City Lights PCS to Close by End of February; Community Forum Planned
News Release
3333 14th Street, N.W. Suite 210
Washington, DC 20010
phone: 202-328-2660
www.dcpubliccharter.com
3333 14th Street, N.W. Suite 210
Washington, DC 20010
phone: 202-328-2660
www.dcpubliccharter.com
For Immediate Release: January 27, 2009
Contact: Nona Richardson 202/328-2670
Contact: Nona Richardson 202/328-2670
Washington, D.C. – During its January 26, 2009 meeting, the D.C. Public Charter School Board (PCSB) accepted City Lights Public Charter School’s request to relinquish its charter. The school’s leaders explained that the school had suffered budget shortfalls, due to low enrollment and auditors’ refusal to allow payment for students who had not provided adequate documentation of their residency. The school’s principal shared that many students come from difficult or unusual home situations that make it difficult to provide the documentation required by the city’s enrollment audit. The school has historically enrolled high-level special needs students. City Lights’ acting board chair Susan Gates expressed the school’s concern for the students and pledged to “work with city agencies to try to make the best transition possible for the students.”
In a letter sent to families today, PCSB chair Tom Nida encouraged the students and parents to access the resources available to them, and to persevere and complete their educational goals, despite the disappointment of their school closing. “The most important outcome is that students receive a quality education and have opportunities to realize their dreams as adults and community members,” he said. The PCSB will host a School Community Forum on Thursday, January 29th at 6:00pm at City Lights to talk with students and parents about next steps, new school options, and resources to ensure continuity of special education services. Representatives from D.C. Public Schools Special Education department have joined the effort to facilitate the student transition. Community members may contact the PCSB will questions by calling 202/328-2660 or email [email protected].
The D.C. Public Charter School Board has oversight responsibility for all of the 59 public charter schools that operate on 95 campuses serving more than 25,000 students in every ward of the District of Columbia. City Lights will be the eighth charter school to close under its authority.