Appendix D
Information about the Functioning of the Education Agencies
This appendix presents tables and figures that supplement the discussion of the city’s implementation of the requirements of the Public Education Reform Amendment Act (PERAA) in Chapter 3. It includes organizational charts for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), a table summarizing the missions and responsibilities of the five education agencies and how those responsibilities have changed since PERAA was passed, and information about staffing and budgets for each agency.
TABLE D-1 D.C. Education Agency Missions and Responsibilities
Agency | Office and Mission |
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)—Office of the Chancellor | District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)—Central Office The mission of the District of Columbia Public Schools is to ensure that every DCPS school provides a world-class education that prepares all of our students, regardless of background or circumstance, for success in college, career, and life. |
SOURCE: Available:http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS [September 2014]. This mission statement was subsequently taken off the website but is presented in A Capital Commitment, the agency’ 5-year (2012-2017) plan at http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/A+Capital+Commitment+-+DCPS+Strategic+Plan [February 2015]. | |
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) | Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) The DME is responsible for developing and implementing the mayor’s vision for academic excellence and creating a high-quality education continuum from birth to 24 (from early childhood to K-12 to post-secondary and the workforce). |
SOURCE: Available: http://dme.dc.gov/page/about-dme [February 2015]. |
Current Areas of Responsibility | Primary Changes Since PERAA |
|
No significant changes in mission |
|
Newly responsible for: University of the District of Columbia DCPS PCSB No longer responsible for: Office of the Ombudsman Interagency coordinating body Office of Public Education Facilities and Modernization Systemwide data system |
Agency | Office and Mission |
Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) | Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) OSSE’s mission is to remove barriers and create pathways for D.C. residents to receive a great education and prepare them for success in college, careers, and life. |
SOURCE: Available: http://osse.dc.gov/page/about-osse [September 2014]. | |
The mission statement was subsequently revised: OSSE is the State Education Agency for the District of Columbia charged with raising the quality of education for all DC residents. OSSE serves as the District’s liaison to the U.S. Department of Education and works closely with the District’s traditional and public charter schools to achieve its key functions: | |
|
Current Areas of Responsibility | Primary Changes Since PERAA |
Primary Programs/Organization Divisions)a | Newly responsible for:a |
|
Listed in PERAA but not explicitly in current mission statement: Providing staff support to the State Board of Education Providing for education of children in custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services Conducting studies and pilot projects to develop, review, or test state policy |
SOURCE: Available: http://osse.dc.gov/service/programs |
Agency | Office and Mission |
D.C. State Board of Education |
|
SOURCE: Available: http://sboe.dc.gov/page/roles [February 2015]. | |
Public Charter School Board | Our goal is to ensure that students and families in Washington, DC have access to quality public charter school education. We do that by setting tough academic standards, using a comprehensive charter application review process and effective oversight, providing meaningful support and actively involving parents, school leaders, and community and policy makers. |
SOURCE: Available: http://www.dcpcsb.org/about-us [February 2015]. | |
Statewide Commission on Children, Youth, and Their Families (SCCYF) | |
Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM) | |
aItems in italics were either not explicitly specified in PERAA or not part of the agency’s portfolio in 2011 (National Research Council, 2011)
SOURCE: Information compiled from the department’s websites listed above, September 2014-February 2015. We note that information on several agency websites changed during that time.
Current Areas of Responsibility | Primary Changes Since PERAA |
PERAA specified that the SBOE would “advise the State Superintendent” or “approve” policies on matters such as state standards and state policies in particular areas. The SBOE does not have the authority to initiate policies. The SBOE lists its responsibilities as including:
|
Newly responsible for: Office of the Ombudsman Office of the Student Advocate
No significant changes in mission |
The SCCYF no longer exists. See text for additional details | |
Moved to Department of General Services http://dgs.dc.gov/page/about-departmentgeneral-services [September 2014]. | |
TABLE D-2 Agency Staffing Structures and Operating Budgets
Agency | Office Staff (proposed fiscal 2015) | School Support Staff (proposed fiscal 2015) | Fiscal 2014 Operating Budget and Proposed Fiscal 2015 Budget |
DCPS Central Office and School Support Staffa
Total FTEs (not including school personnel) SOURCE: Available: http://cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ocfo/publication/attachments/ga_dcps_chapter_2015a.pdf [July 2015]. |
49 106 39 50.5 0 4 11 45 0 304.5 |
99 55 311 10 162 76 9 0 0 632 |
2014: $175,753,000 (for central office and school support) 2015: $175,753,000 |
Total SOURCE: Available: http://cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ocfo/publication/attachments/gb_dcpcsb_chapter_2015a.pdf [July 2015]. |
PCSB [budget document confusing—need to confirm. Website indicates: 2 16 5 4 9 36 |
2014: $4,208,816 2015: $6,741,290 |
Agency | Office Staff (proposed fiscal 2015) | School Support Staff (proposed fiscal 2015) | Fiscal 2014 Operating Budget and Proposed Fiscal 2015 Budget |
OSSE
Total FTEs SOURCE: Available: http://cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ocfo/publication/attachments/gd_osse_chapter_2015a.pdf [July 2015]. Deputy Mayor for Education SOURCE: Available: http://cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ocfo/publication/attachments/gw_dme_chapter_2015a.pdf [July 2015]. |
21.8 0 0 0 38 0 37 21 51 52 45 68.2 48 382 2014: 12 2015: 16 |
None |
2014: $446,685,259 2015: $450, 917,922 Fical 2014 $1,826,134 Fiscal 2015: $6,917,249b |
State Board of Education | 18 | None | 2014: $866,475 2015: $1,151,555c |
aThe positions listed as office staff are management employees. Other support staff, such as managers, coordinators, specialists, analysts, and clerical staff, etc., are included in the school support totals.
bAccording to the fiscal 2015 Budget Guide, the proposed budget “includes a one-time increase of $4,000,000 for the development of a language immersion public charter school campus, which will serve middle and high school students,” as well as “the development and management of an athletic and community meeting space on the grounds of a public charter school” (p. D-135).
cFunding for the Office of the Student Advocate and Office of the Ombudsman were added for fiscal 2015, p. D-129.
SOURCE: All information obtained from District of Columbia Budget Guides for fiscal 2015, available at the website of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer: http://cfo.dc.gov/node/805862 [December 2014].
FIGURE D-1 DCPS organizational chart.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Public Schools (2014f).
FIGURE D-2 Office of the State Superintendent of Education organizational chart.
SOURCE: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (2014c).
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