Washington, DC – The DC State Board of Education (SBOE) announces its next High School Graduation Requirements Task Force meeting. The task force will resume its work on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 1114 at 441 4th Street NW. During this meeting, the task force looks to build on new information shared in the recent Alvarez & Marsal report on DC public schools (DCPS) high schools’ attendance and graduation outcomes. Members will review the data that was provided in the report and consider how its work can help ensure District students are better prepared for post-secondary life. Task force members will determine a direction forward, setting goals and identifying resources needed to complete the work.

“We look forward to reconvening as a group to continue our work on high school graduation requirements,” said Laura Wilson Phelan, Ward 1 representative and task force co-chair. “There is an opportunity for us to take advantage of the transparent information provided by the Alvarez & Marsal report to better inform our work.”

“The work of this task force and the forthcoming recommendations are critical for our students and families,” said Markus Batchelor, Ward 8 representative and task force co-chair. “Task force members will collectively decide on a path forward to ensure that all of our students are college and career-ready. Now, more than ever, the input and perspectives of this diverse group of residents is essential to our forward progress as a system and as a city.”

This task force marks an historic citywide effort to review, analyze and, as necessary, make thoughtful, implementable recommendations to adjust DC’s high school graduation requirements for all DCPS and public charter school students. Under the leadership of Ward 1 representative Laura Wilson Phelan and Ward 8 representative Markus Batchelor, the members of the task force mirror our school-aged population, with half of the task force members living or working East of the Anacostia River.

All task force meetings are open to the public. However, individuals and representatives of organizations are not permitted to speak or participate during task force sessions. District residents may stay involved and provide input throughout this process in a variety of ways. Individuals and representatives of organizations may submit written testimony or information for consideration by the task force by emailing sboe@dc.gov or by filling out this online form. Members of the public can also request to join our discussion group here to share input regarding the work of the task force.

The DC State Board of Education is an independent agency within the executive branch of the Government of the District of Columbia which works to advise the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), which is the District’s state education agency. The Board approves education policies, sets academic standards, and determines teacher qualifications. The State Board views its role in the achievement of this mission as one of shared responsibility, whereby it engages families, students, educators, community members, elected officials and business leaders to play a vital role in preparing every child for college and/or career success.

The SBOE’s FY2017 Council Performance Oversight Hearing is scheduled for February 15, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 120 of the John A. Wilson Building. District residents are invited to provide input on the work of the State Board over the past year and may sign-up to testify by February 13, 2018 here. For the latest updates on the work of the task force, please visit sboe.dc.gov/gradreqs.