What are the potential outcomes of a charter review?

After reviewing the charter review report, DC PCSB will vote whether to continue or revoke the school’s charter. The School Reform Act or SRA allows DC PCSB some discretion with this decision: If the Board finds the school has not fully met its goals or determines a school has committed a material legal violation, it may elect to revoke the school’s charter or instead grant it charter continuance (with or without conditions).

However, if the Board finds the school to have a material financial insufficiency (specifically, if the school: (1) did not adhere to generally accepted accounting principles; (2) engaged in a pattern of fiscal mismanagement; or (3) is not economically viable), the Board is required to revoke the school’s charter.

Can a school amend its charter, particularly its goals and expectations, prior to charter review?

While a school may submit a petition to amend its charter at any time, DC PCSB generally will not approve amendments to a school’s goals and expectations unless the request for a charter amendment is made more than two years prior to the beginning of a school’s 15th or 13th year of operation, or more than one year prior to the beginning of a school’s fifth, 10th, 20th or 25th year of operation review. The exception to this is if the school elects to adopt the Performance Management Framework or PMF as its charter goals and academic achievement expectations. Pursuant to the Elect to Adopt the PMF as Goals Policy (see policy here), DC PCSB may permit the revision to occur within two years of a charter school’s 15th or 13th year of operation or within one year of a charter school’s review. See the policy here. Guidelines for preparing a charter amendment petition can be found here.

What is a charter renewal?

Every DC public charter school receives a 15-year charter agreement. If a school wants to continue operating beyond these 15 years, it is required by the School Reform Act, or SRA, to submit an application to DC PCSB to renew its charter for another 15-year term. In turn, the Board is required by the School Reform Act or SRA to not renew a school’s charter if it finds that the school:

• Has committed a material violation of applicable laws (including special education laws) or the terms, conditions, standards, or procedures of its charter.

• Failed to meet its goals and student academic achievement expectations.

• Did not adhere to generally accepted accounting principles; engaged in a pattern of fiscal mismanagement; and/or is not economically viable.

For additional questions about the charter review process, contact Nikhil Vashee at nvashee@dcpcsb.org.

What is a charter review?

A charter review is an assessment required by the School Reform Act (SRA) of a school’s academic performance, legal compliance, and fiscal management. The DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) produces a review report detailing its assessment of the school in these areas, with the charter review culminating in the Board voting whether to continue or revoke a school’s charter. These charter reviews are conducted during each school’s fifth and 10th year in operation.

View previous review reports here.

Why does my school need to undergo a charter review?

DC PCSB is required by the School Reform Act or SRA to review each school at least once every five years. Generally, these charter reviews are conducted during each school’s fifth and tenth year in operation, and we will perform additional reviews of schools outside of this schedule if needed.

We may conduct a charter review if a school:

·       Is identified as a Tier 3 school on the School Quality Reports that uses the performance management framework (PMF) to calculate the results

·       Is not meeting conditions of previous charter reviews and renewals

Are there differences between DCPS teacher salaries and public charter school teacher salaries?

Public charter schools have exclusive control over their personnel, which includes employee salaries. However, we include information about the highest-paid personnel in our Financial Audit Review (FAR).

What is the difference between a CMO and an independent charter school?

Charter Management Organizations or CMOs are nonprofit entities that manage multiple public charter schools. They usually provide back-office functions for public charter schools to take advantage of economies of scale, but some provide a wider range of services.  An independent or "start-up" public charter school is a school operated by the school's board of trustees.  

What other outside funding possibilities are involved when talking about charter schools?

Because public charter schools are nonprofits, they can receive funding from philanthropic organizations, or form foundations that support the mission and goals of the school. They can even apply for grants specifically for public charter schools.

What is a public charter school?

Public charter schools are independent public schools that are free to innovate and are held accountable for student performance. They are publicly funded, tuition-free, and nonsectarian. Like traditional public schools, they are open to all DC residents and receive public funds according to how many students are enrolled. A public charter school exercises exclusive control over its expenditures, administration, personnel, and instructional methods.

Do public charter schools get funding from the city for facilities?

Yes. Public charter schools are awarded $3,124 per student each year for facilities. Each public charter school receives a per-pupil allocation based on a student’s grade level, special education status and needs, and other factors. Funding is provided by the DC government directly to schools on a quarterly basis, beginning with a payment on July 15 and in accordance with the July 1–June 30 fiscal year.

What is the DC School Reform Act?

The DC School Reform Act, or SRA, refers to D.C. Code §§ 38-1802 et seq., which established public charter schools in DC. Read the SRA here.  

Is religious curricula allowed to be offered or taught at public charter schools?

No. As public schools, public charter schools must follow the same legal requirements regarding religious instruction as traditional public schools.

Are all schools required to meet the needs of English Language Learners (ELL)?

Yes, all schools are required to serve ELL students.

How can I find a public charter school?

