DC State Board President: Focus on Supporting Students

Jessica Sutter, the District of Columbia State Board of Education President, argues in a recent Washington Post op-ed, that the pandemic learning slide should not be used to roll back progress in the District. She argues the challenges underscore the need to stay true to the reform strategy that has made D.C. the fastest improving system in the country: mayoral control, a strong charter sector, and accessible choice for families. 

Sutter argues that instead of pointing fingers and engaging in the standard blame-game of education politics, the District should prioritize serving students, embracing the teaching and learning lessons of the pandemic, listening to the needs of families, and expanding mental health supports in schools. Sutter notes that only by embracing a “spirit of collaboration and conviction” will leaders be able to help students and their communities fully recover.