On Wednesday, April 22, Executive Director Belicia Reaves testified at the DC Council to secure equitable funding.
Two Rivers PCS: FY27 Budget Hearing Testimony
Good afternoon, Chairman Phil Mendelson and members of the Committee of the Whole.
I am Belicia Reaves, Executive Director of Two Rivers Public Charter School. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today on behalf of our more than 1,000 students, their families, and staff in Wards 5 & 6 from one of DC’s most diverse school communities about the FY27 budget and the need for equitable funding for Two Rivers and the charter school sector.
Thank you to the Council for continuing to hold public hearings and for creating space for families, educators, and school leaders to share their perspectives. This process reflects a commitment to transparency, engagement, and thoughtful decision-making—values essential to a strong and equitable education system.
For over 20 years, Two Rivers has been providing a hands-on, projects-based learning environment that integrates the arts for students celebrating the whole child academically, emotionally, and socially in our school campuses. In order to continue providing our promise of a premiere education, every school in DC must be appropriately and equitably resourced. The Mayor’s proposed FY27 budget does NOT do that. The Council must hear that all students in DC- whether they attend DCPS or a public charter school- deserves significant and equitable investment in this budget.
The Mayor’s proposed budget shortchanges public charter school students by approximately $2,000 per pupil by directing $96 million in operating funding to DCPS outside of the UPSFF. To be clear, that’s ~$2.1million dollars in funding that Two Rivers won’t receive to provide services such as: high-impact tutoring for grades 3-8th, Enrichment activities for all students on Wednesday afternoons (our half-day), employing additional Special Education and Assistant Teachers needed to support small group intensive blocks for additional support, Instructional coaches that are needed for our teachers in STEM and Literacy, and we wouldn’t also be able to afford to right-size our pay-scales to stay competitive with WTU pay raises as we have the past two years.
It is deeply inequitable that public charter schools must cover all of the operational costs of our campuses from this funding while DCPS receives a separate set-aside fund for utilities and fixed costs. Every single dollar for our utilities that rings to the tune of $786K for Two Rivers comes from our facilities budget. This year’s budget must maintain the annual charter facilities allotment increase at 3.1% to keep pace with rising costs and ensure equity in funding for all public school buildings serving our students.
At Two Rivers, our three-year strategic plan focuses on reversing learning loss and strengthening retention. We are accelerating academic growth through high-quality instruction, clearer implementation of our co-teaching model, and differentiated professional learning that connects directly to classroom practice.
We are currently also serving more students with disabilities who require higher levels of support. Meeting these needs responsibly requires additional staffing, specialized training, credentialing, and coordinated services—all of which carry significant costs. We urge the Council to fund the Level 5 special education weight for students requiring full-time specialized instruction and a dedicated aide or nursing support. At a minimum, the SPED base rate should be increased to 1.9% so schools serving students with complex disabilities are able to afford the additional counseling, curricular, and supplemental technology equipment they need to be successful without cutting other costs.
If the District is serious about its continued academic recovery, equity, and long-term student outcomes, budget decisions must reflect the real costs of educating students equitably in the District. DC has the fairest and most equitable school funding formula in the country, and we should keep it that way. Our equitable and sustained financial investment is essential to delivering the positive outcomes our students and families deserve.
Thank you.