Each public charter school is unique with its own leadership, culture, teaching philosophy, approach, and methods. Some employ very structured educational environments, while others focus on language immersion, blended learning, Montessori, expeditionary learning, adult education programs, and more. To find a public charter school, visit the Find a School tool.

What schools do not participate in My School DC?

The schools that do not participate in My School DC can be found here. For questions about these schools, please contact the schools directly.

I am conducting research for academic work. How do I gather data from DC charter schools?

DC PCSB does not have formal consent that covers all public charter schools. To retrieve school-specific data, you must contact each individual school or begin your research using OpenDC PCSB, our open data portal.

What are the PK3 and PK4 cut-off ages?

For students submitting an application in My School DC, an applicant for PK3 must be 3 years old by Sept. 30. An applicant for PK4 must be 4 years old by Sept. 30. For all grades, age cut-offs vary by school. To view the cut-off ages, refer to the My School DC website here.  If a school is not participating in My School DC, please visit the school's website for more information. 

What is the difference between district schools, like DCPS, and public charter schools?

Like traditional schools run by DC Public Schools (DCPS), public charter schools are public, tuition-free, and open to all. Where they differ is that a central authority — the chancellor of DC Public Schools — runs traditional schools.  In contrast, public charter schools are run by non profits, under agreements approved by the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB).

Another difference is that by definition, DCPS schools are neighborhood-based.  Students who live nearby are guaranteed admission, while, public charter schools are citywide schools with about half of the students attending a school outside of their home ward.

Where can I find my student records?

There are two ways to access student records. If the school the student attended remains open, contact the school directly. If the school is closed, contact DC PCSB at (202) 328-2660 to request the student records.

Who can attend a public charter school in DC?

Public charter schools are free and open to all. Because DC public charter schools are funded publicly, only DC residents may attend a school in the city.

How diverse are DC public charter schools?

In its role as DC’s sole charter authorizer, DC PCSB has a strong record of ensuring equity and access across DC public charter schools. Overall, DC public charter schools serve virtually the same percentage of English Language Learners (8%) and students with disabilities (12%), and a substantially higher percentage of African American students (78%) as the state average. Visit the Facts and Figures page to learn more.  

In addition, DC PCSB’s charter application process requires the founding groups to address how they will serve all students — particularly historically disadvantaged groups — with the goal of moving toward proficiency for all students.

Are public charter schools free to attend?

Yes, public charter schools are free to attend. They are publicly funded and are tuition-free. Like the traditional schools (DCPS), they receive funding based on the number of students enrolled.

How do I submit testimony for public comment?

The public is encouraged to comment on proposed policies, new charter school applications, and requests to change charter agreements.  To ensure your comments are processed and reviewed, identify the "Name of School"  and please use one of the following ways (please select only one):

·       Submit a written comment by:

1.     Email: public.comment@dcpcsb.org [You will receive an automated response.  This is confirmation that your comment has been received.]

2.     Postal mail: To the Attn: Public Comment, DC Public Charter School Board, 3333 14th Street NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20010

3.     Hand Delivery/Courier: Send your comment to the same as postal address above

Sign up to testify in person at public.comment@dcpcsb.org(link sends e-mail). Each person testifying is given two minutes to present his/her testimony.

4.    Submit voicemail testimony by phone:

(202)-963-0949 [You will have up to five minutes to record your testimony.  Please note that all comments will be transcribed and made available to the public upon receipt.]

​Important:  All comments will be made available to the public.  Comments sent by email, postal mail, or hand-delivered/courier will be posted (below) in the Additional Materials column. We do not edit personal identifying information from submissions.  Please submit only information that you wish to make available to the public.  

How do I enroll in a public charter school? What is My School DC?

For the vast majority of public charter schools, enrollment is completed through My School DC.

My School DC is a common lottery that determines placement for new students at all participating public and public schools. To view the participating schools, visit the My School DC website.

My School DC is an online application tool that is used to apply for participating public charter schools, DCPS out-of-boundary schools, PK3 and PK4 DCPS programs, and DCPS selective high schools (grades 9-12).

For FAQs on how to apply to My School DC and to keep up with deadlines, visit the My School DC website.

What is a charter petition?

A charter petition outlines the central information in establishing a charter. For example, the petition includes the proposed educational programs, the student outcomes and assessments, governance structure, policies, and the legal regulations the school must follow.

Why would a charter petition be denied approval?

The Board engages in a very rigorous standard of approval for new charter petitions. Our goal is to offer quality schools to families in the district. For a charter to be approved, it must meet all of the guidelines outlined in the application. There must be an alignment with our mission and philosophy, a demonstrated need for the school and/or specific populations. There needs to be an inclusion of special populations. The founding group must also provide sufficient evidence of its ability to operate a public charter school and progress in developing the plan for approval.

What happens when a school's charter is revoked or not renewed?

If a school’s charter is revoked or is not renewed, our number one priority is ensuring the students have another school to attend. 

For more information about the school closure process, contact Lenora Robinson-Mills at lrobinson@dcpcsb.org.

