District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B25-1065 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
2	2	The John A. Wilson Building
3	3	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, nw
4	4	Washington, D.C. 20004
5	5	Statement of Introduction
6	6	Board of Trustees Training Amendment Act of 2024
7	7	December 2
8	8	, 2024
9	9	Tod
10	10	ay, I am proud to introduce the Board of Trustees Training Amendment Act of 2024 , along with
11	11	Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George and Anita
12	12	Bonds. This legislation w ould require the Public
13	13	Charter School Board (PCSB), in coordinatio
14	14	n with th e Office of the State Su perintendent of
15	15	Education (OSSE), to offer a n
16	16	o-cost training pro gram for newly elected or appointed members of a
17	17	public charter school’s Bo
18	18	ard of Trustees. This training must be co mpleted within 90 days of a
19	19	member’s election or appointment, repeated annually, and
20	20	include critical topics such as instruction
21	21	and
22	22	academic prog rams, personnel managemen t, fiscal management, o perations, governance, an d any
23	23	relevant
24	24	changes to federal and District laws and regulations.
25	25	Effective governance is essential to the success and sustainability
26	26	of charter schools. In th e District,
27	27	g
28	28	overnance lapses—particularly in financial managemen t—have jeopardized the stability of sch ools,
29	29	leading to
30	30	closures and significant disruptions in stu dents' education. These disruptions not only
31	31	displace students but also create lo
32	32	ng-term instability, impacting their academic progress and well-
33	33	b
34	34	eing. Such failures undermin e public trust and prevent schools from providing co nsistent, h igh-
35	35	quality learning environments. This legislation addresses these challenges b
36	36	y requiring
37	37	co
38	38	mprehensive training for all new and returning board members, equ ipping them with the tools an d
39	39	k
40	40	nowledge necessary to uphold their fiduciary responsibilities and promote effective governance
41	41	practices.
42	42	Several jurisdictions have recognized the need for stronger charter
43	43	school governance by requiring
44	44	board member training. Flo
45	45	rida mandates training within 90 days of charter ap proval, covering b est
46	46	p
47	47	ractices, co mpliance with public records laws, an d state regulations on finance, facilities, and
48	48	operation
49	49	s. Nevada requires board memb ers to sign affidavits affirming their understanding of roles
50	50	and
51	51	responsibilities, while New Jersey man dates legal training for new board members and an nual
52	52	governance train
53	53	ing for all members. These examples underscore the importance of equipping charter
54	54	b
55	55	oards with the tools needed for effective oversight—a step the District should take with this
56	56	legislatio
57	57	n.
58	58	I loo
59	59	k forward to working with my Council colleagues to ensure charter school boards in the District
60	60	are equipped with th
61	61	e training and resources needed to govern effectively, maintain financial
62	62	accountability, and deliver quality
63	63	education.
64	64	Christina Henderson Committee Member
65	65	Councilmember, At-Large Hospital and Health Equity
66	66	Chairperson, Committee on Health Judiciary and Public Safety
67	67	Transportation and the Environment ______________________________ ______________________________ 1
68	68	Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Christina Henderson 2
69	69	3
70	70	4
71	71	5
72	72	______________________________ 6
73	73	Councilmember Anita Bonds 7
74	74	8
75	75	9
76	76	10
77	77	11
78	78	12
79	79	A BILL 13
80	80	14
81	81	_______________ 15
82	82	16
83	83	17
84	84	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 18
85	85	19
86	86	_______________________ 20
87	87	21
88	88	To amend the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 to require members of a Board of 22
89	89	Trustees of a public charter school to complete training programs on best practices for 23
90	90	school board governance. 24
91	91	25
92	92	BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 26
93	93	act may be cited as the “Board of Trustees Training Amendment Act of 2024”. 27
94	94	Sec. 2. Section 2214 of the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995, approved 28
95	95	April 26, 1996 (110 Stat. 1321-107; D.C. Official Code § 38-1802.14.), is amended by adding a 29
96	96	new subsection (k) to read as follows: 30
97	97	“(k) School governance mandatory training. – Beginning in School Year 2025-2026, 31
98	98	the Public Charter School Board shall, in coordination with the Office of the State 32
99	99	Superintendent, offer a no-cost training program for newly elected or appointed members of a 33
100	100	Board of Trustees of a public charter school. This training shall be completed within 90 days of a 34
101	101	member's election or appointment and repeated annually . The training shall include, at a 35
102	102	minimum, the following; 36 “(1) Instruction and academic programs; 37
103	103	“(2) Personnel; 38
104	104	“(3) Fiscal Management; 39
105	105	“(4) Operations; 40
106	106	“(5) Governance; 41
107	107	“(6) Responsibilities under Federal and District law and regulation; and 42
108	108	“(7) Any relevant changes to Federal and District law and regulation.”. 43
109	109	Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 44
110	110	The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 45
111	111	impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 46
112	112	approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 47
113	113	Sec. 4. Effective date. 48
114	114	This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 49
115	115	Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and a 30-day period of congressional review 50
116	116	as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 51
117	117	24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 52