💸 Stay tuned for more updates on education funding after the full budget is released!

High-impact tutoring (HIT) makes a big difference for our kids, improving their academic performance, attendance, and confidence! We’re grateful that DC $3 million investment in HIT is maintained in the Mayor's FY27 budget, ensuring students will keep receiving this vital academic support 💜

📣 Sound off: Why do YOU want DC kids to be a top priority for our elected officials and candidates?

This week we co-hosted Education Forums for At-Large Councilmember and Mayoral candidates, and heard from so many Parent Leaders & community members about why they're prioritizing our kids & their education when they cast their vote. Check out some the reasons they #Vote4DCKids 💜

🗳️💜 Election season is upon us, and here at PAVE that means one thing - it's time to #Vote4DCKids !

THANK YOU to the Friendship Armstrong team for hosting us and sharing the incredible work you're doing for your students 💜

DC already has schools that are implementing the academic practices that we know work for students. Now, we need our policymakers to continue invest in these supports in the FY27 budget so ALL kids across our public education system can access high-quality academics! 💸

🫶🏾 Strong classroom culture that fosters a learning-focused environment & builds student confidence
✏️ Kindergarten students flexing their skills in a creative writing activity
🔬 Seeing science & engineering work on display in the halls, showcasing Armstrong's strong academics beyond literacy!

Our Parent Leaders were blown away by what they saw! Some of their favorite parts:
📚 Explicit phonics instruction building students' foundational skills
🎨 Freedom of learning for Pre-K students in the Reggio Emilia Learning Center
👩🏾‍🏫 Teachers empowering students while holding high expectations

Last year, Friendship Armstrong grew their ELA proficiency rates by 4.5 percentage points for elementary school students & 4.3 percentage points for middle school students, and Armstrong Middle was recognized as a Bold School for how they're moving the needle for students furthest from opportunity.

Our Parent Leaders toured Friendship PCS Armstrong campus to see instruction in action & learn about how Friendship uses evidence-based supports like high-quality instructional materials, educator training in the science of reading, and high-impact tutoring to drive student achievement!

📖 The best way to understand what strong academics look like in schools is to see them firsthand! 📖

Believe In and Invest In DC's Kids! DC is first in the nation for growth in reading and math. More of our students then ever are reading on grade level. Our parents are the most satisfied in the country around the choices they have for ...

✏️ Literacy proficiency in DC is the highest on record – but there’s still more to be done to make sure ALL our babies can read & achieve on grade level. Sign our budget petition & tell our system leaders to keep investing in the future of DC by investing in our kids: link.dcpave.org/budget-petition

📗 We attended a Congressional briefing on the READ Act, which would require states receiving CLSD funding to implement evidence-based practices. Shoutout to @dcpublicschools.bsky.social Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, who shared about the progress DC is already making in literacy!

📕 We met with @eleanornorton.bsky.social ‘s office to share about the national literacy crisis and the policy solutions that make a difference for kids, including the READ Act!

📣📚 Parents across the country agree: Our kids need evidence-based reading instruction!

PAVE Parent Leaders joined National Parents Union on the Hill not just once, but TWICE last week to advocate for literacy supports based in the science of reading:

If I have to work on a Friday night, I want to be learning from and inspired by these amazing DC parent organizers Vanessa R., @theecrinerbrown.bsky.social, & Katrice F. @dcpave.bsky.social. So many nuggets of wisdom for our Educational Transformation students. I love DC. Power to the people! ✊🏻

🚨ATTENTION PARENTS!🚨

Join us & D.C. Policy Center TOMORROW for a deep dive on the State of D.C. Schools! Learn about how DC's schools are doing & what we still need for all our kids to get an excellent education 📊

🗓️ Thursday 3/26
⏰ 5:30-7:30 pm
📍 the PAVE office

✉️ DM us for more info & to RSVP!

Believe In and Invest In DC's Kids! DC is first in the nation for growth in reading and math. More of our students then ever are reading on grade level. Our parents are the most satisfied in the country around the choices they have for ...

🔗 Join us in calling on our policymakers to invest in what works for our kids! Sign our Budget Petition: link.dcpave.org/budget-petition

Thank you to DME Budget Director TJ Sell for meeting with our Parent Leaders! We had a great conversation diving into the budget process and the DME's & our Parent Leaders' priorities for the budget. We're excited to keep working together to make sure ALL kids can access an excellent education! 💜

PAVE Parent Leaders Talk Budget Priorities YouTube video by PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education)

🔗 Learn more about PAVE Parent Leaders' policy solutions to make sure the state of our schools keeps improving: youtu.be/MO55bCtkJsQ?...

🔗 Read the State of DC Schools report: www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications...

As part of the expert panel, LaSheema shared about the need to prioritize both academics and whole-child supports so that EVERY child in DC - no matter where they live or attend school - has access to the resources they need to thrive!

Reading & math outcomes, enrollment, and graduation rates have all improved, but we still have a long way to go. Proficiency is at just 38% in ELA & 26% in math, chronic absenteeism remains unacceptably high, and less than a quarter of students reported receiving the mental health support they need.

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 A round of applause for Ward 8 Parent Leader LaSheema Burnett, who brought the parent perspective to @dcpolicycenter.bsky.social 's State of DC Schools event last week!

📣 Thank you to Dr. Scott from the Department of Behavioral Health for joining us for a listening session! Our Parent Leaders shared their feedback on DBH's new comprehensive plan. We look forward to continuing the conversation on how we can make sure all our kids have what they need to thrive!

📈💜 Did you know DC ranks FIRST in the nation in parent satisfaction with school-based mental health support? These supports are vital for our kids to succeed in and out of school!

We’re at @dcpolicycenter.bsky.social State of DC Schools this morning! Excited to have PAVE Parent Leader LaSheema Burnett representing parent voice on the panel 💜

▶️ And check out this bonus PAVE shoutout from Josh Boots of @empowerk12.bsky.social !

Believe In and Invest In DC's Kids! DC is first in the nation for growth in reading and math. More of our students then ever are reading on grade level. Our parents are the most satisfied in the country around the choices they have for ...

🔗 Add YOUR voice by signing our budget petition at the link in our bio! actionnetwork.org/petitions/be...