{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-353","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 38-353","heading":"Duties.","body":"The Ombudsman shall:\n\n(1)\nProvide outreach to current and prospective public school students and their parents or guardians, and to further this purpose, have the cooperation of all individuals within the public school system;\n\n(2)\nEncourage communication between public schools and current and prospective public school students and their parents or guardians regarding public education;\n\n(3)\nServe as a vehicle for current and prospective public school students and their parents or guardians to communicate their complaints and concerns regarding public education through a single office;\n\n(4)\nRespond to complaints and concerns in a timely fashion with accurate and helpful information;\n\n(5)\nReceive complaints from current and prospective public school students and their parents or guardians concerning public education, including policies and procedures;\n\n(6)\nDetermine the validity of any complaint quickly and professionally;\n\n(7)\nExamine and address valid complaints and concerns;\n\n(8)\nGenerate options for a response, and offer a recommendation among the options;\n\n(9)\nRefer complainants to a public school official, agency, department, or resource, when appropriate;\n\n(10)\nExcept where the parties have initiated legal or administrative proceedings involving the complaint, resolve complaints presented by current and prospective public school students and their parents or guardians, either through complaint resolution services as established pursuant to § 38-356 or through other informal measures;\n\n(11)\nDevelop and maintain a database that tracks complaints and concerns, identified by grade level and by the public school, and the resolution of complaints and concerns;\n\n(12)\nRepealed;\n\n(13)\nIdentify systemic concerns and recommend to the State Board of Education policy changes, staff training, and strategies to improve public education and communication between public schools and parents and guardians;\n\n(14)\nRepealed;\n\n(15)\nWithin 120 days after the end of each school year, submit to the State Board of Education, and make publicly available, a report summarizing the work of the Ombudsman during the previous school year, which shall, at minimum, include an analysis of the types and number of:\n(A)\nComplaints received;\n(B)\nComplaints examined  and resolved informally;\n(C)\nComplaints examined and resolved through a formal process;\n(D)\nComplaints dismissed as unfounded;\n(E)\nComplaints pending; and\n(F)\nRecommendations made;\n(G)\nRepealed.\n\n(16)\nIdentify school-level concerns based upon a pattern of complaints or concerns and recommend changes to improve the delivery of public education services; and\n\n(17)\nHave the authority to issue reports and recommendations related to the Office of Ombudsman's work without prior review or approval by another entity.","path":["Title 38. Educational Institutions.","Chapter 3A. Ombudsman for Public Education."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/38-353","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"a1b04afd4374b4a9d12f4e16a282cc6c9542ed9b8912666e71bdcbe859b37bdf","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-352","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-354"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}