Committee of the Whole & Education Public Oversight Hearing

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE & COMMITTEE ON E D U C AT I O N NOTICE OF JOINT PUBLIC OVERSIGHT HEARING 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004 CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE & COUNCILMEMBER DAVID GROSSO, CHAIRPERSON COMMITTEE ON E D U C AT I O N ANNOUNCE A JOINT PUBLIC OVERSIGHT HEARING o n Improving School Attendance: Truancy, Chronic Absenteeism, and the Implementation of Reform Initiatives o n Thursday, December 5,2019 10:00 a.m. Hearing Room 120, John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember David Grosso announce a joint public oversight hearing of the Committee of the Whole and the Committee on Education on Improving School Attendance: Truancy, Chronic Absenteeism, and the Implementation of Reform Initiatives in the District. This oversight hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2019 in Hearing Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building. The stated purpose of this oversight hearing is to receive testimony from government witnesses and partners, including the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, the Child and Family Services Agency, the District of Columbia Public Schools, the Public Charter School Board, the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants, and the Office of the Attorney General, regarding the District's efforts to improve school attendance and to reduce truancy and chronic absenteeism. Additionally, the hearing will consider continued implementation of initiatives required by D.C. Law 18-242, the "Safe Children and Safe Neighborhoods Educational Neglect Mandatory Reporting Amendment Act of 2010," D.C. Law 19-141, the "South Capitol Street Memorial Amendment Act of 2012," D.C. Law 20-17, the "Attendance Accountability Amendment Act of 2013," and D.C. Law 21-140, the "School Attendance Clarification Amendment Act of 2016."' Improving school attendance improves educational outcomes. Targeting truancy is also a strategy for identifying children at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system. Testimony at this hearing is limited to government witnesses. However, citizens and organizations may submit statements. If submitted by the close of business on December 3, 2019, these statements will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing. Copies of the legislation can be obtained through the Legislative Services Division of the Secretary of the Council's office or on http://lims.dccouncil.us. Hearing materials, including a draft witness list, can be accessed 24 hours in advance of the hearing at http://www.chairmanmendelson.com/circulation. Written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on December 19, 2019.