August 2024 - The Washington Informer - Back to School Supplement

Editorial by WTU's President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons

As many of you know, WTU’s core mission is to encourage our students and their families to make reading a priority. As a Union, we are committed to promoting literacy as a real solution to improving academic achievement so that children can thrive and be productive citizens. To learn more, please read my editorial recently published in The Washington Informer’s Back-to-School Issue here.  

May 16th, 2024 - The Washington Post - DCPS chancellor slams Mendelson plan to shift central office funds to schools - The proposal would threaten the district’s ability to run important programs, he said. 

"The chancellor of D.C. Public Schools has fired back against a proposal that would move $25.4 million from the central office budget into individual schools — a measure that would allow campuses to stave off cuts but that he says could threaten other programs, such as security and swim lessons for third-graders. The proposal from D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) comes as the body pores over a budget plan released by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), and marks the second year in a row that Mendelson has proposed shifting millions from central services to campuses. This year, however, the city’s budget is tighter and the school district cannot use federal pandemic aid — which expires in September — to fill gaps." Read the full story here.

May 13th, 2024 - The Washington Informer - "Once again, the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) and D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) have yet to finalize a new contract, due to what union members describe as delay tactics by central office leadership and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D)." Read the full story here.

Members of Jackson-Reed’s Arab Student Union said they were barred from showing “The Occupation of the American Mind," which has been accused of antisemitism.

December 30th, 2023 - Washington Post reporter Laura Lumpkin reported that parents and teens have accused Jackson-Reed administrators of censorship after shutting down a documentary screening of a documentary on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Read the full story here.

December 5th, 2023 - WJLA Channel 7 News - New Report details startling statistics on chronic absenteeism in DC public schools - This week, The Office of the D.C. State Superintendent of Education issued startling statistics on absenteeism during the last school year. The statistics show that 40% of D.C. students missed 10% or more school days. WTU President, Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, said chronic absenteeism hinders learning.

“You start a lesson or theme of the curriculum on Monday, you have half your kids there,” said Lyons. “And if they come on Tuesday, you have to not only consider the kids who came Monday, you have to consider the kids that weren't there on Monday." Watch the full story here or click on picture above.