# District of Columbia Public Charter School Board

The District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) is the regulatory authority and sole authorizer of all public charter schools in Washington, D.C. It provides oversight to 68 independently-run nonprofits (also referred to as local education agencies or LEAs) and 134 public charter schools which educate more than 47,000 students living in every ward of the city (48% of all DC public school students). The board is tasked with approving, monitoring, and evaluating schools, creating policies and conditions to empower educators to do their best work, and actively engaging families, schools, and communities to inform the Board's decision-making.

## History

DC PCSB was created in 1996 by the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 as a second, independent authorizer of public charter schools in the District of Columbia. In 2006, the District of Columbia State Board of Education voted to relinquish its authorizing responsibilities for public charter schools and in 2007, the Council of the District of Columbia passed legislation granting the Mayor of the District of Columbia direct authority over the traditional public school system. With that vote, the board became the sole authority, led by a seven-member volunteer board, for public charter schools within the District of Columbia.

## Mission

DC public charter schools are environments where all students, especially those in historically marginalized groups, thrive. As DC’s sole charter authorizer, the DC Public Charter School Board:
* Approves, monitors, and evaluates schools, with an emphasis on equity and academic excellence
* Creates policies and conditions to empower educators to do their best work in service of students
* Actively engages families, schools, and communities to inform decision-making

## Leadership

The DC Public Charter School Board is led by Dr. Michelle J. Walker-Davis, who joined as Executive Director in August 2020.

## Governance

DC PCSB is led by a seven-member volunteer Board responsible for approving new schools, conducting oversight of schools in operation, and revoking a school's charter if it fails to meet its performance goals. The Board members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the DC Council, in contrast to the elected District of Columbia State Board of Education that governs the DC Public Schools system.

## DC Public Charter School Board Members

* Shantelle Wright (Chair) - Ward 8
* Jim Sandman (Vice Chair) - Ward 6
* Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan (Secretary) - Ward 8
* Carisa Stanley Beatty (Treasurer) - Ward 5
* Lea Crusey - Ward 6
* Dwight Davis - Ward 5
* Nick Rodriguez - Ward 6

## Accountability

Under the School Reform Act, the board is granted authority to hold DC public charter schools accountable for fulfilling their obligations under the Act. With a high proportion of PK-12 and adults in public charter schools, the board created its first accountability tool, called the Performance Management Framework in 2011. It was developed to evaluate the performance of public charter schools on common measures across all schools. Schools were rated Tier 1, 2, 3, with Tier 1 being the best. The framework also measured student achievement and student growth, indicators of readiness for high school and college, and mission-specific measures at each school. Due the COVID-19 pandemic, DC PCSB developed a new accountability framework that will focus on the learning outcomes for all DC students, especially those in historically marginalized groups, which was scheduled to pilot in the 2022-2023 school year.

## 2025-2028 Strategic Roadmap

DC PCSB developed a Strategic Roadmap which guides the organization’s actions through 2028, and emphasizes a commitment to focusing on equity and the District students public charter schools serve. The Strategic Roadmap guides the organization’s work in three areas:
Excellent Schools - ensuring internal decision-making responds to citywide needs and results in improved outcomes for all DC students, especially those in historically marginalized groups.
Enduring Partnerships - strengthening relationships and partnerships with families, school communities, and residents.
Effective Organization - improving internal structure, processes, and culture to allow DC PCSB to create the conditions for student success in DC.

## Enrollment

DC public charter schools educate nearly half of DC’s public school students, in grades PK through 12 and adults.
The number of students enrolled in public schools in Washington, DC during the 2021-22 school year increased slightly compared to 2020-21 enrollment, with 93,843 students enrolled in district public and public charter schools according to preliminary data released by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
As of the 2021-22 school year, DC public charter schools enrolled a total of 45,251 students. The bulk of students were enrolled in grades PK 3-5, totaling 23,670 students. A total of 8,408 middle school students enrolled in grades 6-8, while 6,983 students enrolled in grades 9-12. DC public charter schools continue to educate the largest population of adult learners with 4,735 students enrolled in adult education programs in school year 2021-22.
The ethnic breakdown of students enrolled in school year 2021-22 was 71% Black, 16.8% Hispanic (of any race), 7.6% non-Hispanic White, and 4.6% of other races.

## Schools
### Early childhood schools

| School name | Low grade | High grade |
| AppleTree Early Learning PCS - Columbia Heights | Prekindergarten (3) | Prekindergarten (4) |
| AppleTree Early Learning PCS - Lincoln Park | Prekindergarten (3) | Prekindergarten (4) |
| AppleTree Early Learning PCS - Oklahoma Avenue | Prekindergarten (3) | Prekindergarten (4) |
| Appletree Early Learning PCS - Southeast (Douglas Knoll) Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | Prekindergarten (3) | Prekindergarten (4) |
| AppleTree Early Learning PCS - Southeast (Parklands) Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | Prekindergarten (3) | Prekindergarten (4) |
| AppleTree Early Learning PCS - Southwest | Prekindergarten (3) | Prekindergarten (4) |
| Breakthrough Montessori PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | Kindergarten |
| Briya PCS - Early Childhood | Prekindergarten (3) | Prekindergarten (4) |
| Cedar Tree Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | Kindergarten |
| KIPP DC - Arts and Technology Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | Kindergarten |
| KIPP DC - Connect Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | Kindergarten |
| KIPP DC - Discover Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | Kindergarten |
| KIPP DC - Grow Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | Kindergarten |
| KIPP DC - LEAP Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | Prekindergarten (4) |
| KIPP DC - Pride Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | Kindergarten |

