it just could be a simple
email that we

3560
04:42:30,638 --> 04:42:36,798
» I mean like I've been clear I've told
Representative Coulson this directly

3561
04:42:35,200 --> 04:42:40,000
like she has incredible valuable
experience for this like we have

3562
04:42:38,320 --> 04:42:44,240
different experience for this. There are
other members who have also important

3563
04:42:42,480 --> 04:42:48,798
valuable experiences. I told her I would
support her. I'm happy to support her. I

3564
04:42:46,638 --> 04:42:53,120
also hear what you're saying um with
more robust discussion earlier could

3565
04:42:50,560 --> 04:42:58,400
have avoided this situation completely.
Um but I I don't want to undermine that.

3566
04:42:55,360 --> 04:43:03,200
But if there's a way because I know that
the task force is not shaped fully yet.

3567
04:43:00,560 --> 04:43:07,040
The composition could be then if we
could advocate for more state board

3568
04:43:04,878 --> 04:43:10,160
participation on top of Representative
Coulson then I would be open to that.

3569
04:43:08,798 --> 04:43:13,920
But I think it could just take the form
of an email. Um and that that would be

3570
04:43:12,638 --> 04:43:17,600
the route that I would go.
>> And I appreciate that and that's why I

3571
04:43:15,520 --> 04:43:24,560
was suggesting that if we wanted to
lobby them for after this resolution is

3572
04:43:20,718 --> 04:43:28,718
passed for more seats. I'm in support of
doing that. I wanted to be respectful of

3573
04:43:26,958 --> 04:43:33,120
the discussion that I had with both of
you and Dr. Coulson. Um, and move

3574
04:43:31,840 --> 04:43:36,798
forward this particular resolution
because that's what's before us this

3575
04:43:34,400 --> 04:43:41,280
evening. So, I don't know if there's
more discussion, but I'm kind of ready

3576
04:43:39,760 --> 04:43:45,280
for
Okay. And I think that's exactly how

3577
04:43:43,520 --> 04:43:50,080
this go. So, um,
>> clarifying question.

3578
04:43:47,040 --> 04:43:53,958
So if we lobby for additional seats that
can be anyone

3579
04:43:54,000 --> 04:44:00,160
» from my
>> what are the parameters in terms of who

3580
04:43:58,320 --> 04:44:03,600
» I believe just just to get us to the
vote I believe um from if I'm

3581
04:44:02,240 --> 04:44:07,920
understanding Representative Thompson
correctly there have been individuals

3582
04:44:04,958 --> 04:44:11,600
who have um showed um interest in this
and that those are the names that they

3583
04:44:09,840 --> 04:44:14,878
probably would be lobbying for to expand
it to include those individuals that

3584
04:44:13,040 --> 04:44:18,000
bring value to the discussion because of
their length of time of of studying. in

3585
04:44:16,400 --> 04:44:22,480
this if I'm understanding this correct
but I don't think that excludes anybody

3586
04:44:20,638 --> 04:44:27,840
either if from what I'm understanding
your question is if it could be anybody

3587
04:44:25,120 --> 04:44:33,920
» so it could be a principal it could be
any of the former representatives it can

3588
04:44:30,958 --> 04:44:36,958
be anyone from any of the other unions
it can just be anyone

3589
04:44:35,280 --> 04:44:44,080
» I think what we would be doing we'd be
lobbying for them to expand the um the

3590
04:44:40,958 --> 04:44:48,798
number we'd be lobbying perfectly for
some individuals but We're asking them

3591
04:44:46,560 --> 04:44:52,920
to expand it for some individuals that
we would lobby for.

3592
04:44:53,520 --> 04:45:02,638
» I guess to clarify I think what I'm
proposing um as I understand it um the

3593
04:45:00,798 --> 04:45:10,160
appointments to the larger task force
are happening very soon. I do not but I

3594
04:45:05,920 --> 04:45:16,560
don't think I I'm not asking for us to
ask to expand the number of seats. I am

3595
04:45:13,440 --> 04:45:21,440
asking for us to suggest that uh
Representative Williams and former

3596
04:45:18,718 --> 04:45:30,400
Representative Olri in particular have
valuable experience. Um and that they be

3597
04:45:26,798 --> 04:45:37,280
members of that task force. Um in
addition to the person we get to uh vote

3598
04:45:33,920 --> 04:45:43,200
yes uh for uh which is on this
resolution which is Representative

3599
04:45:38,718 --> 04:45:48,798
Coulson. Right. Um I literally had this
idea real time in the meeting because I

3600
04:45:45,040 --> 04:45:54,400
was like oh you know we actually we have
a a very privileged problem to have when

3601
04:45:52,480 --> 04:45:58,480
we have folks who have an abundance of
experience and I know this is something

3602
04:45:56,718 --> 04:46:05,360
that has been important to the board for
a very long time and so I was very

3603
04:46:01,600 --> 04:46:10,718
sincere when I said hey could we do this
um and what do people think about this

3604
04:46:07,360 --> 04:46:18,480
and offering that up as an idea a that I
had spoke to no one before this meeting.

