Each of the five agencies included in the initial rollout of the Grade.DC program posted minor improvements over initial marks, with the exception of the often-maligned DMV, whose scores remained flat at “C-.”
Grade DC: Initial Grades RevealedTransportationJune C- July C+* June grade is based on 311 customer reviews. Consumer and Regulatory Affairs June C- July C+* June grade is based on 117 customer reviews. Public Works June C+ July B* June grade is based on 135 customer reviews. Motor Vehicles June C- July C-* June grade is based on 339 customer reviews. Parks and Recreation June C- July C* June grade is based on 134 customer reviews. *July grades are as of July 18, 2012. |
The initial launch includes five agencies offering public-facing services. According to the office of Mayor Vincent Gray, an additional list of 10 departments still to be determined will be added to the Grade.DC platform this fall. To date, feedback is steadily pouring in on the departments of Parks and Recreation, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Transportation, as well as Motor Vehicles and Public Works.
An upward trajectory in departmental scores, however small, comes when a dose of good news is especially welcome at City Hall. Questions persist about the conduct of campaign aides working on behalf of Gray, who won a hotly contested mayoral election in 2010 against incumbent Adrian Fenty.
Visitors to the Grade.DC site can see current department grades, as well as data on major themes, both positive and negative, that emerge from customer feedback. Each department also presents plans to improve in response to the feedback. Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, for example, promises to add information and applications to its website to better serve customers. Enhanced staff training programs are promised in several agencies. Gray’s office told Government Technology last month that department grades will be updated on a monthly basis.