Haven’t had time to sit down and read all the materials involved with the draft recommendations for the DC public education adequacy study? Don’t worry! The District’s Dime has created some Cliff’s Notes to help you understand what’s in the study, which was commissioned by the District to assess the city’s K-12 funding formula and to make recommendations for improving it. The study concluded that base per-pupil funding should be increased, that the city should provide supplemental resources to meet the needs of low-income students, and that funding for maintenance costs should be changed among many others.
It’s not too late to offer your feedback and help shape the final document; the Deputy Mayor for Education’s office is accepting written comments on the education adequacy study through tomorrow, October 18.
DCFPI has taken a close look at the study. We are excited by a number of recommendations and have questions about some others. We will be submitting comments based on our assessment.
You can submit your comments by e-mail to dme.adequacystudy@dc.gov.
What factored into the per-pupil increase?
Among the study’s main recommendations is a $2,050 increase to the base per-pupil funding formula, from $9,306 to $11,356. This new figure represents the per-pupil amount that is needed, according to the researchers, to adequately provide general education services to DC students — not accounting for grade level or additional learning needs. So what was this number based on? Researchers looked at what was required at the school- and system-level and then developed estimated costs for these resources.
- School-Level Personnel: Represents the biggest chunk of the $11,356 amount; includes instructional, student support, and administrative staff
- School-Level Non-Personnel: Includes supplies, materials, textbooks, equipment, assessment, and other non-personnel resources
- School-Level Professional Development: Professional development for teachers
- School-Level Technology Costs: Includes computers, printers, copiers, smartboards, and other technology
- Facility Maintenance and Operations:Utilities, custodial expenses, specialized cleaning, trash removal, scheduled and preventative maintenance, repairs, grounds and landscaping, and field personnel costs
- System-Level Costs:What we think of as “central office” functions, such as governance, financial management, human resources, communications, and legal assistance
What functions are currently funded outside of the funding formula and how could this change?
Certain functions needed by schools are not covered by the local resources of the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula, but from other District agencies. For example, school police officers and nurses are staffed by the departments responsible for those functions across the city. The study is recommending that most of these functions be moved within the formula, which means that DCPS and public charter schools would be responsible for purchasing these services using their school formula funds. The two functions that were not recommended to move inside the formula are school resource officers and crossing guards, due to safety reasons.
District schools currently receive the following services outside of their school funding formula:
- School nurses, provided by Department of Health for both DCPS and charters
- Mental health professionals, provided by DC Department of Mental health for both DCPS and charters
- Legal services, including those stemming from a special education lawsuit or claim, provided by the Office of the Attorney General to DCPS
- Procurement, provided by Office of Contracts and Procurement to DCPS Technology services, provided by Office of the Chief Technology Officer to DCPS
- Facilities maintenance and operations, provided by Department of General Services to DCPS
- Crossing guards, provided by Department of Transportation to both DCPS and charters
- School resource officers, provided by Metropolitan Police Department to both DCPS and charters
- Public Charter School Board Appropriation
What is the fiscal impact of the study’s recommendations?
Overall, the study’s recommendations amount to an 18 percent increase in funding for DC schools, or $179 million more in local funds through the per pupil formula. Broken out by sector, public charter schools will see $79 million more in funds, while DCPS will see $100 million more in funds. Note that the DCPS funding increase includes $43 million needed outside the formula from the Department of General Services to meet the sector’s current maintenance and operation needs.
What comes next?
The study is really just a start of a conversation for the District. If residents have concerns over the weight categories or any changes being proposed, DCFPI encourages you to submit your comments to the Deputy Mayor. The draft report is still just that — a draft — with a final report expected to be out in early November.
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