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As for Mayor Bowser’s FY23 Budget Proposal, Here’s What We Know, So Far…
Last week, Mayor Bowser released her proposed FY23 budget. This year’s budget rollout has been rocky, in part because of an embarrassing mistake by the Chief Financial Officer, and some notable errors, which only stresses the need for greater transparency and oversight. An essential, but often overlooked part of the budget process.
Our team is continuing to work on an in-depth analysis of the proposed budget so we can highlight where it makes progress, as well as where it misses the mark. Based on the critical needs we all advocated for this year, here’s what we know, so far.
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Early Educator Compensation Task Force Releases Final Recommendations Report
The DC Council’s Early Educator Equitable Compensation Task Force released its second and final report this week detailing both short-term and long-term plans for increasing early educator’s compensation that the DC Council passed in its FY22 budget session. The Task Force’s recommendations include a new salary scale and an explanation of educator eligibility for increased compensation based on role, credentials, and experience. The report also discusses oversight and costs of the program.
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OST Voices: Making Music with Girls Rock! DC
In OST Voices #15, Noel Schroeder, Co-Executive Director of Girls Rock! DC, describes how music and activism feed each other and the opportunities that Girls Rock! DC provides to young people.
DC Council Welcomes Witnesses to Testify at Budget Hearings
Hundreds of engaged District residents, educators, parents, professionals, and advocates have begun testifying before DC Council committees this week. This includes several DC Action staff members who are asking the Councilmembers to ensure that sufficient funding is allocated to the programs that support our children and youth and their families.
Early Childhood Policy Analyst Jarred Bowman testified on the importance of increasing investments in early childhood and teacher-focused behavioral health supports for thousands of young children through the Healthy Futures program.
Senior Youth Policy Analyst Rachel White testified on the need for a workforce development program that meets the unique needs of young people who are experiencing homelessness.
Early Childhood Program Manager Nisa Hussain testified on the need to provide home visiting programs with adequate, recurring funding so programs can strengthen and sustain the long-term relationships that make them effective.
Next up, DC Action staff and partners will be testifying at additional budget hearings.
Monday, March 28 | Committee of the Whole: All education agencies
To learn more about the importance of out-of-school-time programs, contact Ryllie Danylko at rdanylko@dckids.org.
To learn more about the importance of early childhood education programs, contact Ruqiyyah Anbar-Shaheen at ranbarshaheen@dckids.org.
Thursday, March 31 | Committee on Human Services
To learn more or testify about family and youth homelessness or workforce development for youth experiencing homelessness, contact Rachel White at rwhite@dckids.org.
Monday, April 4 | Committee on Health
To testify or learn more about the importance of home visiting programs, contact Nisa Hussain at nhussain@dckids.org.
DC Action in the News
Early Care and Education is a Business Necessity, The Washington Informer, 3.14.22
US Census says it undercounted Black, Latino populations, WUSA9, 3.11.22
This is how we fix the broken childcare system, Fast Company, 3.8.22
READ WATCH LISTEN
READ the new report from the DC Fiscal Policy Institute: New DC Public Schools Budget Model Makes Progress Towards More Transparency and Flexibility, but Falls Short on Addressing Structural Funding Inadequacy and Inequity.
WATCH Sen. Cory Booker addressing Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson during the judge’s Senate confirmation hearings. Sen. Booker passionately affirmed Judge Jackson’s experience and qualifications after a host of Republican senators pursued unorthodox and irrelevant lines of questioning.
LISTEN to Written Off, a podcast featuring interviews with formerly incarcerated young writers discussing their journeys, along with prominent artists and performers reading the work of these writers.