School board

Ward 5 Member of the State Board of Education

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The State Board of Education sets the District's academic standards and graduation requirements and approves state education policy; it doesn't run schools. Nonpartisan.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jon Alfuth

No party listed

K-12 education policy expert

The gist

Supports safe passage programs for students traveling to school.
Proposes accountability metrics on special education services.
Supports accountability credit for career-readiness experiences and credentials.
Supports expanding high-impact tutoring to improve attendance.
Pledges to minimize federal law enforcement's footprint near schools.
Supports science-of-reading and other evidence-based instruction.

More about Jon

View sources (1)

Supports safe passage programs for students traveling to school.
Jon Alfuth's Priorities
Campaign website · Jon Alfuth for Ward 5 State Board of Education Committee · jonforward5.com
“Support increased safety getting to and from schools by ensuring access to safe passage programs for Ward 5 schools”
Proposes accountability metrics on special education services.
Jon Alfuth's Priorities
Campaign website · Jon Alfuth for Ward 5 State Board of Education Committee · jonforward5.com
“I would support adding metrics to our state accountability system that track how well schools are serving students with special needs”
Supports accountability credit for career-readiness experiences and credentials.
Jon Alfuth's Priorities
Campaign website · Jon Alfuth for Ward 5 State Board of Education Committee · jonforward5.com
“Advocate for our school accountability system to give schools credit when students complete meaningful career readiness experiences”
Supports expanding high-impact tutoring to improve attendance.
Jon Alfuth's Priorities
Campaign website · Jon Alfuth for Ward 5 State Board of Education Committee · jonforward5.com
“Advocate for continual expansion of high-impact tutoring services”
Pledges to minimize federal law enforcement's footprint near schools.
Jon Alfuth's Priorities
Campaign website · Jon Alfuth for Ward 5 State Board of Education Committee · jonforward5.com
“work with both our communities and elected officials to do everything in our collective power to minimize federal law enforcement's footprint in Ward 5”
Supports science-of-reading and other evidence-based instruction.
Jon Alfuth's Priorities
Campaign website · Jon Alfuth for Ward 5 State Board of Education Committee · jonforward5.com
“Work to make sure schools are implementing evidence based practices like the science of reading”

Lynn Jennings

No party listed

Senior director, EdTrust

The gist

Proposes expanding OSSE attendance tools and the ATTEND program.
Supports public tracking of how education dollars reach classrooms.
Supports alert systems against ICE and Guard activity near schools.
Supports Algebra I access by eighth grade in Ward 5.
Supports safe, reliable passage to school for Ward 5 students.
Pledges regular listening sessions with students, families and educators.

More about Lynn

View sources (2)

Proposes expanding OSSE attendance tools and the ATTEND program.
Lynn Jennings' Priorities for Ward 5 Schools
Campaign website · Lynn for Ward 5 · lynnforward5.com
“Push OSSE to expand and publicize tools like its Attendance Dashboard, and support bringing the Attorney General's ATTEND program to more schools”
Supports public tracking of how education dollars reach classrooms.
Lynn Jennings' Priorities for Ward 5 Schools
Campaign website · Lynn for Ward 5 · lynnforward5.com
“Demand clear, public information showing how education dollars translate into educators, academic programs, enrichment, and student supports”
Supports alert systems against ICE and Guard activity near schools.
Lynn Jennings' Priorities for Ward 5 Schools
Campaign website · Lynn for Ward 5 · lynnforward5.com
“Work with communities to build and strengthen alert systems that keep our kids collectively safe from ICE and National Guard activity near schools”
Supports Algebra I access by eighth grade in Ward 5.
Lynn Jennings' Priorities for Ward 5 Schools
Campaign website · Lynn for Ward 5 · lynnforward5.com
“Advocate for every Ward 5 student to have access to Algebra I by eighth grade, advanced coursework, dual enrollment”
Supports safe, reliable passage to school for Ward 5 students.
Lynn Jennings' Priorities for Ward 5 Schools
Campaign website · Lynn for Ward 5 · lynnforward5.com
“Advocate for safe, reliable passage to and from school for every Ward 5 student”
Pledges regular listening sessions with students, families and educators.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 5 Member of the State Board of Education (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will hold regular listening sessions, meet people in their schools and communities”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 1 issue covered in this race.