For Immediate Release: September 11, 2013 Contact: Theola Labbé-DeBose 202-328-2670 [email protected]
Washington, D.C. — An early childhood school model from New York, a middle school for at-risk students from California, and a K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) school from Texas were the three experienced operator applications the DC Public Charter School Board received by the September 9 deadline.
Democracy Prep Public Schools (Democracy Prep) serve 2,000 students in grades K-12 across nine campuses in Harlem, New York and Camden, NJ. According to its application, Democracy Prep actively recruits students at risk of academic failure, including students with special education and English Language Learner needs, and uses data, an extended school day and year, and rigorous college-prep academics to achieve high-performing results. “Democracy Prep schools embody a refined no excuses approach,” the founding group wrote.
Frederick Drew Gregory Academy is a school model that has been in operation in California since 1987 and has evolved into 14 charter schools operating 75 sites. The school would partner with the D.C. Association of Chartered Public Schools, and be operated by Education Management Systems III, Inc., a charter management operator, to serve 400 middle and high school students who have had difficulty in public school settings, including students with discipline and behavior issues, behind in credits and struggling with other issues. “There is a clear consensus that opportunities to learn for students with the greatest need should be the highest priority for the City and for the charter sector. [Frederick Drew Gregory Academy] seeks to help meet this imperative,” the founding group wrote.
Based in Houston, Harmony Public Schools (Harmony) serves 25,000 students on 40 campuses throughout Texas. According to its application, Harmony focuses on STEM education to provide opportunities for underserved communities and has a 100% college acceptance rate. “The Board of Trustees of Harmony DC intends to replicate HPS’s proven model in Washington, DC because STEM education is vital not only for an individual’s economic success, but…in the economic success of our nation,” the founding group wrote.
If approved, the schools would be eligible to open as early as fall 2014 for the 2014-15 school year to allow for a nine-month planning period for the schools to be included in the city’s budget and for the school officials to plan for the school opening.
Demand for high-quality charter schools remains extremely strong in the District, with more than 22,000 names on waiting lists. PCSB continues to seek the very highest quality applicants – whether from within the District or from around the country to help meet this demand.
“There is a clear demand for excellent education options and PCSB is glad to have these applications from experienced operators to consider so we can expand options for DC families,” said Board Chair John H. “Skip” McKoy.
PCSB staff will review the applications and interview the founding groups, using a new Experienced Operator Guidelines Scoring Guide that includes scoring criteria for academic and financial questions, as well as for how the school plans to garner community partnerships and support.
The Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday October 16, during which the applicants will present their proposals. The application decisions will be announced at the November 18 Board meeting.
To read the full applications, please click here. The Board is accepting public comment on the applications through October 21. To submit public comment, please email [email protected] or mail to the attention of Isoken Igodan c/o PCSB, 3333 14th St NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20010. To sign up to testify at the public hearing, please contact [email protected] or call PCSB offices at (202) 328-2660 by noon the day of the hearing to be placed on the witness list and bring ten copies of your testimony to the hearing.
About the PCSB: The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) is setting a national model for creating quality public school options through its rigorous review of new charter applications and effective oversight of charter school performance that is leading the transformation of public education in Washington, DC. PCSB currently oversees 60 public charter schools on 108 campuses serving nearly 35,000 students living in every ward of the city.