### Elementary and middle schools

| School name | Low grade | High grade |
| Achievement Prep PCS - Wahler Place Elementary School Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| Bridges PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |
| Capital City PCS - Lower School | Prekindergarten (3) | 4th |
| Center City PCS - Brightwood | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Center City PCS - Capitol Hill | Prekindergarten (4) | 8th |
| Center City PCS - Congress Heights | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Center City PCS - Petworth | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Center City PCS - Shaw | Prekindergarten (4) | 8th |
| Center City PCS - Trinidad | Prekindergarten (4) | 8th |
| City Arts and Prep PCS Archived May 1, 2019, at the Wayback Machine | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Creative Minds International PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 7th |
| DC Bilingual PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |
| DC Prep PCS - Anacostia Elementary | Prekindergarten (3) | 1st |
| DC Prep PCS - Benning Elementary | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| DC Prep PCS - Edgewood Elementary | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| DC Scholars PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| DC Wildflower - The Riverseed School | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |
| Democracy Prep Congress Heights PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| E.L. Haynes PCS - Elementary School | Prekindergarten (3) | 4th | Early Childhood Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |
| Friendship PCS - Armstrong Elementary | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |
| Friendship PCS - Blow Pierce Elementary | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| Friendship PCS - Chamberlain Elementary School | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| Friendship PCS - Online Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | Kindergarten | 8th |
| Friendship PCS - Southeast Academy Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |
| Friendship PCS - Woodridge International Elementary School | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| Global Citizens PCS | PreKindergarten (3) | 5th |
| Harmony DC PCS - School of Excellence | Kindergarten | 5th |
| Hope Community PCS - Tolson Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Ideal Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Ingenuity Prep PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 4th |
| Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| KIPP DC - Heights Academy PCS | 1st | 4th |
| KIPP DC - Inspire Academy PCS | 1st | 4th |
| KIPP DC - Lead Academy PCS | 1st | 4th |
| KIPP DC - Promise Academy PCS | Kindergarten | 4th |
| KIPP DC - Quest Academy PCS | 1st | 4th |
| KIPP DC - Spring Academy PCS | 1st | 4th |
| LEARN DC PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |
| Lee Montessori PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 4th |
| Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Meridian PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |
| Perry Street Preparatory PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Rocketship Rise Academy PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| Roots PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |
| Sela PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | Prekindergarten (3) | 6th |
| The Children's Guild DC PCS | Kindergarten | 8th |
| Two Rivers PCS - Fourth Street | Prekindergarten (3) | 8th |
| Two Rivers PCS - Young | Prekindergarten (3) | 3rd |
| Washington Yu Ying PCS | Prekindergarten (3) | 5th |

### Middle schools

| School name | Low grade | High grade |
| BASIS DC PCS - Middle School | 5th | 8th |
| Capital City PCS - Middle School | 5th | 8th |
| César Chávez PCS for Public Policy - Chávez Prep Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | 6th | 9th |
| César Chávez PCS for Public Policy - Parkside Middle School Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | 6th | 8th |
| DC Prep PCS - Benning Middle | 4th | 8th |
| DC Prep PCS - Edgewood Middle School Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | 4th | 8th |
| District of Columbia International School Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | 6th | 10th |
| E.L. Haynes PCS - Middle School | 5th | 8th |
| Friendship PCS - Blow Pierce Middle | 4th | 8th |
| Friendship PCS - Chamberlain Middle School | 4th | 8th |
| Friendship PCS - Woodridge International Middle School Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | 4th | 8th |
| Howard University Public Charter Middle School of Mathematics and Science | 6th | 8th |
| KIPP DC - AIM Academy PCS | 5th | 8th |
| KIPP DC - KEY Academy PCS | 5th | 8th |
| KIPP DC - Northeast Academy PCS | 5th | 8th |
| KIPP DC - Valor Academy PCS Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | 5th | 8th |
| KIPP DC - WILL Academy PCS | 5th | 8th |
| Monument Academy PCS | 5th | 7th |
| Paul PCS - Middle School | 6th | 8th |
| SEED PCS of Washington, DC - Middle School | 6th | 8th |
| Somerset Preparatory Academy PCS - Middle School Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | 6th | 8th |
| Washington Global PCS | 6th | 8th |
| Washington Latin PCS - Middle School | 5th | 8th |
| Washington Latin PCS - The Anna Julia Cooper Campus | 5th | 12th |

### High schools

| School name | Low grade | High grade |
| BASIS DC PCS - High School | 9th | 12th |
| Capital City PCS - High School | 9th | 12th |
| César Chávez PCS for Public Policy - Capitol Hill Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | 9th | 12th |
| César Chávez PCS for Public Policy - Parkside High School | 9th | 12th |
| E.L. Haynes PCS - High School | 9th | 12th |
| Friendship PCS - Collegiate Academy | 9th | 12th |
| Friendship PCS - Technology Preparatory High School Academy | 9th | 12th |
| IDEA PCS | 9th | 12th |
| Kingsman Academy PCS | 6th | 12th |
| KIPP DC - College Preparatory Academy PCS | 9th | 12th |
| National Collegiate Preparatory PCHS Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine | 9th | 12th |
| Paul PCS - International School | 9th | 11th |
| Richard Wright PCS for Journalism and Media Arts | 8th | 12th |
| SEED PCS of Washington, DC - High School | 9th | 12th |
| Somerset Preparatory Academy PCS - High School | 9th | 12th |
| Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS | 9th | 12th |
| Washington Latin PCS - Upper School | 9th | 12th |

### Alternative, adult, and vocational education schools

* School name
* Academy of Hope Adult PCS
* Briya PCS - Adult Education
* Carlos Rosario International PCS
* Community College Preparatory Academy PCS
* LAYC Career Academy PCS
* Maya Angelou PCS - High School
* Maya Angelou PCS - Young Adult Learning Center
* The Next Step PCS/El Próximo Paso PCS Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
* YouthBuild PCS