Over the next several weeks, the Council of the District of Columbia will organize public hearings to discuss agency performance for fiscal years 2024-2025. The scheduled hearing timeframe is January 17, 2025, through March 9th, 2025. An oversight hearing aims to ensure that all agencies are managed effectively and act according to local and federal laws and regulations. Oversight hearings are part of the system of checks and balances.  This is how the legislative branch (the Council) monitors the implementation (or execution) of the District’s laws by the executive branch (the Mayor).  This blog post contains what you need to sign up to testify, how to watch hearings online or in person, and where to learn more.  If you want to talk to AJE about testifying, we encourage you to reach out!  We can help you prepare.

There are other oversight hearings over the next several; weeks, this is just a list of those we think are of special interest to AJE families.  You can find all the oversight hearings here – Council Meetings and Hearing.

Why attend oversight hearings? 

Oversight hearings are a great way to know what is happening. The Council has a range of committees, such as the Committee on Health, Hospital & Health Equity, and the Facilities & Family Services performing oversight of the District’s many agencies. Attending or watching a live stream allows you to form a broader understanding of the whole legislative process.  This link directs you to the Council’s Performance Oversight website, where they share current and past hearings and agency responses, which can be a great resource.

How to attend or observe a hearing, and how to testify.

Most hearings are easily accessible online however, check here, because some committee post their hearings in different places. To stay up to date with upcoming hearings, register to testify, or submit testimony, click on this link: Council Meetings and Hearing. The Council Meeting and Hearing website also includes the hearing notice, topics presented, and relevant documents. The hearing notice will also include a link to the actual hearing.

Remember – if you need language interpretation and/or other accommodations, inform the specific Committee office within five business days before the proceeding.

For more information on specific committees and upcoming hearings, including opportunities to testify, look at the General Calendar Link: https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/.  AJE knows that many of our families are very interested in Education-related agencies – those hearings are February 27th and March 5th and 7th for Public Witnesses, and February 28th for DCPS Government Witnesses.  Details about those three days are at the bottom of this post.

Committee of the Whole (Chairman Phil Mendelson) Note –  all education agencies are now under the Committee of the Whole

Public Witnesses are testifying on these dates:

Oversight Hearing on the Performance of District of Columbia Public Schools 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2025 via Virtual Meeting Platform – Room 412 (Track B) 10am
If you are interested in testifying at this hearing, you can sign up here – https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hearings/247
You can view the hearing here – https://www.ChristinaHendersonDC.com/live.

Oversight Hearing on the Performance of University of District of Columbia, District of Columbia Public Charter School Board,  State Board of Education, the Office of Student Advocate, Ombudsman for Education, District of Columbia State Athletic Association

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 via Virtual Meeting Platform – Room 412 (Track B) 9:30am
Sign up to testify here – https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hearings/242
You can view the hearing here –  www.ChairmanMendelson.com/live.

Oversight Hearing on the Performance of Office of the State Superintendent of Education

FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2025 via Virtual Meeting Platform – Room 412 (Track B) 9:30am
Sign up to testify here – https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/register-to-testify/664
You can view the hearing here –  www.ChairmanMendelson.com/live.

Government witnesses are testifying on this date 

Oversight Hearing on the Performance of District of Columbia Public Schools 
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2025; via Virtual Meeting Platform – Room 412 (Track B)  9:30 a.m.

You can see the government Witness list and written responses here  – https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hearings/661
You can view the hearing here –   www.ChairmanMendelson.com/live.

Committee on Facilities & Family Services (Chairperson Janeese Lewis George)

Oversight Hearing on the Performance of the Office of Disability Rights Department on Disability Services Office for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2025; via Virtual Meeting Platform – Room 412 (Track B) – 9:30 am
If you are interested in testifying at this hearing, you can sign up here – https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/register-to-testify/682