DC PCSB completed our 2022 Mystery Caller initiative, as a part of our Open Enrollment Policy, ensuring that public charter schools are open and accessible to all students who are residents of the District of Columbia. This initiative is conducted every year.
Each year, DC PCSB staff call every public charter school campus anonymously and ask questions about the enrollment process for a student with a disability or an English learner (EL). If the campus gives an inappropriate answer, staff calls a second time - always in English - to determine if the possible violation was a one-off issue or indicative of a systemic problem. Schools that fail both rounds are eligible to receive a Notice of Concern, according to the Open Enrollment Policy.
Out of the 134 public charter school campuses that will operate next school year, a total of 66 received calls inquiring about enrolling a student with a disability, while the remaining 68 received a call about an EL student. Of the 68 EL calls placed, there were 15 made by someone Spanish speaking.
There were 20 campuses out of 134 that had a violation in round one, representing a sharp increase in the number of first- and second-round violations in years past. Out of all violations, 15 pertained to EL access and five to special education access.
Of the 20 campuses with a round 1 violation, five campuses, representing four Local Education Agencies (LEAs), provided inappropriate responses again in round two.
They schools:
- Achievement Preparatory Academy PCS
- KIPP DC - Grow Academy PCS
- KIPP DC - Legacy College Preparatory PCS
- Lee Montessori PCS - East End
- Maya Angelou PCS - Young Adult Learning Center
DC PCSB staff recommended the Board issue Notices of Concern, per the Open Enrollment Policy, to these four LEAs. At the April 18 Board meeting, the four LEAs were issued Notices of Concern for the violations. Watch the Board Meeting here. In order for the schools to have their Notice of Concern lifted, the campuses have to respond appropriately to further mystery calls and attend a meeting of the Registrar Professional Learning Community (PLC) in May. Additionally, DC PCSB shared open enrollment resources with schools that had violations.
At the April Board Meeting, schools acknowledged that the most common reasons for an increase in violations are: staff being unsure of the enrollment process, inability to quickly respond to Spanish speakers, and being unaware of the obligation to provide specialized programming.
To watch the Board Meeting, click here.
To read the Board memo, click here.