EMPOWER FAMILIES

Parents have valuable insights and perspectives that must be taken into consideration by policymakers, including which schools are best for their children. Including them in key decision-making events – such as individual school management debates, District-wide funding discussions, and in the upcoming school boundary study – will result in more effective and equitable outcomes.

By considering the perspectives and experiences of families, we can guarantee that decisions made about education truly reflect the needs of students and the community. It’s especially important to give a platform to the voices of Black and brown families, who have been historically underrepresented in education decision-making.

It’s also important to empower families by requiring DCPS and public charter schools to provide annual reports of student academic data to parents and guardians and create toolkits to help families act on these findings. These measures will enable families to track their children’s progress and work with educators to address any areas of concern.

Families are our strongest partners in education, and their voices must be at the center of the decision-making process. By amplifying these views, particularly those of Black and brown families, we can create a more inclusive and equitable education system that benefits all students.

Let’s work together to make sure that parents and families have the power to shape the education system, enhance outcomes for their children, and guarantee the success of all DC students.