October 30, 2009

Statement from DCPS on FY10 Summer School Funding and Budget Reductions 

Contact: Jennifer Calloway | (202) 535-1096

After the D.C. Council Hearing on the 2009-2010 Equalization Process, Budget Reductions and Reduction-in-Force District of Columbia Schools (DCPS) issued the following statement:

“There has been no violation of the reprogramming law as no money has been moved and no unapproved spending has occurred. While we believe that summer school is critical to ensuring that DCPS students have every opportunity to succeed, DCPS has no plans to spend any money on summer school until June 2010.

Additionally, DCPS did not create budget pressure by over-hiring. In July we identified a FY10 budget pressure related to unplaced excess teachers, just as occurred last year. And just as in the previous year, the reduction plan for this approximately $13M pressure was to cover the cost through Central Office budget cuts; these savings are clearly identified in central office department reductions prepared during the summer. Therefore, at that point in time, with the vast majority of hiring complete, we were headed into the new school year with no anticipated reduction of teaching staff and with each and every teacher in a funded position.”

###