EmpowerEd

Building a more just & equitable DC education system by centering the voices of diverse educators, creating a culture of shared leadership & improving retention

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

We’re so grateful to @ChmnMendelson & team for listening to teachers and funding critical priorities!
✅ Community Schools + DCPS Connected Schools fully restored
✅ Experiential learning grants restored
✅ Educator wellness grants restored
✅ IMPACT task force
+ much more!

@maustermuhle @tomsherwood @SamPKCollins

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

This morning we rallied to save DC community schools- proven to improve student achievement, attendance and support families. We ask the DC council to restore $4 million in @OSSEDC competitive grants and DCPS Connected Schools. $178,000 per school for a robust model x 23 schools= $4M! @ChmnMendelson @BrianneKNadeau @CMBrookePinto @CMFrumin @CMLewisGeorgeW4 @CMZParker5 @CMCharlesAllen @CMWendellFelder @trayonwhite @DoniCrawford @CMCHenderson @AnitaBondsDC @CMRobertWhiteDC @CISNation @FairBudgetDC

[Alex Koma @AlexKomaDC]

New: Bowser's budget includes big cuts/major changes to mental health services in schools.

Educators, parents and advocates are sounding the alarm, fearing the loss of the city's only mobile crisis response unit and other huge shifts impacting school clinicians:

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

🚨 WE'RE LIVE for our rally to SAVE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS! Tune in now: https://t.co/M8pmF9wI1H

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

This is why if we had an in depth conversation on things like improving teacher PD, flexible scheduling & growth based evaluation systems- things we've advocated- I think you'd see those are how we focus on improving student outcomes in 2026, rather that systems designed for 2007 realities.

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

@mattyglesias Oops- maybe you forgot the study by American University that found racial bias in the evaluation system itself.

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

@mattyglesias Would advise you to look at systems like Peer Assistance and Review. There is still accountability for very ineffective educators- but the focus of the system is on improvement in pedagogy through peer learning.

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

Just pay based on seniority is NOT the kind of system we advocate for. We want a system focused on growing the expertise of the vast majority of teachers who are in the middle effectiveness wise rather than focus on identifying the very small number at the bottom. That's how you improve student outcomes.

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

Here's a quote from DC Prep, which participated: "Overall, the Pilot Teacher Program has contributed to 92 percent retention of Pilot Teachers at DC Prep and has simultaneously helped prepare Junior Teachers to become effective lead teachers by their second year at DC Prep. The DC Prep team will continue to implement its Pilot Teacher Program in the 2025-26 school year"

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

@mattyglesias @DCWard7teacher @AshleySchapitl In fact, DC already ran a pilot to extend flexible scheduling. At a cost of just $210,000 per schools. Here's some outcomes from @OSSEDC report. First- 50 percent of students said it made them more likely to come. We know how much of a challenge absenteeism is.

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

@mattyglesias @DCWard7teacher @AshleySchapitl Moreover- this isn't new. Many DC charter schools with outstanding results have been using flexible scheduling models for years. There are dozens of models- but schools choose ones that work for their community after engaging families, students and educators.

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

Now you could poke holes in any of these models in particular- our full report has many more models. But the idea is to allow a school community with strong engagement from students, educators and families to choose the schedule that meets THEIR needs best!

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

Flexible scheduling would not reduce instructional time. It provides both educators more time to plan and create effective lessons and student more time to get targeted learning and enrichment opportunities. Let's start by understanding the need for flexible scheduling ⏬

[Ashley Schapitl @AshleySchapitl]

@DCWard7teacher Wouldn't flexible scheduling reduce instruction time as I've seen proposals where this means four days per week of school? What is the plan to measure achievement in lieu of testing? DCPS is showing real progress here.

[EmpowerEd @EmpowerEdDC]

School schedules have been mostly the same for decades. We have to solve for both educator burnout and student disengagement! #FlexibleScheduling provides many options to do this. And many are already successfully being implemented, including in DC, with great success!