SBOE rejects credit recovery regulations 

Calls for expanded public input on vital issue

Washington, DC- Tonight, the DC State Board of Education (SBOE) voted to reject emergency and proposed statewide credit recovery regulations put forth by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). The State Board recommended that OSSE continue to work with the SBOE and other stakeholders to develop credit recovery regulations that could be in place for the 2019-2020 School Year. The resolution can be accessed on our information-sharing site.

“Credit recovery programs can be very helpful for students that have struggled in regular coursework,” said Jack Jacobson, SBOE Vice President and Ward 2 representative. “But the regulations presented to the State Board would have created confusion for schools without providing any benefits for students.”

In January 2018, the State Board of Education requested that OSSE engage with the State Board to work cooperatively to enact robust and rigorous credit recovery regulations through regular order. OSSE presented draft regulations to the State Board on implementing credit recovery regulations in April 2018, necessitating an emergency rulemaking for the rule to take effect for the 2018-2019 School Year. The State Board’s authority on regulatory approval is limited as it is only permitted to vote in favor of or against regulations, not to amend. The State Board does this through resolutions.

Credit recovery is a tool that allows students to earn credits for courses that they have already failed without re-enrolling in the same class. This can help students get back on track for graduation.

“I am confident the State Board and State Superintendent will strike the right balance on credit recovery,” said Jacobson. “It is important for our schools to have a solid foundation for credit recovery programs that puts the future of our students in the forefront.”

The DC State Board of Education is an independent agency within the Government of the District of Columbia that advises the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), which is the District’s state education agency. The State Board is comprised of nine elected representatives, each representing their respective wards, with one member representing DC at large, in addition to two student representatives. The State Board approves statewide education policies and sets academic standards, while OSSE oversees education within the District and manages federal education funding. More information about the SBOE can be found at sboe.dc.gov.