(a) The Ombudsman shall:
(1) Provide outreach to residents and parents, and to further this purpose, have the cooperation of all individuals within the public school system;
(2) Encourage communication between residents and the Mayor regarding all levels of public education;
(3) Serve as a vehicle for citizens to communicate their complaints and concerns regarding public education through a single office;
(4) Respond to complaints and concerns in a timely fashion with accurate and helpful information;
(5) Receive complaints and concerns from parents, students, teachers, and other District residents concerning public education, including personnel actions, policies, and procedures;
(6) Determine the validity of any complaint quickly and professionally;
(7) Examine and address valid complaints and concerns;
(8) Generate options for a response, and offer a recommendation among the options;
(9) Make a referral to the pertinent school official, when appropriate;
(10) Identify systemic concerns raised by citizens, or otherwise received, related to public education;
(11) Maintain a database that tracks complaints and concerns received according to various categories, including school level and location;
(12) Submit to the Deputy Mayor for Public Education and the Chairman of the Council, on a monthly basis, an analysis of the preceding month, including complaint and resolution data;
(13) Recommend policy changes, staff training, and strategies to improve the delivery of public education services;
(14) Systemically track complaints and concerns, and periodically analyze the data and report to the Deputy Mayor for Education patterns of complaints and concerns that suggest a need for a policy change, staff training, or the implementation of strategic action to address an issue; and
(15) Within 90 days of the end of each school year, submit to the Deputy Mayor for Education a report analyzing the work of the previous year, including an analysis of the types, and number, of:
(A) Inquiries;
(B) Complaints and concerns resolved informally;
(C) Complaints and concerns examined;
(D) Examinations pending;
(E) Recommendations made; and
(F) Recommendations that were followed, to the extent that it can be determined.
CREDIT(S)
(June 12, 2007, D.C. Law 17-9, § 604, 54 DCR 4102.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 17-9, see notes following § 38-351.
