The D.C. Students Succeed (DCSS) is a partnership of more than 40 community organizations, charter schools, and advocacy groups. DCSS members believe families must be able to choose the public school that meets their unique needs, education leaders need flexibility to do their best work, and students always come first, especially Black and Brown students.   Despite the threat of a $1.7B budget deficit for DC, DCSS members successfully advocated for significant funding to support a more equitable school system, including: • $145M increase in per student funding (+5.05% per pupil and 0.2 increase to the at-risk funding weight) • $74M for public charter school teacher pay increases, $15M above the Mayor’s proposed level • $15.3M in new funding for OST grants, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Summer Youth Employment Program • Inclusion of public charter school teachers in the Employer Assisted Housing Program that provides up to $10,000 in assistance • New funding for structured literacy trainings • New funding for flexible scheduling for educators • Bonus payments for early childhood educators to ensure workforce stability • $1.2 million to create a pipeline of behavioral health specialists by funding a Master of Social Work degree at the University of the District of Columbia