Protect Our Students. Protect Their Education. Protect the Community.

To: The District of Columbia State Board of Education, District of Columbia Public Schools, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the D.C. Council, and all appropriate District oversight and law-enforcement authorities

We, the undersigned parents, students, residents, educators, alumni, and concerned members of the District of Columbia community, respectfully demand an independent and comprehensive investigation into the administration, safety practices, attendance records, student protection procedures, staff conduct, incident reporting, and graduation practices at Ballou High School in Southeast Washington, D.C.

This petition is not asking government agencies to presume that any individual is guilty of wrongdoing. It is asking for an impartial investigation into serious allegations and documented concerns that, if substantiated, could place students at risk and undermine public confidence in the District’s responsibility to educate and protect children.

WHY AN INVESTIGATION IS NECESSARY

Ballou High School has previously been the subject of significant government investigations concerning attendance, grading, credit recovery, and graduation practices.

An OSSE-commissioned investigation into Ballou’s Class of 2017 found that 76 of 177 graduates passed required courses despite having more than 30 absences, while 113 students received credit toward graduation despite excessive absences. The investigation also identified concerns involving credit recovery and pressure placed on teachers regarding passing rates.

The District’s Office of Inspector General subsequently found that DCPS and Ballou had failed to properly enforce certain attendance requirements and identified weaknesses in the internal controls surrounding attendance, grading, and graduation.

These findings are matters of public record.

The community therefore has a legitimate reason to demand transparency regarding whether current practices at Ballou are fully compliant with District law and current DCPS policies.

CURRENT COMMUNITY CONCERNS

Parents, students, former students, educators, and community members have raised concerns involving:

1. STUDENT SAFETY AND VIOLENCE

There are concerns that serious fights, assaults, threats, and other acts of violence may sometimes be handled internally through school disciplinary or incident-reporting procedures without adequate communication with parents and without appropriate referral to law enforcement when required.

We are asking investigators to determine:

● How violent incidents are classified and documented.

● When MPD is notified.

● Whether incidents that may constitute criminal conduct are being appropriately referred to law enforcement.

● Whether parents are being properly notified when their children are victims of serious incidents.

● Whether school incident reports accurately reflect what occurred.

● Whether security-camera footage and other evidence are preserved.

● Whether students are receiving appropriate protection following reported incidents.

● Whether there is any pattern of minimizing, reclassifying, or internally resolving serious incidents in a manner that prevents appropriate outside review.

2. OUTSIDE ADULTS AND PARENTS ENTERING THE SCHOOL

The community has raised concerns regarding adults entering the school and allegedly becoming involved in confrontations with students, including allegations of parents or other adults physically attacking students.

We demand an investigation into:

● Visitor screening and access procedures.

● Whether unauthorized adults have entered student areas.

● Whether school security has properly enforced visitor policies.

● Whether family members or community members with personal relationships inside the neighborhood or school have received preferential access or treatment.

● Whether conflicts involving adults and students are properly documented and reported. and

● Whether students are being adequately protected from adults who should not have unrestricted access to the school.

3. SECURITY AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Community members have expressed concerns that some individuals working in or around school security may have personal or family relationships within the surrounding community.

We are not asking investigators to assume that having a neighborhood connection automatically constitutes wrongdoing.

We are asking for an impartial review of whether any personal, familial, or community relationships create actual or perceived conflicts of interest that interfere with the fair enforcement of school rules or the protection of students.

The investigation should examine security staffing, assignments, reporting relationships, disciplinary interventions, visitor access, and any potential conflicts of interest.

4. STAFF-STUDENT BOUNDARIES

There are allegations and community concerns regarding inappropriate relationships or fraternization between employees and students.

These allegations require investigation rather than dismissal or speculation.

We request that investigators determine whether any current or former Ballou employee has:

● Engaged in inappropriate personal relationships with students.

● Communicated with students through inappropriate personal or social-media channels.

● Met with students outside appropriate school-related circumstances.

● Exchanged inappropriate messages, photographs, gifts, or other communications.

● Engaged in conduct prohibited by DCPS employee standards or student-safety policies.  

● Failed to report conduct involving another employee that should have been reported.

