DC Public Charter School Board Releases Application Guidelines for Experienced Charter Operators

Contact: Audrey Williams 202-328-2748 (o); 301-351-6259 (c)
awilliams@dcpcsb.org

Washington, D.C. - The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) today released its guidelines for experienced and successful operators to apply to open a charter school in Washington, DC.

With these guidelines, an experienced operator could apply to the PCSB by October 1 and, if successful after a rigorous review, gain approval by December.  The new school would be able to open in August of 2013 – a full year ahead of the current timeline for an approved DC charter school.  For those experienced operators who want to open in the fall of 2014 or later, they could apply to the PCSB by November 16 and gain approval by February 2013.
 
“We know there are many charter school operators around the country achieving impressive results through a diversity of approaches to educating students,” said Brian W. Jones, PCSB Board Chair. “Our board is committed to ensuring that DC is a top destination for successful charter school operators across the country so that we can continue to expand access to high-quality school options for DC families.”

“These guidelines streamline and accelerate the application process for charter operators who have successful track records in other cities across the country,” said PCSB Executive Director Scott Pearson.  “We want charter school organizations everywhere to know that we welcome outstanding applicants from inside and outside Washington DC.  With its high per-pupil reimbursement, strong charter law, robust system of choice, and national spotlight, DC offers the best environment for charter schools in the nation.”

The application calls for experienced operators to demonstrate how they would adapt their successful program elsewhere to the needs of schoolchildren in Washington, DC, and how their experience would contribute to the support and development of their new DC school. The operators must provide information on the past performance of their schools along with three years of financial audits, a detailed curriculum and clear, measurable academic goals.   Click here to see the full guidelines.

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 57 public charter schools on more than 100 campuses serving nearly 32,000 students living in every ward of the city.  Learn more at www.dcpcsb.org.