The State Superintendent of Education, Hosanna Mahaley, has asked the State Board to undertake a review of existing graduation requirements and propose revisions to those currently in place. Over the next several months, the State Board will be holding a series of public meetings on this issue.   I welcome the written and email comments of the community as we work through revising these requirements given the impact it poses for for our students and educators. As it stands, DCSBOE plans to advise the state superintendent on any changes in early 2012, with the aim of having the revisions ready for a vote later in the year. Implementation of revised changes will be phased in for the 2012-2013 school year. Please contact the State Board's Executive Secretary to ensure that your input is captured for the Board's consideration.

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education plans to apply to the U.S. Dept. of Education for a waiver of No Child Left Behind's most inflexible mandates. As its stands, federal law requires that schools meet a national goal of 100% student proficiency in reading and mathematics for testing grades' 3 to 8 and 10 by 2014- a goal which many have argued is statistically impossible to attain and will put many schools  both in and out the District (even those deemed high quality by measures other than test results) out of compliance with federal regulations. In order to secure a waiver, the state education agency must evidence to the federal education agency that it has effectively engaged the public on its request.  OSSE has begun that process via a series of town hall forums which are being held across the city. Ward 6 will hold its forum on November 21 at 6 p.m. at One Judiciary Square in the Old Council Chambers.  Click here for full schedule of meetings across the city. 

 Passed unanimously by the D.C. Council in May 2010, the Healthy Schools Act  is an unprecedented piece of legislation that seeks to improve the health of DC students by improving and expanding school meals, increasing health and physical education, and improving the overall school environment by instilling stronger school wellness policies. A recent seminar at The George Washington University on "Saving School Lunch" engaged DC Councilmember Mary Cheh, DCPS Director of Food Services Jeffrey Mills and Dr. Phoenix, an assistant professor of health policy at GWU, in a discussion on the act and the results it has garnered since its inception. After an informative overview of the act and the process of passing and funding it by Councilmember Cheh, the DCPS Food Services directors shared the challenges and success stories that the act has enacted. Students in DCPS have seen a food revolution-with reduced sugar and processed laden foods being replaced with healthier alternatives like vegetarian, wheat tacos in place of pizza and fries.  While initially met with resistance, students have embraced the new, healthier menu items.  By replacing traditional, calorie-laden meals with newer healthier options, we provide support for students in making positive choices that will ensure them a healthier future.