DCPS maintains a specific policy addressing the prevention of student sexual abuse by staff and requires procedures for responding to allegations involving staff members. (DC Public Schools)

Any credible allegation involving a staff member and a student should be investigated through the appropriate District and law-enforcement channels—not handled solely as an informal school matter.

5. ATTENDANCE, TRUANCY, GRADING AND GRADUATION

The community is particularly concerned about whether students are currently being promoted or graduated while their attendance records, coursework, credits, or other graduation requirements are inconsistent with District requirements.

Because Ballou has previously been the subject of documented findings concerning attendance and graduation, we are asking for an independent review of current records.

That review should include:

● Attendance records

● Unexcused absences

● Attendance corrections

● Course grades

● Credit recovery

● Grade changes

● Graduation eligibility

● Community-service requirements

● Transcripts

● Promotion decisions

● Whether attendance-related grading rules were consistently applied

The District currently requires schools to maintain accurate attendance records and has established specific attendance and truancy procedures. (DC Public Schools)

6. TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY TRUST

Parents and community members should not have to choose between believing rumors and remaining silent.

We are asking for documentation.

We ask that the appropriate oversight bodies determine whether Ballou High School is currently:

1. Following DCPS attendance and graduation policies.

2. Properly documenting and reporting incidents.

3. Protecting students from violence and retaliation.

4. Properly controlling adult access to the building.

5. Following all employee/student boundary requirements.

6. Properly referring to potentially criminal conduct to MPD or other appropriate authorities.

7. Properly investigating allegations involving staff members.

8. Maintaining accurate student records.

9. Providing parents with accurate and timely information concerning serious incidents involving their children.

OUR DEMANDS

We respectfully demand:

1. An independent investigation of Ballou High School.

The investigation should be conducted by an entity independent of the school’s administration and should include appropriate participation by OSSE, DCPS oversight personnel, the Office of the Inspector General, and/or other appropriate independent authorities.

2. A review of student safety and security practices.

This should include visitor access, security staffing, incident response, surveillance procedures, emergency response, and reporting protocols.

3. A comprehensive audit of attendance and graduation records.

The audit should examine current and recent graduating classes and determine whether students received credits, grades, promotions, or diplomas consistent with District requirements.

4. An independent review of serious incidents.

Investigators should examine whether violent incidents were appropriately documented, investigated, referred to law enforcement when appropriate, and communicated to parents.

5. An investigation into staff-student boundary allegations.

All credible allegations involving inappropriate relationships, communications, or conduct between staff members and students should be reviewed under applicable DCPS policies and District law.

6. An examination of potential conflicts of interest involving school security and other personnel.

Personal relationships should not interfere with the impartial enforcement of school rules or the protection of students.

7. Protection for students and witnesses.

Students, parents, employees, and community members who provide information to investigators should be protected from retaliation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

8. Public accountability.

The community deserves a public report identifying substantiated findings, policy violations, corrective actions, and recommendations, while protecting confidential student and personnel information as required by law.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT.

We are asking for the same thing every parent should be able to expect:

A safe school.
An honest school.
Accurate records.
Accountability.
Transparency.
And adults who put the interests of children first.

Ballou High School has already experienced significant public scrutiny over attendance and graduation practices in the past. The existence of that history makes independent oversight even more important and not less.

The purpose of this petition is not to attack Ballou students, teachers, staff, or families.

The purpose is to protect them.

We believe every Ballou student deserves to walk into school knowing that the adults responsible for their education and safety are following the rules, documenting incidents honestly, protecting students from harm, and being held accountable when those responsibilities are not met.

We therefore call upon the District of Columbia’s education and oversight authorities to OPEN AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO BALLOU HIGH SCHOOL AND MAKE THE RESULTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

SIGN THIS PETITION IF YOU BELIEVE BALLOU STUDENTS DESERVE SAFETY, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND A REAL VOICE IN THEIR EDUCATION.

Supporting Public Records

● DCPS Attendance and Truancy Policy

● DCPS Graduation Requirements Policy

● DCPS Safe and Positive Schools Policy

● DCPS Prevention of Student Sexual Abuse by Staff Policy

● DCPS Response to Grievances Filed by Students and the General Public

● OSSE Analysis of Attendance and Graduation Outcomes at Ballou High School

● D.C. Office of Inspector General findings concerning DCPS/Ballou attendance and graduation controls