Washington, DC

Contact: Jesse B Rauch, Executive Director, (202) 741-0884

(Washington, DC)  – On Thursday, March 6, 2014, Trayon White, the Ward 8 representative to the District of Columbia State Board of Education, notified members of the State Board that he was stepping down from his position. Mr. White, a passionate advocate for children and youth across the District of Columbia, is no longer able to serve as a member of the State Board after accepting a position within the District of Columbia government.

“Since joining the Board, Mr. White has been a valuable, insightful colleague,” shared Mark Jones, President of the State Board, about Mr. White. “He was a champion for finding productive, practical ways of reducing truancy as well as a strong advocate for improving parent and home engagement. The State Board is better for his focus on these two areas. We look forward to working with Mr. White in the future as we continue our work to ensure all children are prepared for college or career success.”

The DC Board of Elections must certify the vacancy before determining when to hold a special election. Until then, Ward 8 will continue to be represented by the State Board’s At-Large member, and Vice President, Mary Lord.

The State Board plays a critical role in the District’s education system and is responsible for setting state-level policies that affect all public-school students, including academic standards; high school graduation requirements,  accountability metrics, and residency verification rules.