Charter Board Grants WEDJ One Year Conditional Charter Continuance

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Audrey Williams  202-328-2748
[email protected]

Washington, D.C. — At a special meeting May 24, 2011, the D.C Public Charter School Board (PCSB),  voted to grant a one-year conditional charter continuance for the William E. Doar, Jr. Public Charter School for the Performing Arts (WEDJ).   The Board will closely monitor the school’s academic progress and its finances.  In January 2011, the school decided it would discontinue its 9-12th grade program as of August 2011.    

“I want to be perfectly clear – while we are pleased with the school’s improvements in academic performance, we expect to see even more progress over the next year,” said Board Member Darren Woodruff, chair of the PCSB’s schools committee.  WEDJ’s school leaders agreed and committed to redoubling their efforts to continue the school’s progress.

In January 2010, WEDJ underwent a charter review that would allow them to continue serving students for an additional five years.  The school was given a one year conditional charter continuance and in January 2011, the Board decided to give WEDJ a four month conditional charter continuance based on the school’s decision to discontinue its high school program and the school’s successful restructuring of its finances.  At last week’s Board meeting, the school presented a restructuring plan that included renegotiation of debts and obligations, as well as future budgets that provide for the expansion of the school’s performing arts program.  Board members said expansion would be contingent on the school’s continued academic progress over the next year.  Yesterday’s vote extends the conditional charter continuance for another year.

WEDJ was chartered in 2004 and beginning this fall will offer a Pre-K – 8th grade academic and performing arts program at its two campuses.  

The Board also voted to accept Ideal Academy Public Charter School’s request to extend the high school program through the end of the summer so that students may attend summer school.  Ideal proposed earlier this month to close its high school and keep the pre-school – 8th grade program open.

The D.C. Public Charter School Board oversees 52 public charter schools on 93 campuses serving more than 29,000 students living in every ward of the city.  Public charter schools now serve approximately 39% of all public school students in Washington, D.C.  Learn more about PCSB at www.dcpubliccharter.com.

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