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Council Ed Committee will mark up next year's DCPS budget tomorrow (Thu) at 2:30 pm. My analysis: This is the pre-COVID-19 budget, the one for DCPS without any pandemic. Local school budgets submitted in Feb appear untouched. Analysis mostly from detailed SOAR spreadsheet:
Dollar increase over this year, but only enough to cover enrollment increase. Per pupil spending at school and system level unchanged. FTE = Full-time Equivalent employee positions.
Funding for central offices down by about 6%, funding for schools up by about 6% but due to enrollment increase per pupil spending for direct services to students stays the same. My definitions, not those of DCPS, which defines “School Support” to include much of the bureaucracy.
Part of central office fund cut: loss of $14.6 M Head Start $$, much of which supported family service workers, mental health clinicians, early childhood aides, classroom supplies. 75 aide jobs stay w/ local fund $$ from elsewhere, 83 positions gone. From budget+employee roster.
School security spending: 450 security guards & police, security contract $25 M paid to MPD by DCPS, managed by MPD, https://dccouncil.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/dcps_Part1.pdf, p 15. Plus $5-$7 M DCPS central security operation. MPD budget: additional $10 M for SROs, equipment, etc, https://dccouncil.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/JPS-Performance-Oversight-Responses-2020-MPD.pdf p. 11.
Major need-distance learning: $11 M more to reach 1:1 student/device ratio + expansion of home internet access, https://chpspo.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/digital-equity-budget-points-june-3-final.pdf. Given pandemic health constraints, without both students will effectively be denied a public education.
Major need-mental health services for pandemic side effects. Most DCPS 330 social workers/psychologists are assigned to special ed IEP services. Could add one at most schools w/ $10 M. Without such support, many students will not be ready to learn or to follow health protocols.
Other reopening needs: cleaning supplies & masks; facilities retrofitting and furnishings for handwashing, cleaning & physical distancing; additional custodians & substitute teachers; additional instructional time, staff for distancing; IT support for distance learning.
Federal COVID funding, estimated at $26 M for DCPS itself + $2 M separate for private school “equitable services” paid by DCPS. If DC follows Sec’y DeVos’ proposal to serve all private school students, DCPS funding is $24 million, private school services $4 M.
National estimates of re-opening cost range from $900 to $2,300 per pupil, a total of $48 M to $122 M for DCPS. https://districtadministration.com/what-cost-of-reopening-school-districts-pay-reopening-schools-safely; https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2020-06-09/new-estimate-to-reopen-schools-after-coronavirus-1165-billion. They include transportation & nurses (not in DCPS budget), but not facilities retrofit for handwashing & HVAC safety.
These amounts dwarf the $26 M of federal funding. Cleaning & safety alone (w/out transportation & nurses) are predicted to cost at least $400 per pupil-- $21 million for DCPS. Hard to see how proposed funding will permit DCPS to re-open safely with full instruction. What will go?
