Education

As someone who previously served as a school board representative and father, Councilmember White understands the importance of education. During this council period, Councilmember White has introduced and co-introduced the following legislation:

• D.C. Public Schools Alternatives to Suspension Amendment Act of 2017 - To require D.C. Public School principals to consider whether alternatives to suspensions, such as restorative justice, are more appropriate than suspension and require each D.C. Public School to report suspension rates on a monthly basis to the chancellor.
• Community College for All Scholarship Amendment Act of 2017 - this bill establishes a scholarship program to provide free tuition and the cost of mandatory fees to DC residents enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia Community College (UDCCC). The scholarship program is to be administered by UDCCC and the legislation establishes criteria of eligibility for the scholarship. Among other things the student is required to maintain satisfactory academic progress and a minimum 2.0 grade point average.
• Commission on Poverty Establishment Act of 2017 - this bill establishes a Commission on Literacy. The Commission will develop comprehensive strategy recommendations to address literacy disparities, provide support to advance literacy organizations, and plan programming and events related to literacy. The bill includes provisions relating to the membership, organization, duties, and meetings of the Commission.