A Washington, D.C. public school policy that allows school leaders to call the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) if a child is picked up late has sparked a debate between hundreds of parents and educators.
DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee said, when he visited WUSA9 last week:
“We all have an obligation to keep our kids safe.”1
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While this statement is certainly true, exactly how that is carried is up for discussion. Chancellor Ferebee refused to discuss policy. But a letter sent home to Patterson Elementary parents highlighted the policy in bold print. It said:
..if your child is not enrolled in aftercare and you do not pick them up promptly at the 3:15 p.m. dismissal, the Child and Family Services Agency will be contacted.1
Richard Wexler executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, chimed in and said:
“All the time and effort turning CFSA into a babysitter because school districts don’t want to do it, is stolen from finding a child who may be in real danger, we overload the agencies so they have less time to find children in real danger.”1
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Needless to say, this policy has many people upset. After USA9’s first story on this issue was shared on Facebook, more than 300 parents and educators weighed in with comments like:
‘This is a disgrace and distasteful,’ ‘ Give these parents a wake-up call.’1
Teachers even made statements like:
‘I’ve had parents picking up kids not in aftercare at 7:30 p.m. I have seen no one pick up a child. That’s neglect,’ and ‘There needs to be repercussions and accountability but how is calling CFSA keeping our children safe?’1
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CFSA said these cases are not always the result perpetual neglect nor cause for investigation. But Wexler said schools across the country are misusing the agency for as much as back pay for school lunches to late pickups, adding:
“It’s the agency that takes away children and even if they don’t do that in these cases it’s still an emotional trauma. The situation here in D.C. also reflects the racial and class biases that permeate child welfare. Does anybody seriously believe a letter like that would go on to parents in Georgetown? There’s no way!’1
As the debate continues, the Patterson Elementary letter has since been rewritten to modify the tone but not the message that children need to be picked up on time.
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Many comments on Facebook said parents who abuse the system should be held accountable. But they also commented that better communication and a network of parental support could accomplish the one common goal, which is keeping kids safe.
