On March 29, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s report, State of D.C. Schools, 2021-22: In-Person Learning, Measuring Outcomes, and Work on Recovery, was cited by Washington Examiner:
Republicans on the committee questioned local lawmakers on the district’s stalled education growth that was reported during the pandemic, seeking to tie high truancy rates to the rising number of juvenile crimes in the district.
Washington schools reported a sharp decline in school attendance for the 2021-22 school year, with nearly half of students missing at least 10% of the entire school year, according to the D.C. Policy Center. Roughly 42% of students were labeled as “truant.”
GOP committee members blamed the sinking education levels on policies that were enacted during the pandemic, arguing students have been “placed last in priority the past few years.”
Read more: Republicans link DC education system to rising juvenile crime rates | Washington Examiner