3605
04:46:14,000 --> 04:46:24,320
So um that is my proposal. Um and the
route that I initially proposed to take

3606
04:46:22,400 --> 04:46:28,638
that was an amendment. If there are
other routes um because I have not put

3607
04:46:26,878 --> 04:46:32,718
forth an amendment and we are saying
that we can send an email and we're

3608
04:46:30,718 --> 04:46:37,840
willing to send an email. I am
comfortable with that because I I trust

3609
04:46:34,878 --> 04:46:42,480
everyone as colleagues. But I had not um
thought further and we had not had a

3610
04:46:40,320 --> 04:46:46,000
more robust discussion about all the
possibilities at the working session.

3611
04:46:44,080 --> 04:46:51,600
I'm not saying there was no discussion.
I I just don't think at least at that

3612
04:46:48,560 --> 04:46:54,560
time there was space uh to fully
consider like what all the possibilities

3613
04:46:54,000 --> 04:46:59,520
were.
>> Okay. Thank you for the clarity. Doc,

3614
04:46:57,760 --> 04:47:04,718
Representative Thompson, about to call
you Dr. Thompson. Um, what I will say is

3615
04:47:03,040 --> 04:47:09,680
is two things and then I'm going to call
for the vote. Um, first and foremost,

3616
04:47:08,000 --> 04:47:12,560
I'm glad that you mentioned that Hannah
had reached out to you because I know

3617
04:47:10,878 --> 04:47:18,400
that they're going to start the process
with community schools sooner than

3618
04:47:14,958 --> 04:47:23,040
they're starting with the other uh
working group. Um, I believe they start

3619
04:47:20,718 --> 04:47:26,400
like maybe a month later or something to
that extent. Yours starts before that

3620
04:47:24,718 --> 04:47:32,240
the one you're being pointed to. So
there is time to put forth as if we

3621
04:47:29,600 --> 04:47:36,240
choose an email or a letter and I
believe that those things can be decided

3622
04:47:34,160 --> 04:47:39,920
definitively in our working meeting that
we're going to do that. So that's what I

3623
04:47:38,160 --> 04:47:43,360
would like to suggest. And with that
being said, I would like to move to the

3624
04:47:41,840 --> 04:47:48,400
vote. If there's no other discussion,
the motion is to adopt SR26-14.

3625
04:47:46,718 --> 04:47:52,718
Executive Director Butler, will you call
the role?

3626
04:47:51,120 --> 04:47:56,320
» Representative Bestess.
>> I.

3627
04:47:53,920 --> 04:47:58,638
» Representative Chang. Hi,
>> Representative Coulson.

3628
04:47:57,760 --> 04:48:00,480
» I
>> Representative Henderson.

3629
04:47:59,840 --> 04:48:02,878
» I
>> Representative Johnson Law.

3630
04:48:02,000 --> 04:48:04,958
» I,
>> Representative Thompson.

3631
04:48:04,240 --> 04:48:06,878
» I,
>> Representative Williams.

3632
04:48:06,240 --> 04:48:08,958
» I,
>> Representative Goule.

3633
04:48:08,240 --> 04:48:11,120
» I,
>> President Patterson.

3634
04:48:10,080 --> 04:48:14,120
» I,
>> SR26-14,

3635
04:48:14,320 --> 04:48:20,080
appointing representatives to the DC
Council's Community Schools Task Force

3636
04:48:17,760 --> 04:48:24,320
and DCPS educator evaluation and
performance working groups has passed

3637
04:48:22,000 --> 04:48:28,320
unanimously. Thank you so much,
director. Now, we are at that point

3638
04:48:26,240 --> 04:48:32,560
where I believe all of us are kind of
happy that we've arrived. It's kind of

3639
04:48:29,840 --> 04:48:36,798
late in the night. U members, are there
any announcements or members or comments

3640
04:48:34,638 --> 04:48:41,840
you would like to make before we
adjourn? Representative Johnson Law.

3641
04:48:39,520 --> 04:48:46,480
» Um just to all the folks in W 8, we're
having a back to school bash this

3642
04:48:43,920 --> 04:48:51,440
Saturday, August 22nd, from 100 p.m. to
400 p.m. um at Sycamore and Oak. So,

3643
04:48:50,080 --> 04:48:54,878
please come out, get your school
supplies. We already have over a

3644
04:48:53,280 --> 04:48:58,958
thousand backpacks with supplies in
them. So, please come out. Please share.

