Beginning this summer, PAVE parent leaders have worked tirelessly for this very moment: the release of their Statements of Beliefs! Included in the statements are policy SOLUTIONS that parent leaders have identified as critical to making their vision for OST programs and SBMHa reality!
PAVE parent leaders have prioritized both of these issues for years, and their fight has helped secure budget increases, expanded access to supports and programs for families across the District, and helped improve family engagement and implementation for each area.
Despite the wins resulting from PAVE parent leaders’ and our partners’ fierce advocacy, there is more work to be done to ensure ALL students and families in the District are served equitably.
To our DC leaders and policymakers: You have been champions of many of the funding asks parent leaders have made around each of these priorities in the past, but families are still not seeing, or feeling the impact of OST programs and SBMH supports delivered equitably in our schools or communities. Parents’ Statements of Beliefs on each issue can serve as a roadmap for how to get these dollars to families fairly. We cannot wait to meet with policymakers beginning January 23rd during DC Parent Voice and Choice Week (DCPVCW) to discuss these proposed solutions further!
Read BOTH Statements of Beliefs!
Want more details? Read the full roadmap parent leaders created for our DC leaders by clicking below:
Developing parent leaders’ Statements of Beliefs is a process that spans across the summer, fall, and winter!
>> Hearing from the Community:
Early last year, we learned about 325 DC families’ experiences through the Parent Policy Summit Issue Selection Survey! The results informed the top 5 issues that were on the ballot at PAVE's annual PAVE Parent Policy Summit this past June.
>> Selecting TWO Top Policy Priorities:
At the Summit, 69 parent leaders shared and voted on the issues they identified as most critical to their children’s education.They selected this year’s #ParentPriorities:
>> Building Policy Expertise and Brainstorming Solutions:
Throughout the summer and fall, parent leaders became policy experts and shared their vision for OST and SBMH through PLE Board meetings and Coffee Chats. In total, the statements were informed by insights from 505 DC parents via OST and SBMH Parent Survey results, focus groups, house and community partner meetings, as well as 1:1s.
>> Giving Feedback & Finalizing Policy Solutions:
Last month, our Ward-based Parent Leaders in Education (PLE) Board members came together at All Ward Learning Day to discuss the policy solutions for OST programs and SBMH supports that were brainstormed by PAVE’s Citywide PLE Board. It was POWERFUL to see PLE Board members gather in community, learn from each other about their lived experiences, and facilitate conversations that provided strong feedback on the policy solutions they want to see our District leaders implement this year.
Over the course of 5 days, PAVE parent leaders will chair meetings with DC’s elected leaders and policymakers, ask questions, and share their stories and perspectives - including their Statements of Beliefs on OST programs and SBMH!
[left] PAVE parent leaders and Ward 6 Councilmember, Charles Allen at DCPVCW 2020
[right] PAVE parent leaders and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White at DCPVCW 2020
We are looking forward to our scheduled meetings with:
Mayor Muriel Bowser
Deputy Mayor of Education, Paul Kihn
Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services, Wayne Turnage
Council Chairman, Phil Mendelson
Ward 4 Councilmember, Janeese Lewis George
Ward 5 Councilmember, Zachary Parker
Ward 6 Councilmember, Charles Allen
Ward 7 Councilmember, Vincent Gray
Ward 8 Councilmember, Trayon White
At-Large Councilmember, Anita Bonds
At-Large Councilmember, Christina Henderson
At-Large Councilmember, Kenyan McDuffie
At-Large Councilmember, Robert White
PAVE parent leaders also look forward to meeting with:
