Parent says child was hit at Yu Ying charter school; board hears gaps in accountability

Lorena Flores, a DC parent, told the DC State Board of Education on June 17 that her child repeatedly described being struck by a teacher while attending a charter school and that subsequent attempts to obtain clear answers from the school and authorizers were met with deflection and inconsistent information.

"No parent should ever have to answer those questions," Flores said in testimony describing conversations with her child and unsuccessful efforts to secure transparent investigations and accountability. She said families are being forced to act as advocates, investigators and legal intermediaries to learn what happened to their children.

In response, board members acknowledged the difficulty families face and described the board’s jurisdictional limits. Representative Henderson and other members emphasized that the state board can provide guidance, recommend policy changes, and convene partners, but it cannot unilaterally direct a charter operator. Several representatives offered to follow up with Flores after the meeting and to help identify enforcement or oversight options, including oversight hearings, council action, or inquiries through the Public Charter School Board and other agencies.

Flores asked the board to press for standardized reporting pathways, clearer notice to families, and better coordination between charter schools, the Public Charter School Board, social services and law enforcement when alleged harm is reported. She said that when families raise concerns, responses are often fragmented—some offices refer parents to other bodies—and that transparency obligations (for example, under public records or statutory reporting pathways) are not consistently honored.

Board members, while sympathetic, described systemic constraints. Representative Henderson noted the board’s limited initiation power over policy and urged families to use existing oversight avenues while the board works with councilmembers to seek greater authority. President Dr. Jacques Patterson said the board would continue to push for expanded capacity to initiate policy and to help constituents navigate oversight channels.

What’s next: Several members offered to follow up with Flores and other families after the meeting. The board recommended families document incidents and copies of communications and said it would consider ways to improve transparency and coordination with oversight agencies. No formal investigative findings were reported during the meeting; the testimonies were recorded in the public record.