Opening Statement of Councilmember Grosso

Committee on Education
FY2019 Budget Oversight Hearing on D.C. Public Schools
Government Witnesses
April 19, 2018
Across 115 schools, DCPS serves 48,555 public school students. Its purpose is to ensure that
every by-right, neighborhood school provides a world-class education that prepares all of our
students, regardless of background or circumstance, for success in college, career, and life.
These budget oversight hearings give us an opportunity to look forward to the coming fiscal
year and what the Mayor and the Chancellor are proposing to accomplish in the future, while
also following up on questions asked during performance oversight.
Prior to this hearing, the Committee on Education sent DCPS a series of in-depth questions to
help us and the public to prepare. Those responses are available online on the Council website
and my website. My questions today will be mainly follow-ups to those responses as well as
issues that were raised by the public.
At the time of the performance oversight hearings, Interim Chancellor Alexander had only
been in the role for a week, but she has decades of experience working for DCPS. Today will
give us an opportunity to have a more in-depth conversation about the vision of DCPS and
connecting that vision to funding allocations.
For this Council Period, I am focusing on the implementation of legislation and policies
advanced by the Committee as much as new legislation. The fidelity of implementation is so
important because of the thought and time that goes into legislation. I do not believe I am
accomplishing my work as Chairperson of the Committee if I am not also ensuring that the
laws we pass are honored and budgeted for, and that we track the results.
This will remain a theme throughout my questions, along with specific concerns raised by
constituents in last week’s hearing and with my office. I will say that as part of this focus, I
continue to learn that the Executive and other agencies openly admit to not following the law.
It disappoints me gravely – although I appreciate their honesty – to have executive witnesses
state on the record that they are not following the law.
The Council’s only recourse is to file suit against the agencies or limit and restrict budget.
Given what I have heard so far from many of the agencies in my cluster, we will be making
budget decisions in the next two weeks that will help them with their struggle to follow the
law.
With that, I would like to thank you Interim Chancellor Alexander and your staff for being here
today. I look forward to hearing what you have to say and the conversation thereafter.
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