Bio
Jessica Giles is a creative and collaborative executive with a decade of experience in political strategy, policy, and organizational leadership. She has a proven track record of driving impactful change in both the public and nonprofit sectors.
She is the Executive Director of the Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund – DC and its nonpartisan affiliate, the Center for Strong Public Schools – DC. In this role, she advocates for every child to attend an excellent public school. She is also the CEO of Capitol View Strategies, where she specializes in policy and advocacy strategy services, project management, and strategic planning.
Previously, she served as the Executive Director of an education reform organization committed to ensuring all students have access to a high-quality public school education. In this role, she led successful advocacy campaigns, supported the election of political candidates, and advanced evidence-based education policy. Her efforts have been instrumental in expanding access to equitable education for underserved students in Washington, DC.
Before that, Jessica served as Deputy Director for the DC Council’s former Committee on Education, where she played a key role in shaping education policy in both the childcare and public education systems. Her leadership was critical in advancing legislation that strengthened protections for students with special needs, improved educational outcomes for children in DC’s care, and expanded access to affordable childcare for low-income families. As part of her work on the Human Services Committee, she also championed policies that protect the rights and dignity of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Jessica holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Furman University, a Master’s in Public Policy from American University, and a certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Jessica proudly lives in the Capitol View neighborhood in Washington, DC, with her 9-year-old rescue dog, Sammie.
Legislative Impact
- Enhanced Special Education Services Act of 2014
- Fair Wage Amendment Act of 2016
- District of Columbia Child Development Facilities Expansion Amendment Act of 2017
- Non-Traditional Child Care Needs Evaluation Act of 2017 (now known as “Child Care Study Act of 2017”)
- Amendments to the Homeless Services Reform Amendment Act of 2017
- Child Development Facilities Regulations Amendment Act of 2017
- Infant and Toddler Developmental Health Services Act of 2017 (now known as “Birth-to-Three for All DC Act of 2018”) (law)
- Students in the Care of D.C. Coordinating Committee Act of 2018
- Special Education Rights for Youth Defendants Amendment Act of 2018
- Michael A. Stoops Anti-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2019
- Students’ Right to Home or Hospital Instruction Act of 2019
- Safe Passage to School Expansion Act of 2019
- Mathematics Education Improvement Amendment Act of 2024 (implemented)
Additional Impact
- Year after year, historic investments in public education increased: FY2021 (3.0%), FY2022 (3.6%), FY2023 (5.9%), FY2024 (5.05%), FY2025 (12.4%), and FY2026 (2.7%)
- Safeguarded annual increases to the public charter school facilities allowance
- Joined forces with coalitions to expand access to school-based behavioral health services, out-of-school time programming, and safe passage initiatives
- Championed B23-0717 – “Expanding Equitable Access to Great Schools Act of 2020,” which created an equity preference in the My School DC lottery.
- Delivered “Education Facility Colocation” within the Budget Support Act of 2020, to allow DCPS and public charter schools to collaborate more efficiently in shared spaces.
- Secured a $38 million investment in High-Impact Tutoring through the “Learning loss Funds” included in the Budget Support Act of 2021
- Pushed for inclusion of the Structured Literacy Training Action Plan, Educators Housing Incentive, and the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula Adequacy Study in the Budget Support Act of 2022
- Fought for and won $73.5 million Public Charter School Teacher Compensation investments in the Budget Support Act of 2023
- Delivered new “Reporting Requirements for Career and Technical Education and Dual Enrollment;” as well as structured literacy training for D.C. public school teachers in the Budget Support Act of 2024
- Secured $30.8 million for public charter LEAs to increase educator compensation and funding for science of reading training for first through third-grade teachers at DC public schools and public charter schools in the Budget Support Act of 2025