COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE & COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Return to In-person Instruction in DC Public Schools

Testimony of Elizabeth A. Davis, President

Washington Teachers’ Union

AFT Local 6

Good afternoon. I am Elizabeth Davis, President of the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU). The WTU represents 5,000 active and retired teachers. We are dedicated to social and educational justice for the students of the District of Columbia and to improving the quality of support, resources, compensation and working conditions for the public servants and proud teachers who educate our students.

As I begin this afternoon, I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to mention the opportunity gaps that continue to plague our schools. Many students in our city don’t have access to a librarian. Many students don’t have access to Algebra or Geometry. Many do not receive the same education in social studies or the Arts as their peers in other parts of the city. While the health pandemic has brought renewed attention to the Digital Divide, it has long been a daily obstacle for many of our students. Closing the opportunity gaps that plague our school systems and the resulting achievement gaps (see Appendix 1) must be our daily focus.

I am a teacher. I believe our students are only limited by the opportunities that we provide them. The past year has been difficult for us all. I am immensely proud of our teachers who have opened their homes to students and who have spent countless hours learning new technology and preparing to make their distance classes engaging for their students. Yet, we know that many teachers have struggled to adapt to distance learning. Many students have also struggled. We all yearn for a return to the classroom.

... Read President Davis' full statement here.

Add your reaction Share

Headlines - Mon Nov 30

WJLA - Loudoun & Prince William schools to bring more kids back Dec. 1, Fairfax County holds off

Washington Post – Alexandria City Public Schools switches back to online learning until early 2021

WJLA - D.C. charter school might double number of students after success of boarding program

Washington Post - DeVos calls on Congress to postpone federal standardized exams until 2022

Washington Post - Our crippled schools won’t hurt advantaged parents’ children much

Washington Post - Failing grades spike in Virginia’s largest school system as online learning gap emerges nationwide

Washington Post – Alexandria turns controversy into opportunity by teaching students the racist history behind school names

WJLA - Maryland teachers union calls for statewide virtual learning through end of the semester

Washington Post - What Biden actually promised about replacing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos

Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Joe Nocera: Teachers' unions that resist keeping schools open are putting students first

Add your reaction Share

FY2022 DCPS Budget Statement

DC Public Schools

Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Budget Engagement

November 23, 2020

Good evening. I am Elizabeth Davis, President of the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU). The WTU represents 5,000 active and retired teachers. We are dedicated to social and educational justice for the students of the District of Columbia and to improving the quality of support, resources, compensation and working conditions for the public servants and proud teachers who educate our students.

I am a teacher. I believe our students are only limited by the opportunities that we provide them. As we begin conversations about the upcoming budget, I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to highlight the opportunity gaps that continue to plague our schools and many students. While the health pandemic has brought renewed attention to these gaps, we have long known that they have existed. It is time that we acknowledge the impact that these opportunity gaps – especially the digital divide – has on the achievement of our students. And, as we emerge from this crisis, it is critical that the FY2022 DCPS budget adequately reflects our reality and adequately invests in all our students (see Appendix 1).

The budgeting process is full of choices.

Headlines - Mon, Nov 23

The Georgetown Voice - DC must do more to protect the most vulnerable from the effects of COVID-19

Washington Times: DC schools chief says only 50% of students signed up to return in person showed up: Report

WLXT - Schools are 'one of the safest places' for kids during pandemic, CDC director says

The Hill - Washington Teachers' Union declines DC public schools reopening proposal

WTOP - CARE classrooms: What does distance learning look like inside DC schools?

The Hill - Washington Teachers' Union declines DC public schools reopening proposal

DCist - Washington Teachers' Union Rejects School Reopening Agreement With DC Public Schools

WUSA9.com - Washington Teachers' Union will not sign agreement to reopen DC Public Schools

Washington Post - Once again, a deal between DC and the teachers union collapses

Washington City Paper - Mendelson Dismisses Silverman's Bill on School Reopening

Washington Times - Teachers unions leading fight against parents, students to keep schools closed

Add your reaction Share

Statement: Washington DC Teachers’ Will Not Sign MOA with DCPS

For Immediate Release

Washington DC Teachers’ Will Not Sign Agreement to Reopen Schools to In-Person Learning

Cites rising COVID-19 Rates and Constantly Shifting DCPS Plans

WASHINGTON — The Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) President Elizabeth Davis released the following statement regarding today after declining to sign a tentative Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DC Public Schools.

“Over the past few weeks, we have worked diligently with our partners at DC Public Schools to create a framework that would allow our students to safely resume in-person learning in the coming weeks. However, given the lack of clear public health guidelines and the lack of engagement with administrators and teachers around reopening plans, the WTU has determined it is not in the best interest of our students, teachers, and all school-based employees to sign the MOA at this time.