How does a school get a charter?

 A school must submit a charter application to the DC Public Charter School Board to receive a charter. Learn more about starting a charter school here and contact applications@dcpcsb.org with questions.

Can an existing school propose to become a charter school?

Yes. An eligible applicant may submit an application and propose to (1) convert an existing District of Columbia public school into a public charter school; (2) convert an existing private or independent school into a public charter school, or (3) establish a new public charter school. Conversion schools have additional application requirements that are found in D.C. Code § 38-1802.01.

Why do some public charter schools close?

There are three primary reasons that a school's charter is revoked. The first reason is the school does not meet its charter goals. For example, if a charter school does not meet its academic achievement expectations, it no longer meets the standard for charter renewal set out in the DC School Reform Act of 1995 (SRA). The second reason is that a school does not comply with the law. The third reason involves fiscal mismanagement. Under the School Reform Act, DC PCSB Board must revoke a school’s charter if it determines the school has engaged in a pattern of fiscal mismanagement and may revoke a school’s charter if the school has committed a violation of applicable law.

What are the requirements for an applicant’s nonprofit status?

A public charter school must be organized as a nonprofit corporation under the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act, Title 29, Chapter 4 of the D.C. Code, to be granted full approval. However, an application for a charter may be approved with conditions in cases where the process has begun but not been completed by the application submission date. In such instances, completion of the applicant’s incorporation is a condition precedent to receiving full approval of the application.

What are the charter requirements?

The guidelines to receive a charter are different for Experienced Operators and Start-Up applicants.  The guidelines for Experienced Operators and Start-Up groups are available here.  Experienced Operator applications are for Charter Management Organizations (CMO) or Education Management Organizations (EMO) interested in replicating a school model with a proven track record of academic success.

Start-Up applications are designed for local founding groups that want to start a charter school. The application is designed to evaluate the founding group’s ability to design and implement a new school model that is either completely new or in partnership with an existing school, nonprofit organization, CMO, or EMO.

For both of these founding groups, they must follow a four-step process.

1.     Complete the charter applications.

2.     Participate in a capacity interview.

3.     Complete an informal Q&A between DC PCSB and the founding group of the school. At this point, if the group already has a running school a site visit will be arranged.

4.     A public hearing where public comment may be submitted for testimony.

Can an applicant group submit more than one charter proposal during a calendar year?

No. An eligible applicant may not file more than one petition to establish a public charter school during a calendar year.

What does the DC Public Charter School Board do?

Our goal is to ensure that students and families in Washington, DC, have access to quality public charter school education. We do that by setting tough academic standards, using a comprehensive charter application review process and effective oversight, providing meaningful support, and actively involving parents, school leaders, the community, and policy-makers. The DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) was created in 1996 under the amended version of the DC School Reform Act of 1995. In 2006, the DC State Board of Education (BOE) transferred its oversight responsibility of charter schools to us. As an independent authorizer of public charter schools in Washington, DC, we evaluate the academic and fiscal performance of DC public charter schools and make sure the schools comply with both local and federal laws.

Who are the members of the Board, and how do they get selected?

DC PCSB is governed by a seven-member Board, nominated by the mayor, with the advice and consent of the DC Council. The seven-member volunteer Board approves new schools, conducts oversight of schools while in operation, and revokes a school's charter if it fails to meet its performance goals.

To learn more about our Board members, click here.

Does the Board hold public meetings?

The DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) holds board meetings and public hearings every month, which are open to the public. The meetings are held on the third Monday unless that day is a holiday. View upcoming meeting dates, past meetings, and hearing materials here or watch the webcast here.

To view items that are open for public comment, view here.

How many charter schools can DC PCSB open?

DC Public Charter School Board has the authority to open up to 20 schools per year. However, our goal is to build a network of quality schools, and thus, all applicants go through a rigorous process. On average, the board accepts three to five new school proposals and to date has approved just more than a third of the submissions.

Where can I find a school's budget?

To view a public charter school's budget, fiscal audit, and 990, view here.

How do charter schools perform in comparison to the city average?

Public charter school students outperform the city average school students in math, science, reading, and composition. For the eighth year in a row, the number of public charter school students who are proficient has increased — and continues to exceed the state average.— View PARCC scores here. 

Where can I access the current academic performance for public charter schools in DC?

To access the current academic performance for public charter schools in Washington, DC, view our School Profiles and PMF Tiers here.

What are School Quality Reports, and how are they used to assess schools?

Each year, we evaluate the performance of every public charter school in the District. These evaluations are compiled into reports, which are used to rate schools as Tier 1, 2, or 3, with Tier 1 being the best. This helps rate their level of achievement compared with other public charter schools across DC. The School Quality Reports are calculated using the Performance Management Framework, or PMF, accountability system. Learn more about PMF here.  

Although every public charter school is unique, these reports focus on common metrics to rate and evaluate all schools on an equal footing. To learn more, view the School Quality Report here.