DC Charter School Alliance

In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, we asked DC Charter School leaders to share a Black leader who inspires their work.

Thank you to Ms. Laina Cox, Head of School at Capital City PCS, for inspiring students to change the world one step at a time. 💙

Read more: dccharters.org/blog/celebra...

Today, @mayorbowser.dc.gov announced her plan to increase the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF) by 2.55% in her FY2027 budget.

Read our full statement: dccharters.org/blog/stateme...

Solving for success: DC’s citywide effort to boost math achievement Increased rigor, teacher supports, data analysis and lots of hard work have contributed to better math performance. But more work remains, educators say.

DC charter schools are leading the way in math achievement—and the nation is taking notice. 📓

Center City PCS Congress Heights and Friendship PCS are featured in K-12 Dive for their innovative approaches to boosting math performance. Read more: www.k12dive.com/news/solving...

Supporting the whole child means thinking beyond the classroom. Last week, the DC Alliance joined Children's National Hospital, MUSC Kids, and Boeing in Charleston, SC to explore innovative school-hospital wellness initiatives—from community gardens to affirmation-based curriculum. 💙 🌱

DC public charter schools are a national model for excellence—and we're proud to share what makes our community special. Last week, we hosted leaders from Tulsa for visits at Monument Academy, Washington Global PCS, & Truth Montessori following the Diverse Charters conference. 💙

February is the perfect time to find the perfect school for your student! Check out this month's open house events from Achievement Prep PCS, DC International School, Friendship PCS, KIPP DC, and more! 💙📚

At this week’s @councilofdc.bsky.social performance hearing on DBH, the DC Alliance’s Nicole Travers testified about the need to expand school-based mental health services while ensuring continuity of care for students.

Read her full testimony: dccharters.org/blog/testimo...

Today is the LAST DAY to submit your My School DC Lottery Application for grades 9-12! ⏰ Don't miss out—complete your application by 11:59pm: apply.myschooldc.dc.gov/login.aspx

To celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we asked DC Charter School leaders to share a Black leader who inspires their work.

Thank you to Dr. Procope of Howard UMS PCS, for your leadership and dedication to ensuring Black history remains an essential part of learning at DC public charter schools.

High-Poverty D.C. Charter School Students Outscore Wealthy Neighbors in Math For the first time, all 8th graders at Center City Public Charter School’s Congress Heights campus took Algebra I and 70% scored proficient.

At Center City PCS Congress Heights, all 8th graders took Algebra I, and 70% scored proficient– outperforming even Ward 3. 🎉 This is what’s possible when we refuse to let students’ socioeconomic backgrounds define their destiny. 💙

Read more from @the74.bsky.social: bit.ly/4qavtia

YouTube video by DC Charter School Alliance The Future of Education Policy | Leaders in Conversation

Ariel Taylor Smith of National Parents Union and Jessica Giles of Strong Schools Now, joined the DC Alliance's Executive Director Ariel Johnson on a new episode of Leaders in Conversation. They explore how emerging policies are shaping the world of education: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdQ6...

Digital Pioneers Academy PCS teacher Michael Devereaux was featured on Queer Eye—but instead of a home renovation, he made sure his school benefited too! 🎓✨ We’re so excited for the world to see to see the incredible passion DC charter teachers have for their schools!

Read more: buff.ly/8zfrGqc

Chronic absenteeism is one of education's most stubborn challenges, yet Center City PCS Congress Heights and DC Prep Anacostia have shown significant improvement, now leading the pack in Ward 8. #DCCharterProud

Read more from EmpowerK12's Josh Boots: fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...

Congratulations to YouthBuild PCS on the grand opening of their new facility! This new space will make an incredible home for the YouthBuild community for many years to come. #DCCharterProud

For the third year running, charter teacher retention is up! The key to sustaining this? Equitable pay and flexibility for educators to focus on their job.

Read our full @councilofdc.bsky.social testimony:
dccharters.org/blog/testimo...

Congratulations to the District’s newest at-large councilmember, Doni Crawford! The DC Alliance looks forward to working with Councilmember Crawford and all of the @councilofdc.bsky.social to support our city’s robust public charter school sector.

From student to educator, Alexys Hewlett ('16) returned to Cesar Chavez PCS to teach in the same hallways that shaped her. 🎓✨ Read how her charter school became home—and why she came back to give the next generation that same transformative support. #DCCharterProud dccharters.org/blog/alexys

Happy #MLKDay! We’re proud to honor Dr. King’s legacy by fighting to ensure that every DC student has access to an excellent education that prepares them to change the world. 💙📚

Mark your calendar! 🗓️ Check out the @dcbilingual.bsky.social middle school fair on January 30th to learn about more than a dozen DC public charter middle schools. 🏫

From Thurgood Marshall Academy classrooms to the office of PwC, Devin Halliburton ('20) is making moves. 💼🎧

Read how his charter school experience taught him to lead, follow, and support—skills he uses daily as an IT consultant and entrepreneur. #DCCharterProud

dccharters.org/blog/devin

This week, the DC Alliance hosted a group of fellows from @elonuniversity.bsky.social! 🏫 Fellows and their professors toured the Makerspace at Center City PCS, observed instruction at the Congress Heights campus, and learned more about public charter schools.

#DCCharterProud

YouTube video by DC Charter School Alliance Talk and Toast Live: A Discussion on 30 Years of DC Charter Schools | Leaders in Conversation

In our latest Leaders In Conversation podcast episode, DC Alliance Executive Director Ariel Johnson is joined by the leaders of Sojourner Truth Montessori PCS, Social Justice PCS, & The Next Step PCS to talk 30 years of the DC School Reform Act!

🎧 Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sH8...

YouTube video by DC Charter School Alliance Leaders in Conversation: Amy Helms, Raymond Weeden, and Russ Williams on Student Achievement

Russ Williams of Center City PCS breaks down how the Makerspace has transformed learning for Center City Students. 🛠️🎨

Learn more by watching our full "Leaders in Conversation" podcast: youtu.be/Sro05JwE0zA?...

Welcome back to school, DC! We can’t wait to see the amazing things public charter school students across the District accomplish this year. 💙🫂

Happy #NewYear! Check out January’s line up of open house events, brought to you by DCI School, Friendship PCS, Achievement Prep, & more! ⭐🎆

Winter Break is the perfect time to fill out your MySchoolDC Lottery Application! 🎟️

Rank your schools today: apply.myschooldc.dc.gov/login.aspx

Congrats, DC Charter families, you made it to winter break! ❄️ We wish all of you a happy holiday season, and an amazing New Year. 💙🎆

Last night we sat down with leaders from Sojourner Truth Montessori PCS, The Next Step/El Próximo Paso PCS, and Social Justice School for episode two of our Leaders in Conversation podcast. 🎧 (Coming soon!)

In the meantime, check out our first episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sro0...

The application deadline for the Center for Strong Public Schools DC's Strong Schools Policy Fellowship is tomorrow! ⏰

If you're considering running for office and want to learn how to be an education champion, apply ASAP! strongschoolsnow.org/dc/fellowship/

Charter schools serve approximately 47,000 students, or ~48% of the city’s public school population. Read more in our policy brief, "Thirty Years of Chartering: Reflecting on the DC School Reform Act and the Role of Single-Site Charter Schools" here: dccharters.org/blog/policy-...