Ross PTA

Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a six-month spending bill that would cut $1 billion from the District of Columbia's local operating budget--affecting schools, public services and much more. This could immediately cut $192 million from DCPS. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate. Read more HERE and HERE.

Earlier this week, the Ross PTA signed the below letter, along with dozens of other PTAs and PTOs in the city. Here are actions you can take today and tomorrow to protect our schools:

• DCPS supporters and students can visit Senate offices in person on Thursday 3/13 and Friday 3/14 (days that DCPS is already closed for parent-teacher conferences) and ask Senators to vote no on cloture for a continuing resolution (CR) that slashes DCPS’ budget and harms our children. RSVPs are not required, but you can register here so organizers can anticipate attendance. Check out the Newbies Guide to Advocating for DC at the Capitol.
• If you can’t visit in person, a call is the next best thing. See below for Senator contact information and call script.

Senate Dems who have not yet publicly committed to a full no on cloture, including with amendments:

• Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — (202) 224-6542
• Senator Mark Warner (VA) - 202-224-2023
• Senator Tim Kaine (VA) - 202-224-4024
• Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) - 202-224-4654
• Senator Angela Alsobrooks (MD) - 202-224-4524
• Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) — (202) 224-5852
• Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) - 202-224-2823
• Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) — (202) 224-3441
• Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) - (202) 224-2523
• Senator Chris Coons (DE) - 202-224-5042
• Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) — (202) 224-3542
• Senator Dick Durbin (D-Durbin) - (202) 224-2152
• Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) — (202) 224-4254
• Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) — (202) 224-4521
• Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) — (202) 224-3324
• Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) — (202) 224-5941
• Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) — (202) 224-2235
• Senator Andy Kim (NJ) - 202-224-4744
• Senator Angus King (I-ME) — (202) 224-5344
• Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) — (202) 224-3521
• Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) — (202) 224-6221
• Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) — (202) 224-6244
• Senator Brian Schatz (HI) - 202-224-3934
• Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) - (202) 224.2841
• Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) — (202) 224-4822
• Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock — (202) 224-3643

Script for DC Residents

OPENING

• “Hello there. My name is [your name], I’m a resident of the District of Columbia and I’m calling to ask the Senator to VOTE NO on the House’s Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. This bill includes devastating changes to DC’s power over our local budget and I am calling to ask you to VOTE NO.
• They will tell you that you are not a constituent. Do not accept this.

WHY THIS MATTERS

• “The House-passed bill would result in an immediate $1 billion cut to DC’s public safety, education, and other essential services. Our most critical government services, including teachers, firefighters, and other first responders would be furloughed. A billion-dollar cut to DC’s budget halfway through the fiscal year would have a devastating impact on the District’s ability to provide essential services our communities rely on every day.”
• “This would not save the federal government any money. These are local dollars, not federal. It would only force DC leaders to make decisions that put the people in the District at risk — including Congressional staff and workers.”
• “This bill also limits DC’s right to determine our own local budget. This is DC’s money and it belongs to the people here. DC is not a federal agency.”
• “Restricting DC’s ability to pay for emergency services, schools, health care programs, food access, and other crucial services will destabilize the nation’s capital and that’s not something our country can afford right now.”
• “As DC residents, we know we will be hit hard by a government shutdown. Our jobs may be furloughed or cut. Our essential services may halt. We STILL believe that’s better than voting to allow cuts that will harm our schools, our police, our sanitation workers, our firefighters, and more.”
• “If this CR is approved, it will set a new precedent that will never be undone, weaponizing budgets against not just for DC, but for other blue and purple states.. That’s worth fighting for now.”
• “Will you VOTE NO on the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act?”

If they say they’re requesting amendments before they vote for cloture:

• “Respectfully, that’s not enough. DC needs you to vote a clear no on cloture. We all know Senate Republicans will never pass a CR with amendments. Including this now just gives Senate Dems the appearance of doing something, when you actually know Republicans will kill it. DC needs you to stand up and do the right thing now - for us, and for your own constituents, to show that budgets should not be weaponized like this.”

______________________________________________

March 12, 2025

Dear Senators,

We are writing on behalf of the communities for the public and charter schools in Washington D.C. This list includes schools in Capitol Hill, where many of you not only work, but live while you are working in the Senate.