3645
04:48:57,600 --> 04:49:01,760
You can find more information on
Sycamorn Oak's um Instagram. Thank you

3646
04:49:01,120 --> 04:49:05,280
so much.
>> All right. I'm looking

3647
04:49:04,000 --> 04:49:10,320
Representative Williams.
>> I I would just echo the same thing with

3648
04:49:07,040 --> 04:49:14,560
the Ward One and uh also include Raymond
uh elementary school. Any W four

3649
04:49:12,160 --> 04:49:18,480
families are happy to attend as well. Um
it's uh the flyers have been being

3650
04:49:16,560 --> 04:49:22,638
passed out at all of the schools. It
will be on social media. the 1451 uh

3651
04:49:21,040 --> 04:49:26,240
Mittwood Place Northwest.
>> All right. Um I'm looking this way.

3652
04:49:25,280 --> 04:49:29,920
Representative Thompson and
Representative Henderson after Thompson.

3653
04:49:28,560 --> 04:49:34,400
» So we have already had our back to
school event. Um and I do want to thank

3654
04:49:32,400 --> 04:49:38,638
everyone uh who supported that. I will
not do the listing because it is too

3655
04:49:35,840 --> 04:49:43,920
late at night. However, uh I will say uh
that this Saturday is Chuck Brown Day uh

3656
04:49:40,958 --> 04:49:49,440
in board 7 at Fort DuPont Park. Uh gates
open at 11:00, music starts at 2. Um,

3657
04:49:46,958 --> 04:49:55,920
and so if you are looking for something
uh happy, safe, all the things away uh

3658
04:49:53,040 --> 04:49:58,560
from the Grand Prix, uh W 7 is the place
to be. Thank you,

3659
04:49:57,520 --> 04:50:03,040
» Representative Anderson.
>> And W 5 backpack giveaway is this

3660
04:50:00,798 --> 04:50:07,040
Saturday at Bunker Hill Elementary
School, 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

3661
04:50:05,120 --> 04:50:10,638
» All right. Thank you. I'll end our
comments with saying this. I believe

3662
04:50:08,878 --> 04:50:14,878
most of us should have received an email
that they talked about a clap-in for

3663
04:50:12,718 --> 04:50:17,920
most of the first day of school. I would
hope that our members would find a

3664
04:50:16,240 --> 04:50:22,400
school in their ward or wherever they
choose to. I will not be doing one in my

3665
04:50:20,240 --> 04:50:25,680
particular ward. I am Ward 8, but since
I have a senior who has returned, this

3666
04:50:24,080 --> 04:50:30,080
is a senior year, I will be at his
school at Duke Ellington um doing a clap

3667
04:50:27,920 --> 04:50:33,600
in there. But I would hope because it
was um put out to us that you will

3668
04:50:31,840 --> 04:50:36,320
choose a school and do and meet some
students. I do know that we have

3669
04:50:34,798 --> 04:50:41,760
educators who actually have to be at
their respective school. So, I I get it.

3670
04:50:38,718 --> 04:50:46,718
But those who can make it and do a clap
in for that morning of the first day of

3671
04:50:43,680 --> 04:50:50,400
school, I definitely um encourage you to
do so. And on the charter side, if there

3672
04:50:49,040 --> 04:50:54,480
are schools that are doing some because
I want to be fair on both side, please,

3673
04:50:52,878 --> 04:50:59,120
you know, do something with some of your
charter schools. I had the opportunity

3674
04:50:55,840 --> 04:51:03,840
in my home ward to do the gauntlet, um
which was great for statesmen to be

3675
04:51:01,760 --> 04:51:08,000
there and to watch so many people and to
welcome their young men into the school

3676
04:51:06,000 --> 04:51:11,360
was an amazing feeling. I think it
probably did more for me than it did the

3677
04:51:09,520 --> 04:51:14,958
actual students who ran the gauntlet and
had so many men, you know, cheering them

3678
04:51:13,440 --> 04:51:18,958
on, telling them they would be there.
But our students need to see that. They

3679
04:51:16,958 --> 04:51:22,160
need to see us that we are going to
encourage them throughout this year. So,

3680
04:51:20,638 --> 04:51:26,560
I would hope you would do that. With
that being said, um, with no further

3681
04:51:24,878 --> 04:51:28,878
business before the state board, I will
now entertain a motion to

3682
04:51:28,160 --> 04:51:32,798
» move.
>> It has been moved by Representative

3683
04:51:30,798 --> 04:51:34,958
Johnson, seconded by Representative
Williams. All in favor?

3684
04:51:34,320 --> 04:51:39,280
» I.
>> Any naysay?

3685
04:51:37,440 --> 04:51:46,440
The eyes have it. And the this public
meeting of the state board of education

3686
04:51:40,878 --> 04:51:46,440
is adjourned at 10:31.

3687
04:51:54,240 --> 04:51:56,560
I'll make