ASPIRE System

Ready to Adopt ASPIRE as Charter Goals?

The next phase of the ASPIRE journey is here. By April 1, 2026, schools that previously adopted the Performance Management Framework (PMF) as their charter goals must decide whether to use ASPIRE as their charter goals or submit newly negotiated charter goals. To help guide your decision, we’ve prepared  Charter Goal Adoption materials, including key dates, requirements, and step-by-step guidance for a smooth transition. You can access the packet here.

Have questions or want to discuss your school’s options? Contact Starling Temp, Senior Specialist of School Quality and Accountability, at [email protected].

An Overview of ASPIRE

ASPIRE stands for Annual School Performance Index Report & Evaluation. Simply put, ASPIRE means achieving excellent schools for all students, particularly those from communities which have been historically marginalized. 

Please see the video below, which details the intentions of our accountability system and comprehensively explains its new features.

How does ASPIRE work?

ASPIRE has five main frameworks, which are separated based on the grade bands that a school serves: PK-Only, PK-8, High School, Adult, and Alternative. 

In the first year of implementation, most schools will be evaluated based on their success in four main categories: School Progress, School Achievement, School Environment, and a new school-selected category, called School-Specific Performance. DC PCSB has determined various metrics for each category, including state assessments and CLASS data. PK-Only schools will be evaluated based on just three categories: School Progress and Achievement, School Environment, and School-Specific Performance. 

Schools' evaluation based on these frameworks will determine their level. ASPIRE has five levels, a major departure from our former three-tier system, in the Performance Management Framework (PMF). 

DC PCSB will use these levels to make school oversight decisions. School leaders will be able to use their ASPIRE evaluation to understand their impact on students' success, and improve it. Families and communities will use this evaluation to understand how their local school serve their students.