We are writing to share our outrage and fear about H.R. 1968, which proposes a full-year Continuing Resolution (CR) for the remainder of fiscal year 2025 that blocks our city from spending our local tax dollars. This means that our local government is blocked from spending a large portion of OUR LOCAL taxpayer dollars – on the magnitude of $1 billion of the city’s total budget of $21 billion for fiscal year 2025. This would result in massive and immediate cuts to essential services including public education, police, and firefighters, among others. Specifically, it would cut $192 million from DC public schools and $166 million from DC public charter schools.

Let us be clear – none of these funds have anything to do with the federal budget that Congress oversees. They have nothing to do with taxes paid by anyone not living in Washington D.C. They have no impact on the federal debt, federal deficit, federal budget caps, or federal taxes. These funds belong to D.C. residents, and will sit in a bank account while city services deteriorate if H.R. 1968 is enacted as passed by the House. This is not a partisan issue.

We, as D.C. taxpayers and public school parents, demand that you oppose H.R. 1968 or support an amendment to restore the ability for D.C. to spend its own tax dollars and continue to fund essential city services like schools, police, and firefighters.

Sincerely,

Alice Deal Middle School Parents

Amidon-Bowen Elementary PTA

Andrew Ringwood Ward 6 Resident

Bancroft Elementary

Banneker PTO

Barnard Elementary PTA

BASIS DC PCS ‘Boosters’ PTO

Brent Elementary PTA

Bruce Monroe Elementary

Bunker Hill Elementary PTO

Capital City PCS PSA

Creative Minds Public Charter School Parents

Cleveland Elementary PTA

DC Bilingual PTA

DC International School

DC LSAT (Local School Advisory Team) Collective

Duke Ellington School of the Arts Parent

Eastern Senior High School Parent

Eliot Hine PTO

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedoms PCS, East End PTO

Garrison Elementary Parent Teacher Organization

Hardy Middle School PTO

H.D. Cooke Elementary PTO

Hearst Elementary PTA

Horace Mann Elementary PTA

Co-PTA Presidents of Hyde Addison Elementary

Taryn and Peter Hristovi. parents

Ida B Wells PTO

Inspired Families Association

Inspired Teaching Demonstration School (Parent Room Reps)

Jackson-Reed High School Local School Advisory Team (LSAT)

Jefferson Middle School Academy Family Alliance

John Burroughs Elementary School PTO

John Eaton Home and School Association

John Lewis Elementary PTA

JO Wilson Elementary PTA

Key Elementary School PTO

Kelly Maurer Ward 6 Resident

Lafayette Elementary School HSA

Langley Elementary PTO

Ludlow-Taylor Elementary PTO

MacFarland Middle School PTO

Mann Elementary School PTA

Marie Reed Elementary PTO

Maury Elementary PTA

Miner Elementary PTO

Mundo Verde Public Charter School Calle 8 PTO

Monument Academy Family School Alliance (FSA)

Oyster Adams Bilingual Parent

Payne Elementary PTSA

Peabody Elementary School Parents

Ross Elementary School PTA

School Home Association of Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Seaton Elementary PTO

Sela Public Charter School PTSA

School Without Walls High School LSAT

Shirley Chisholm Elementary School PTO

Stoddert Elementary PTO

Stuart Hobson Middle School Parents

Takoma Elementary School PTO

Two Rivers Middle School FSA

Two Rivers 4th Street FSA

Two Rivers Young Elementary School FSA

Van Ness Elementary PTO

Walker Jones Elementary Parent

Ward 2 Education Council (representing all DCPS schools in Ward 2)

Washington Latin Public Charter School Cooper Campus PFA

Washington Latin Public Charter School 2nd Street Campus PFA

Watkins Elementary Parents

Wheatley Education Campus School Community Org

Whittier Elementary School PTO

About the Ross PTA

The mission of the Ross PTA is to support the education of all Ross students, to support Ross faculty and staff, to foster relationships among parents, staff and community members, and to assist faculty and staff to provide a safe and nurturing environment where all students, families and faculty can thrive and grow.

Email: PTApresident@rosselementary.org
Website: http://rosselementary.org/pta-board/
Location: 1730 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202.673.7200

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