My name is Quiana Lamons. I am a PAVE Parent Leader and a mom of children in DC Public Schools, and I live in Ward 7. As a parent, I know why family engagement, resources for math, and real collaboration between schools and families are essential to improving education in our city. Math has been a vital part of my children’s education, and as my oldest prepares for adulthood, I see just how important math is in his life—from budgeting to understanding his paycheck to preparing for job training programs.

I recently testified at a hearing of the DC Council on the Mathematics Education Improvement Amendment Act of 2024, where I voiced my hopes and concerns as a parent. I am proud to stand alongside the DC Students Succeed Coalition, which is working to ensure every student in DC has access to high-quality math education and a future filled with opportunity.

The Need for Family Support in Math Education

As parents, we want to support our kids as they tackle math, but I’ll be the first to say that today’s math is not what we learned back in the day! I still remember the way I was taught division—and I admit it’s pretty different from the way my 10-year-old learns it now. We may get to the same answer, but the methods are different, and this difference can create confusion and frustration at home. This is why family support matters: parents are our kids’ first teachers, and we need resources to help reinforce what they’re learning in school.

One of the DC Students Succeed coalition’s priorities is to ensure caregivers have the support they need to help kids succeed in math. Just like they’re calling for in their advocacy, I believe DC schools should offer resources that make math accessible for parents and students alike. We can’t be left out of the equation if we want our kids to feel confident in math.

The Role of Math Coaches for Students and Parents

One recommendation I’m excited about in the Mathematics Education Improvement Amendment Act is having math coaches in every school by the 2027-28 school year. Math coaches could help bridge the gap between home and school by supporting parents in learning the newer math techniques our kids are using. I can imagine how helpful it would be to have regular check-ins with a math coach, where parents could ask questions, gain understanding, and learn ways to better support our kids. It’s a simple idea that could make a huge difference, especially for parents like me who are trying to help our children but may feel a little lost with the methods being used today.

DC Students Succeed has called for investments in math coaching, as well as high-impact tutoring and professional development for teachers who work with the students most affected by learning loss. It’s a powerful combination: if parents and teachers both receive the support they need, we can work together to help students build up their math skills, no matter where they’re starting from.

The Importance of Including Parent Voices

While the creation of OSSE’s new Math Task Force is a great step forward, currently, there isn’t a spot for parents on the new math task force, and I think that’s an oversight. Parents like me are directly involved in our children’s education every day, so it makes sense for us to be a part of the conversation about how to improve it. Families should be included in decision-making processes and I urge our leaders to add a parent representative to the task force. We bring a unique and practical perspective, one that understands the day-to-day realities of helping kids with homework, finding ways to build their confidence, and seeing where gaps exist that only a parent might notice.

Working Together for Our Children’s Success

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: for our kids to succeed. The DC Students Succeed coalition’s priorities mirror my hopes as a parent: strong academic support, family engagement, and a real partnership between schools and families. I believe that with the right investments and by truly listening to parents, we can make a difference in math education across DC. Together, we can build a system where every child has the resources and support to thrive in school and beyond.

Let’s continue to work together to support our kids’ futures—because they can’t afford for us to wait.