At this point, DCPS is mandating that stimulus money be spent to hire contractors to do summer programs and tutoring and after school programs.

I think it would be much better to use the money to prevent layoffs, as permitted by the Federal givernment. When kids get back to in person school, class size is going to make a big difference.

Another question I have: since the DC government is running a big surplus, why are school budgets effectively being cut? Effectively because schools are now being required to fund supplies, including cleaning supplies, out of the total envelope.

If Congress actually passes the stimulus plan, it includes tons of money for local districts.

The city has to decide how to apply those funds. That is the trick.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or we could slash pay for teachers, since they're only working part time now.

Great way to retain the best and brightest. You must be an economist. Think you can control everything but don't actually understand the system.

Hard pass.

Actually an economist would advocate for higher pay to retain and attract better teachers.

I think what we first need in DC is to switch from mayoral control to a directly elected chancellor. School boards diffuse responsibility across many people, and mayoral control has been a failure -- few people vote for mayor based on schools, also diffusing responsibility.

You will never attract the best to the teaching profession - but there are bucks for the great ones in tutoring.

This is the Betsy And Dick DeVos Plan For Destroying Public Education and the American Talent and Tech Economy.

No F'ing thanks.

My kid's teachers are and have been amazing and I will back them. Please take your privatization political BS to RedState or some other stunted forum.

In all fairness, I think the better plan is what Romney is proposing and some Dems...fund families directly and forget the bureaucracy. (They get enough bucks for poor outcomes.) When we focused on tutoring rather than focusing on quality of the schools our kids started to excel. (South Korean Model). You will never attract the best to the teaching profession - but there are bucks for the great ones in tutoring. The bureaucracy only cares about itself - so stop overfunding it and start supporting the people who actually care about children’s success: their parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or we could slash pay for teachers, since they're only working part time now.

Great way to retain the best and brightest. You must be an economist. Think you can control everything but don't actually understand the system.

Hard pass.

Having seen the outcome of « the best and the brightest » over the last year I think most of us would happily settle for the mediocre if it meant actual in person learning.

No thanks. You can have the para be the teacher in your kids class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or we could slash pay for teachers, since they're only working part time now.

Great way to retain the best and brightest. You must be an economist. Think you can control everything but don't actually understand the system.

Hard pass.

Having seen the outcome of « the best and the brightest » over the last year I think most of us would happily settle for the mediocre if it meant actual in person learning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or we could slash pay for teachers, since they're only working part time now.

Great way to retain the best and brightest. You must be an economist. Think you can control everything but don't actually understand the system.

Hard pass.

Agree. I’m tired of these spiteful comments.

Anyway OP it’s doubtful they will increase the budget since they gave schools a little stimulus money.

Anonymous wrote:Or we could slash pay for teachers, since they're only working part time now.

Great way to retain the best and brightest. You must be an economist. Think you can control everything but don't actually understand the system.

Hard pass.

Or we could slash pay for teachers, since they're only working part time now.

Replace Bowser, Mendelson, and other conservative-lite politicians.

Ask the Mendo for the Money-O

https://www.washingtoninformer.com/council-chairman-mendelson-explains-consolidation-of-education-committee/

Right now they are doing the budget. You can participate in the budget process by being engaged in one of the sessions

You contact your and the At-Large Councilmembers and tell them why you think the education budget should be enlarged.

I can foresee that we will need funding in upcoming years for
1) more individual attention for students to catch up what learning was lost/not attained during DL
2) more mental health professionals for students
3) nurses in every school (necessary?) for continuing concerns related to covid

Note that's all in addition to the funding that they already have. I also haven't included funding for any remediation that needs to happen (since I'm under the impression that's already been spent).

I would also imagine that this funding will be needed more heavily at some schools compared to others.

How does DC decide on its education budget, and how do we advocate for more? How do we advocate for more funding for schools that need it more?

I realize I'm coming from a place of near-zero understanding, so any links of how to start would be appreciated.

Thanks for your interest in the question.