Chapter 1A. District of Columbia Public Schools.

§ 38–170. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

(1) "DCPS" means the District of Columbia Public Schools system.

(2) "Educator" includes a principal, assistant principal, teacher, assistant teacher, paraprofessional, school psychologist or counselor, or any person who provides professional educational services or psychological services at a school.

(3) "Educator Preparation Program" means a program preparing teachers, service providers, and administrators for District of Columbia pre-kindergarten through grade 12 schools that has been determined by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to meet state standards for preparing candidates to enter the profession.

(4) "Personal Identifiable Information" means information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity, either alone or when combined with other personal or identifying information that is linked or linkable to a specific individual.

§ 38–171. District of Columbia Public Schools agency; establishment.

Pursuant to § 1-204.04(b), the Council establishes the District of Columbia Public Schools (“DCPS”) as a separate cabinet-level agency, subordinate to the Mayor, within the executive branch of the District of Columbia government.

(June 12, 2007, D.C. Law 17-9, § 102, 54 DCR 4102.)

Section References

This section is referenced in § 38-753.02, § 38-755.02, § 38-781.01, § 38-821.01, and § 38-2601.02.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 4003 of Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-383, June 19, 2012, 59 DCR 7764).

For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 4082 of Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-383, June 19, 2012, 59 DCR 7764).

For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 4003 of Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-413, July 25, 2012, 59 DCR 9290).

For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 4082 of Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-413, July 25, 2012, 59 DCR 9290).

Editor's Notes

Section 4145 of D.C. Law 21-160 provided for District of Columbia Public Schools reporting requirements.

Applicability: Section 107 of Law 17-9 provided that this title shall apply upon Congressional enactment of Title IX. Congress enacted the provisions of Title IX in Pub. L. 110-33, approved June 1, 2007.

Mayor's Orders

Final Action on Closings and Consolidations of District of Columbia Public Schools, see Mayor’s Order 2011-42, February 11, 2011 ( 58 DCR 1497).

§ 38–172. Mayor’s authority; rulemaking.

(a) The Mayor shall govern the public schools in the District of Columbia. The Mayor shall have authority over all curricula, operations, functions, budget, personnel, labor negotiations and collective bargaining agreements, facilities, and other education-related matters, but shall endeavor to keep teachers in place after the start of the school year and transfer teachers, if necessary, during summer break.

(b) The Mayor may delegate any of his authority to a designee as he or she determines is warranted for efficient and sound administration and to further the purpose of DCPS to educate all students enrolled within its schools or learning centers consistent with District-wide standards of academic achievement.

(c)(1) In accordance with Chapter 5 of Title 2, the Mayor shall promulgate rules and regulations governing DCPS, including rules governing the process by which the Mayor and DCPS will seek and utilize public comment in the development of policy.

(2) Proposed rules shall be submitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed rules, by resolution, within the 45-day review period, the proposed rules shall be deemed approved.

(June 12, 2007, D.C. Law 17-9, § 103, 54 DCR 4102.)

Section References

This section is referenced in § 38-174.

Mayor's Orders

Transfer of Property—District of Columbia Public Schools, see Mayor’s Order 2008-104, July 29, 2008 ( 55 DCR 9386).

Transfer of the Hine Junior High School located at 302 8th Street, SE, Washington, D.C. from District of Columbia Public Schools to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic, see Mayor’s Order 2010-62, April 23, 2010 ( 57 DCR 3510).

Transfer of Webb Elementary School located at 1375 Mount Olivet Road, NE, Washington, D.C. from District of Columbia Public Schools to the Department of Real Estate Services, see Mayor’s Order 2010-182, December 31, 2010 ( 57 DCR 12643).

Delegation of Authority

Delegation of the Mayor’s Authority under the Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007 to chair Special Community Meeting Relating to Reorganization and Rightsizing Plan for the District of Columbia Public Schools, see Mayor’s Order 2008-35, February 27, 2008 ( 55 DCR 5298).

Delegation of Authority—Director of the Department of Employment Services, see Mayor’s Order 2009-115, June 19, 2009 ( 56 DCR 6864).

Delegation of Official to Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) to execute a Ground Lease for the Scott Montgomery School, see Mayor’s Order 2011-130, August 8, 2011 ( 58 DCR 7325).

§ 38–173. Budget requirements of the District of Columbia Public Schools. [Repealed]

Repealed.

§ 38–174. Chancellor; appointment; duties.

(a) The DCPS shall be administered by a Chancellor, who shall be appointed pursuant to § 1-523.01(a), and in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. The Chancellor shall:

(1) Be the chief executive officer of DCPS;

(2) Be qualified by experience and training for the position; and

(3) Serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.

(b)(1) Prior to the selection of a nominee for Chancellor, the Mayor shall:

(A) Establish a review panel of teachers, including representatives of the Washington Teachers Union, parents, and students (“panel”) to aid the Mayor in his or her selection of Chancellor;

(B) Provide the resumes and other pertinent information pertaining to the individuals under consideration, if any, to the panel; and

(2) The Mayor shall consider the opinions and recommendations of the panel in making his or her nomination and shall give great weight to any recommendation of the Washington Teachers Union.

