[WardFive] FYI: Budget Support Act to be reviewed today

FYI

The Council will do the first reading of the Budget Support Act today. Included in the proposals from the Committee on Education is a request for a 2million dollar grant for Washington Latin Charter School and a 2million dollar grant for charter school DC International.  There are 58 separate school systems in DC. The 57 privately run charter schools receive about $3,000 dollars per student for their building expenses above the operating dollars they receive.  DCPS receives its capital dollars as part of the capital budget.   Here is the wording and specific recommendation.  Below is the contact information for the Council Members.  Please weigh in on this!

The Committee on Education recommendations for the next budget includes the following items:  "the Deputy Mayor for Education shall have grant-making authority solely for the following purposes: (1) Providing an operational grant of $2,000,000 for the development of a language immersion public charter school campus serving middle and high school-aged students in the District; and (2) Providing an operational grant of $2,000,000 to support the project development and management of an athletic and community meeting space on the grounds of a public charter school that provides a classical education to students in grades 5 through 12."

The Committee of the Whole should strongly examine and question this grantmaking authority and examine the authorization of operating funds for the very specific purposes outlined in the report.

These proposed targeted grants raise serious issues:

• However laudable the organizations and purpose, the grants are the functional equivalent of  prohibited 'earmarks'
• The grants set a precedent in that they are 'pass-thrus' since the Committtee recommendations include no policies, procedures, personnel or funding for grantmaking within the ODME equivalent to the requirements imposed on other agencies with grantmaking authority
• Also, they set a precedent for providing the Charter School sector with "capital budget-like" facilities assistance through operational funds.
  

If providing such assistance for charter schools is deemed a significant need for the city, then the issue and the proposed processes should be debated and dealt with publicly with separate legislation and hearings, not as an 'earmark'. This would ensure that the public is truly able to weigh in on such a matter.

Whether you are in support or in opposition to the items mentioned above, you should contact the Councilmembers to let your voice and input be known.
 

Chairman Phil Mendelson* 202-724-8032  pmendelson@dccouncil.us

David Catania# at large 202-724-7772 dcatania@dccouncil.us  (chairs
education committee)
Vincent Orange at large 202-724-8174 vorange@dccouncil.us
David Grosso at large 202-724-8105 dgrosso@dccouncil.us (education committee)
Anita Bonds* at large 202-724-8064 abonds@dccouncil.us
Jim Graham Ward 1 202-724-8181 jgraham@dccouncil.us (out of office January 2015)
Jack Evans Ward 2 202-724-8058 jevans@dccouncil.us
Mary Cheh* Ward 3 202-724-8062 mcheh@dccouncil.us
Muriel Bowser# Ward 4 202-724-8052 mbowser@dccouncil.us (DCI in Ward 4)
Kenyan McDuffie* Ward 5 202-724-8928 kmcduffie@dccouncil.us (Yu Ying in Ward 5)
Tommy Wells Ward 6 202-724-8072 twells@dccouncil.us  (education committee)
Yvette Alexander Ward 7 202-724-8068 yalexander@dccouncil.us
(education committee)
Marion Barry Ward 8 202-724-8045 mbarry@dccouncil.us (education committee)

----

The Ward Five Council on Education
Join our listserv!
Phone: 202-505-4309

Email: ward5coe@gmail.com

http://w5coe.org/

Are you on Facebook? Like Us - The Ward Five Council on Education
Follow us on Twitter: @Ward5EdCouncil

About the Ward Five Council on Education:
The Ward Five Council on Education is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in Ward 5. The Council provides a forum for community stakeholders to share and resolve issues surrounding Ward 5 schools and works closely with the District of Columbia’s education community to ensure that the quality of public schools – both traditional and charter – is exactly what Ward 5 students, parents, and the community at large deserve. Learn more at www.w5coe.org.