March 27, 2026

➡️ Charter students are not worth less— and the Mayor needs to hear it directly. Before the FY27 budget is sent to the Council, we're asking every school community to make that message clear. Share our call to action with your families, educators, and board members today— one click lets them send a direct message to the Mayor and Councilmembers in support of equitable charter funding. Send a message here. Let’s show our Strength in Numbers!

➡️ Build your testimony bench— now. The Mayor's FY27 budget proposal is expected around April 2, and hearings will follow fast— some just days after the proposal is released. Start identifying educators, parents, and other members of your school community who can be ready to testify on short notice. We're asking every LEA to have at least one or two voices ready for budget hearings for the following agencies: DBH, DC Health, PCSB, OSSE, and DME/SBOE. We'll notify you as soon as hearings are formally posted to the Council website. You can see the anticipated calendar below.

➡️ Register and Share:  FY27 Budget Advocacy & Testimony Trainings— Monday, April 6. We're hosting two sessions to accommodate schedules: 12:00–1:00 PM [Register here] and 6:00–7:00 PM [Register here]. Both sessions will be held via Zoom webinar. Whether you're new to budget advocacy or a seasoned testifier, this training will prepare you and your community for the hearings ahead. Please note this date has changed from our previous announcement.

Strength in Numbers: Charter Students Showed Up— and Showed Out

Last week's Student Voices on Education Roundtable made one thing clear: charter school students are powerful advocates for themselves and their schools. Over 140 students testified at the hearing— and charter students made up roughly a third of all testimony— representing 18 LEAs across the district. You can watch the entire hearing here.

Our students spoke about teachers who changed their lives and schools where they feel safe, seen, and challenged. They spoke about the remarkable programs at their charter schools that are opening doors they didn't know existed. Their message to policymakers was clear: equitably and fully funding charter schools is critically important. 

This was a testament not just to our students, but to the school leaders and staff who prepared and supported them. You showed up, and it showed.

We're featuring a few of these voices here— but every single student who testified last week deserves recognition. 

Watch students from Paul PCS, Friendship PCS, Creative Minds PCS, and an adult learner from Briya PCS share why their schools matter:

Justin Jimenez - PAUL PCS

Mia Reyes - Creative Minds PCS

Mason Symes - Friendship Armstrong

Francisco Hernandez - Briya PCS

This energy is exactly what we'll need as budget hearings approach. The Mayor's FY27 budget is expected to drop early April, and budget hearings will follow quickly. Our students just reminded every Councilmember what's at stake. Now it's our turn to keep that pressure on.

FY27 Budget Advocacy Efforts

The Mayor's budget proposal has been expected around April 2— but as of this writing, it's looking like the release may be delayed a few days. Here's what we know: whether the budget lands on April 2 or shortly after, the hearing schedule is likely to move quickly once it does. The dates below may shift, but we don't expect them to shift much. Pencil them in, prepare your community, and stay ready for a fast turnaround. We'll keep you updated as the picture becomes clearer.

First things first: make sure your school community is registered for one of our two Budget Advocacy & Testimony Training sessions on Monday, April 6— 12:00–1:00 PM [Register here] or 6:00–7:00 PM [Register here]. These Zoom webinars are the best way to get your team ready for what's ahead.

Public Testimony Opportunities:

• Monday, April 6 @ 9:00 AM TENTATIVE— DGS
• Tuesday, April 7 @ 12:00 PM TENTATIVE— DC Health
• Wednesday, April 8 @ 9:30 AM TENTATIVE— DDOT (Adult Learner Transit Subsidy)
• Thursday, April 9 @ 9:00 AM TENTATIVE— DC Public Schools & DC Public Charter School Board
• Thursday, April 9 @ 9:00 AM TENTATIVE— Dept. of For-Hire Vehicles
• Monday, April 20 @ 9:00 AM TENTATIVE— DBH
• Thursday, April 23 @ 9:00 AM TENTATIVE— Office of the Ombudsman, SBOE, Office of the Student Advocate, Deputy Mayor of Education
• Friday, April 24 @ 9:00 AM TENTATIVE— OSSE
• Friday, May 1 @ 9:00 AM TENTATIVE— Local Budget and Budget Support Act Hearing

We'll be in touch with more details— including testimony guidance and registration links— as soon as hearings are formally noticed on the Council website.

Recess at the Capitol

On March 13, SBOE Ward 8 Representative Dr. LaJoy Johnson-Law hosted her third Recess at the Capitol event, bringing together DC families to celebrate and advocate for public education in the District. The Alliance was proud to co-sponsor and support the event. Dr. Johnson-Law continues to demonstrate exceptional leadership in creating spaces where families can show up for DC's students— and we're grateful to be a partner in that work.

SBOE Spotlight

At their March Public Meeting, the SBOE hosted a panel discussion on ELA curriculum. Kat Merrill, Managing Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Center City PCS, shared her school's work to adopt high-quality instructional materials— including the research process behind selecting a new curriculum, best practices learned along the way, and their efforts to align with the science of reading in early elementary grades. Her responses to board member questions highlighted the benefits of flexibility, the importance of ongoing learning and iteration, and the real budgetary implications of this work. The panel also featured Corie Colgan, Chief of Teaching and Learning at DCPS; Natalie Wexler, a nationally recognized literacy expert; and Karen Vaites, Founder of the Curriculum Insights Project.

Advocacy Tip: Your Testimony Is a Story, Not a Statistic

Budget hearings can feel intimidating— especially when the conversation is dominated by numbers, formulas, and per-pupil calculations. But the testimony that moves Councilmembers isn't usually the data. It's the story behind the data.

As you build your testimony bench for the weeks ahead, help your witnesses find their "why." A teacher whose extra time with a struggling student turned things around. A parent who chose your school because it was the only place her child felt seen. A student whose trajectory changed because of a program that only exists because of equitable funding. These are the moments that make budget numbers real— and make Councilmembers remember why they're there.

The data makes the case. The story makes it stick.