(1) Organize the agency for efficient operation;

(2) Create offices within the agency, as necessary;

(3) Exercise the powers necessary and appropriate to operate the schools and school system and to implement applicable provisions of District and federal law;

(4) Communicate with the collective bargaining unit for the employees under his or her administration;

(5) Promulgate and implement rules and regulations necessary and appropriate to accomplish his or her duties and functions in accordance with § 38-172 and Chapter 5 of Title 2; [§ 2-501 et seq.], including rules and regulations governing the use of DCPS funds for DCPS-sponsored student travel, including the cost of transportation, lodging, meals, and admission fees for students and adult chaperones, to locations and venues outside DCPS facilities; provided, that such travel be related to the students' curriculum or for the purpose of rewarding student curricular or extra-curricular achievement;

(6) Obtain parental input as required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, approved January 8, 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107-110; 115 Stat. 1425), and in accordance with the rules promulgated pursuant to this chapter;

(7) Hold public meetings, at least quarterly;

(8) Exercise, to the extent that such authority is delegated by the Mayor,:

(A) Personnel authority; and

(B) Procurement authority independent of the Office of Contracting and Procurement, consistent with Unit A of Chapter 3 of Title 2 [§ 2-301.01 et seq.];

(9) Maintain clean and safe school facilities; and

(10) Create and operate a District-wide database that records the condition of all school facilities under the control of DCPS, which database shall be updated as necessary, but at least once per calendar year.

(d)(1) By November 30, 2024, and annually by November 30 thereafter, the Chancellor shall publish an Educator Exit Survey Report ("report"), that provides the results of exit surveys from the previous school year, and shall:

(A) Make public a summary of the surveys used to gather the necessary information to publish this report;

(B) Make public the data used to furnish the report without any personal identifiable information;

(C) Publish the number and percentage of educators systemwide and by school who left the employ of their schools or the employ of DCPS, disaggregated by:

(i) Number of years of service at the school site;

(ii) Number of years of service in DCPS;

(iii) Race;

(iv) Gender;

(v) Reason for leaving;

(vi) Job title;

(vii) Ward in which school is located;

(viii) Educator preparation program, if applicable;

(ix) Score on most recent evaluation, if applicable;

(x) Grade level taught, if applicable; and

(xi) Subject taught or relevant position; and

(D) Highlight schools retaining more of their educators than other schools with similar student demographics and the practices those schools implement to retain educators.

(2) The data collected to publish the report shall be collected, stored, and presented in a way that protects all personal identifiable information from disclosure.

(June 12, 2007, D.C. Law 17-9, § 105, 54 DCR 4102; Oct. 8, 2016, D.C. Law 21-160, § 4013, 63 DCR 10775; Sept. 6, 2023, D.C. Law 25-50, § 4162(b), 70 DCR 10366.)

Section References

This section is referenced in § 38-755.02, § 38-781.01, and § 38-781.06.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5 of Fiscal Year 2016 Second Revised Budget Request Emergency Adjustment Act of 2016 (D.C. Act 21-415, June 15, 2016, 63 DCR 8810).

Delegation of Authority

Delegation of Authority—Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools, see Mayor’s Order 2007-158, July 5, 2007 ( 54 DCR 9617).

Revised Delegation of Authority to Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools, see Mayor’s Order 2007-11622, August 10, 2007

§ 38–174.01. Event sponsorships, sales of intellectual property and tickets; establishment of special fund.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools may:

(1) Contract for advertisements for and sponsorships of District of Columbia Public Schools athletics programs or events, community engagement events, educational programs, or facilities improvements for the purpose of generating resources for the District of Columbia Public Schools;

(2) With the approval of the Mayor, sell or license intellectual property rights of the District for intellectual property created by the District of Columbia Public Schools for use by the District of Columbia Public Schools; and

(3) Sell tickets to District of Columbia Public Schools athletic events and school performances.

(b)(1) There is established as a special fund the District of Columbia Public Schools Sales and Sponsorship Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the District of Columbia Public Schools in accordance with paragraph (3) of this subsection.

(2) Revenue from the following sources shall be deposited into the Fund:

(A) Contracts for advertisements for and sponsorships of athletics programs and events, community engagement events, educational programs, or facilities improvements entered into pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section;

(B) The sale or license of intellectual property rights pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section; and

(C) The sale of tickets to District of Columbia Public Schools athletic events and school performances pursuant to subsection (a)(3) of this section.

(3) Money in the Fund shall be used to support the operations of the District of Columbia Public Schools, including instruction, education programs, human resources, athletics, the arts, and community engagement.

(4)(A) The money deposited into the Fund shall not revert to the unrestricted fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the end of a fiscal year, or at any other time.

(B) Subject to authorization in an approved budget and financial plan, any funds appropriated in the Fund shall be continually available without regard to fiscal year limitation.

§ 38–174.02. District of Columbia Public Schools Flexible Schedule Pilot.

(a) In Fiscal Year 2024, DCPS shall provide up to $400,000 per school to 6 or more schools for the purpose of continuing, creating, or planning scheduling arrangements that allow for variation in instructional calendars and formats on a daily or weekly basis for the schools' educators while continuing to provide academic instruction to students.

(b) By February 15, 2024, DCPS shall provide a report to Council that:

(1) Accounts for Fiscal Year 2024 funds spent and anticipated to be spent pursuant to subsection (a) of this section;

(2) Explains whether DCPS anticipates exhausting appropriated funds by the end of the school year; and

(3) Identifies schools that requested to receive funds pursuant to subsection (a) of this section but were not selected and provides a justification for each school's exclusion.

(c) For the purposes of this section, the term "educator" includes a principal, assistant principal, teacher, assistant teacher, paraprofessional, school psychologist or counselor, all school service providers, or any person who provides professional educational services or education psychological services at a school.

§ 38–175. Transfers; continuation.

(a) All functions, authority, programs, positions, personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds available or to be made available to the Board of Education, as the local education agency, established pursuant to § 1-204.95 [repealed] for the purpose of providing educational services to residents of the District of Columbia are transferred to the Mayor.

(b) All rules, orders, obligations, determinations, grants, contracts, licenses, and agreements of the Board of Education and the District of Columbia Public Schools transferred to the Mayor under subsection (a) of this section shall continue in effect according to their terms until lawfully amended, repealed, or modified.