DC Charter School Alliance Reacts to Mayor Bowser’s Announcement on FY2027 UPSFF

WASHINGTON, DC – Following the release of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposal to increase the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF) by 2.55 percent in her FY2027 budget, DC Charter School Alliance Executive Director Ariel Johnson released the following statement:

“We recognize that the District currently faces significant financial hurdles, and we appreciate Mayor Bowser’s longstanding commitment to prioritizing public education. As the Mayor prepares to release her final budget, this moment presents a critical opportunity to ensure that equity remains at the forefront of our city’s education funding decisions. It is essential that all public school students receive the adequate funding they need to thrive. We look forward to working with the Mayor and the Council to ensure that funding levels truly reflect the needs of every DC student.”

DC public charter schools serve nearly half of all public school students, from age 3 through adult, across 66 non-profit organizations that run 132 schools. More than 90% of students who choose to attend public charter schools are Black or Brown, 10% are English-language learners, and 60% are economically disadvantaged.