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Ward 3 State Board Member asks OIG to probe DCPS kindergarten age policy and alleged CFSA reports
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Summary
Eric Goulet told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor that DC Public Schools abruptly changed enrollment and waiver practices for children near the Sept. 30 age cutoff, and he asked the Office of Inspector General to investigate alleged retaliatory reports to the Child and Family Services Agency.
Eric Goulet, the Ward 3 representative on the D.C. State Board of Education, told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor on June 2 that DC Public Schools abruptly changed its enforcement of age and waiver policies for kindergarten and that some families faced what he called retaliatory reports to the Child and Family Services Agency.
Goulet told Chairperson Anita Bonds that schools informed families whose children have birthdays before Sept. 30 that those children must skip kindergarten and enter first grade, and that DCPS voided previously approved developmental waivers issued by DCPS itself. “In at least two instances, DCPS ordered families to leave pre-K 4 programs with approximately two months remaining in the school year and said they must enroll their children in DCPS kindergarten,” Goulet said. He said DCPS offered to assess students and would consider returning a child to kindergarten only after the child struggled in first grade.
Goulet said families who resisted were reported to CFSA — the Child and Family Services Agency — for truancy and educational neglect, a step he called “frivolous” and retaliatory. “A 5-year-old attending a 5-day-a-week pre-K 4 class is neither truant nor a victim of educational neglect,” Goulet told the committee. He asked the Office of Inspector General to investigate who at DCPS ordered the reports and “why.”
Why this matters: Goulet framed the issue as an urgent use-of-resources and child-welfare concern: he said frivolous CFSA reports can distract the agency from children who are in danger and can intimidate parents who are advocating for their children’s educational placements. He told the committee the State Board of Education plans to consider a resolution and possible transmission of legislation to the Council.
What the committee recorded: Chairperson Bonds thanked Goulet and said the committee would ask the OIG about the matter when OIG appeared later in the hearing. Goulet testified in his individual capacity, not on behalf of the State Board. He said he has submitted written testimony through the committee portal.
What was not established in the hearing: Goulet described the change as a DCPS policy shift and referenced DC municipal regulations as previously allowing schools flexibility with age/waiver placements; the committee did not receive testimony from DCPS in this hearing and no formal investigation or findings were announced. The committee did not vote on or direct a formal probe; Goulet requested an OIG inquiry and offered to connect OIG staff with affected families.
Next steps noted on the record: Chairperson Bonds said the committee would question OIG when it appeared later in the hearing and that public witnesses should submit written testimony for the record.
Ending: The committee recorded Goulet’s testimony for the official hearing file; he said the State Board will consider a resolution and pursue Council transmission on behalf of affected parents and students.
