Our Priorities

D.C. students are showing up every day—working hard, dreaming big, and pushing forward. But even heroes need the right tools. That’s where District Heroes comes in. From literacy and math to college and career access and more, we’re making sure every D.C. student gets what they need to succeed.

Stand up for our heroes in training by signing on to our letter to the Mayor!

Fairly Fund All Public Schools

The Problem:  If the Washington Teachers Union contract is not included in the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF), DCPS will be funded at significantly higher rates than public charter schools.

Our Ask: Ensure all funding, including educator pay, is provided fairly to all local education agencies through the UPSFF, while prioritizing students designated as "at-risk"

This Will Provide:

  • Equal ability for all schools to attract and retain quality educators

  • Fair funding distribution between DCPS and charter schools

  • Support for academic recovery across all school types 

Solve Our Math Problem

The Problem: Nearly 8 in 10 D.C. students failed to meet grade-level math expectations last year, yet no funding exists for a comprehensive statewide strategy for math proficiency.

Our Ask: $9M investment

This Will Provide:

  • High-quality instructional materials and teacher development ($2M)

  • Parent and caregiver support ($1.5M)

  • High-Impact Tutoring ($4.8M)

  • Sustainable math teacher pipeline 

Protect Students’ Right to Read 

The Problem: Sixty-six percent of D.C. students failed to meet grade-level English expectations last school year.

Our Ask: Fully fund the Early Literacy Education Taskforce's recommendations at $9M over the financial plan

This Will Provide:

  • Enhanced teacher training

  • Literacy coaches

  • Improved instructional materials

Build College & Career Pathways for All

The Problem: Only 18% of D.C.'s ninth-graders complete a postsecondary degree within six years, while transplants earn nearly double the income of D.C.-born young adults.

Our Ask:

  • Expand accessible dual enrollment and early college opportunities

  • Invest in capital funding ($2.1M in FY26 and $1.5M in FY27) for the Education Through Employment Data System

This Will Provide:

  • Better career pathways for D.C. students

  • Critical data tracking through public educational dashboards

  • Increased college completion rates

  • Greater economic opportunity for D.C. natives

Maintain our Public School Buildings

The Problem: Many D.C. public charter schools rely on the facilities allowance to ensure students have safe and adequate learning environments.

Our Ask: Maintain the annual public charter school facilities allotment increase of 3.1% ($17.5M over the financial plan)

This Will Provide:

  • Safe and healthy learning environments

  • Adequately maintained school buildings

  • Appropriate spaces for educational programming

Strengthen School-Based Behavioral Health Services

The Problem: Academic recovery depends on the mental and well-being of our students, yet D.C.’s school-based behavioral health (SBBH) program remains underfunded.

Our Ask:

  • Allocate funding to match and place community-based organization clinicians in 204 schools ($18.8M)

  • Fully fund A25-0645, the Child Behavioral Health Services Dashboard Act of 2024 ($485K)

  • Provide $1,500 per school year for the SBBH Coordinator role at all 254 schools ($381K per fiscal year)

This Will Provide:

  • Comprehensive behavioral health support for students

  • Better coordination of behavioral health services

  • Improved tracking of service delivery through dashboards

  • Support for student well-being as a foundation for academic success

Take Action

Stand up for our heroes in training by emailing the Mayor!