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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It would be worthwhile at all these mayoral debates/forums/interviews for people to start asking the candidates what they will look for in their next chancellor. I’m not feeling optimistic, but would be useful to hear. [/quote]

Yes, we should! There are some well documented policy positions from George Lewis that seem to separate her from McDuffie, but he has been too quiet on this issue for my taste too.

From the voter guide published in The 51st-

"When it comes to schools, both McDuffie and Lewis George agree on one general principle: mayoral control should remain in place. But Lewis George wants to do away with the IMPACT teacher evaluation system — which ranks teachers and offers pay increases to those deemed most effective — because of concerns that have repeatedly been raised by the Washington Teachers Union, while McDuffie does not. She also wants to make the Office of the State Superintendent for Education independent; in his time on the council, McDuffie didn’t sign on to bills that would have done that."

The WaPo editorial board isn't very impressed with Lewis George on this topic: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/14/janeese-lewis-george-plan-would-weaken-mayoral-control-dc-schools/. However, given the WaPo these days that may be enough for some people to vote for her...

In summary-  Lewis George is seen as cozy with the WTU. While that may mean a more teacher-friendly Chancellor (someone getting rid of IMPACT), it could mean much more depending on exactly how much she pushes and implements OSSE independence. The last push for this (from WTU backed orgs like EmpowerED) proposed giving the State Board of Education (SBOE) more power and oversight. The concern is that giving SBOE oversight of education standards, policy priorities, etc. will set the city back in terms of progress. OSSE controls a lot of things that impact parent and kids- transportation, MySchools DC, SYEP, DC TAG, licensure and credentials for teachers. The theory is that injecting more politics into oversight would diminish progress.

McDuffie seems to be the candidate that will keep the structures the same- doubt there will be much in way of dramatic changes. He will tout the fact that DCPS is trending upward in student outcomes, cite tutoring (which honestly has been successful because it is mostly handled outside of DCPS by a non-profit), and install a go-along-to-get-along Chancellor.

So, it seems that if you want a WTU-informed reform it seems you vote for Lewis George and if you want more of the same, you choose McDuffie?

However, I would love to know more about what McDuffie really would do. If we got to hear more specifics about who they would be seeking in this role it could be VERY telling.

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