DCParent AdvisoryCommittee

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) invites parents and other primary caregivers of children attending public school in the District of Columbia to apply to serve on OSSE’s Parent Advisory Committeefor a period of two consecutive years. The Panel will meet four times annually and will advise the State Superintendent and OSSE and serve as liaisons to their communities.

WHY ESTABLISH APARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE?

As the state education agency for the District of Columbia, it is OSSE’s goal to ensure that all students in the District have access to an excellent education that prepares them for college, career, and a successful life. OSSE supports the efforts of DC Public Schools, charter organizations, and child care providers to accelerate academic achievement among children residing in the District.One of the ways that OSSE supports education is developing and implementing policies and providing resources and training opportunities to improve education for all students.

OSSE needs parent and caregiver input because parents have the best understanding of the needs and experiences of their children.Parents can offer unique insight about existing and proposed policies and strategies based on their personal experiences in supporting their children’s education.Additionally, OSSE strongly believes that parents and families must play a major role in the education of our children.

The Parent Advisory Committeewillhave the opportunity to provide input to OSSE and share information about educational policies and available resources in their communities to support learning.The input members provide will be considered as District policies and resources are developed. In addition, members will assist in developing a policy for parent and family engagement. Lastly, members will assist in sharing information within their respective communities.

The Parent Advisory Committee willpartner with OSSE to ensure that the State Education Plan for the District addressesthe needs of all studentsso that all students have the opportunity to succeed.The Committeewill also be a voice for parents and students on educational matters.The committee will meet four times a year to provide insight on current and/or proposed educational policiesand receive information about OSSE’s implementation of the State Education Plan.

WHO CAN BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE?

Parent Advisory Committee members will be made up of parents, legal guardians, or other primary caregiversresponsible for a child attending a DC public or charter school. Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate that they are actively engaged in their child’s education.

MEMBERSHIP

OSSE’s goal is to have representation from parents and caregivers that represent all of Washington, DC. Therefore, the Committee will have at least13members, including at leastone representative from each of the eight wardsand representatives who represent both traditional public schools and public charter schools.In addition, OSSE will aim to ensure representation of children in early learning, elementary, middle and high schools.OSSE will also seekup to five additional members to ensure that the special needs of specific groups of students arerepresented,such as those who are receiving specialeducation, living intransitory housing,gifted and talented, English language learners, in foster care and/orare detained youth.

OSSE will establish membership through an application process, and ask selected members to serve a term of two school years, beginning in September 2017. If you are interested in submitting yourself for consideration, please complete the enclosed DC Parent Advisory Committee Application.

WHAT DOES THE PARENTCOMMITTEE DO?

Responsibilities: The Committee will establish the norms, protocols, scope of work,and dates and time of quarterly meetings and community outreach planned by the Committee,

General Duties: The DC Parent Advisory Committee shall:

  1. Assist with the planning and logistics of the Annual Parent Summit, held in September, and any other family engagement initiatives;
  2. Help with the development ofan OSSE-wide parent and family engagement framework;
  3. Identify best practices thatpromote active parent and family engagement to impact students’ academic performance, attendance, and discipline;
  4. Identify methods to communicate effectively and provide outreach to parents and legal guardians of students,including those who may not be fluent in English;
  5. Provide outreach to other parents and family members on issues regarding education policy and initiatives;
  6. Provide input to the Superintendent and OSSE staff on policy proposals, including ESSA state plan implementation, report card, assessment and accountability, parent, family and community engagement; and
  7. Providean annual report to OSSE describing the activities of the Parent Advisory Committee and any recommendations for action by July 1 of each year.

DC Parent Advisory Committee Application

OSSE would like to have the committee fully established by the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the panel is fully staffed.

Please note that OSSE takes the privacy of students and families very seriously.By filling out this application, you are consenting to sharing the information contained within. Please send your completed application to the designated point of contact, Valrie Brown at .

You may also hand deliver your applicationto:

Office of the State Superintendent of Education

ATTN: Valrie Brown

810 First St. NE, Eighth Floor

Washington, DC 20002

You will need an ID to enter the building.

For more information or questions, please contact Valrie Brown at (202) 299-2093.

General Information (Please Print)
Full Name (Last, First, Middle)
Home Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code
Which Ward do you live in? (Ward 1-8) / Best way to reach you?
Home Phone______Cell Phone______
Email______
Cell Phone:
( ) / Home Phone Number:
( ) / Gender:
Male____ Female____ Other_____
Preferred Email Address:
______ / Alternate Email Address:
______
This fall my child(ren) will be entering the ______grade(s). (List all that apply)
My child(ren) will be attending (Check all that apply):
a DC Public School _____
a DC Public Charter School____
a Private Early Learning/Childcare Facility______
Which of the following describes your child(ren)?Check all that apply. (Please note: this section is optional. Submission of this information will be used to ensure adequate representation of parents whose children have specialized needs.)
  1. Receives specialized education or services

  1. Is or has been detained in a juvenile detention program

  1. Enrolled in a gifted and talented program

  1. English Learner (EL)

  1. Is experiencing or has experienced unstable housing (homelessness)

  1. Is currently receiving foster care

Please help us to get to know you by answering the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs. Feel free to write your answers directly on this form or type your responses on a separate piece of paper. Your answers are for the sole purpose of getting to know you and will not be used as an evaluation of your writing ability.

  1. Why would you like to serve on the DC Parent Advisory Committee? Please provide two reasons.
  2. ______
  1. ______
  1. What two educational issues are you mostinterested in addressing through your service on the committee?
  2. ______

______

  1. ______

______

  1. How have you been engaged in your child’s educational program so far?

______

  1. How will you share what you learn from theParent Advisory Committee with your school, family, or community?

______

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