Washington, DC—The D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) will hold its monthly public working session on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic continues globally, the State Board is taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our members, staff, and public. Therefore, this meeting will be held as a video web conference. Materials for the State Board meetings can be found on our meeting website. For the most up-to-date information on the District’s COVID-19 response, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov. 

The State Board will begin the February Working Session with a discussion centered on reopening and learning loss. In January, the State Board heard from over 40 public witnesses who expressed concerns about reopening safely, issues with vaccination availability, and learning loss students learning remotely may be experiencing. The State Board will welcome Deputy Mayor of Education, Paul Kihn to gain insight on what is being done across the District to address these concerns. 

The Thrive by Five Program was created to empower and support the families of young children accessing early learning resources. Dr. Faith Gibson Hubbard, Executive Director of Thrive by Five, will join the State Board to further discuss the program and highlight the benefits, resources, and supports available through partnerships and collaborations with the Mayor’s Office. The Thrive by Five Annual Report contains important recommendations in three key areas: Systems Navigation, Maternal Health and Early Learning & Development. 

The State Board will take time to discuss the priorities and initiatives of the Board for the year ahead and State Board committees that will focus on targeted areas of policy, research, and outreach to move the work of the State Board forward. 

The Student Advisory Committee will also give updates on its work, including updating the Board on a survey for students. The next meeting of the Student Advisory Committee will be February 8 at 5:30 pm. All high school students in the District of Columbia are invited to join the Student Advisory Committee. For more information, contact us at [email protected]. 

While working sessions are open to the public, individuals and representatives of organizations are not permitted to speak or participate. Individuals and representatives of organizations may submit written testimony for consideration by the State Board at any time. Written testimony must be submitted by email ([email protected]) at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting, in order to be included in the official record. Materials received after that time will be included in the next official meeting record. To review the agenda, submit testimony, and presentations, please visit the SBOE meeting documents site.

Public Meeting Agenda

Please note that the agenda may be altered, modified, or updated without notice.

I. Call to Order

II. Announcement of a Quorum

III. Reopening & Learning Loss

     i. Paul Kihn, Deputy Mayor of Education

IV. Thrive by Five

     i. Faith Gibson Hubbard, Executive Director, Thrive by Five 

V. Leadership Report 

VI. Executive Director's Report

VII. SBOE Priorities & Establishment of Committees

VIII. SBOE Website Redesign Update

IX. Committee Reports

     i. Student Advisory Committee

X. New Business & Other Discussion

XI. Adjournment 

About the SBOE

The DC State Board of Education is an independent agency within the Government of the District of Columbia that advises the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the District’s state education agency. The State Board is made up of nine elected representatives, each representing their respective wards, with one member representing DC at large, and two appointed student representatives. The State Board approves statewide education policies and sets academic standards, while OSSE oversees education within the District and manages federal education funding. More information about the SBOE can be found at sboe.dc.gov.

For the latest information on the District Government’s response to COVID-19, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.

Contact: Milayo Olufemi

202-710-4641

[email protected]