“Across our city, students are heading into Spring Break, wrapping up third-quarter milestones, preparing for testing season, and beginning to look ahead to graduation and what comes next. Spring is here! The weather is finally warming up—and with it, you can feel a shift in energy. This is a time of momentum. Students are hitting milestones, overcoming challenges, and showing us what growth really looks like—academically, socially, and personally,” said Board Chair, Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan.
Executive Director, Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis began the meeting by discussing what academic growth looks like, using ASPIRE as a tool for measurement.
“From early learning classrooms to college campuses and career pathways, students are showing growth, and tonight, we have the data to show it. We are proud to share ASPIRE insights this evening. We began developing ASPIRE more than three years ago in partnership with school leaders, national education experts, and community partners across the charter sector. From the start, our goal wasn’t simply to create another academic accountability system; it was to build a shared tool that drives continuous improvement. That’s a big deal.”
To support our theme of academic growth, staff presented the 2024–25 ASPIRE results, highlighting the evolution of DC PCSB’s academic oversight and how school campuses are continuing to improve through the ASPIRE System.
This focus reflects a core shift in how we define school quality. While we continue to measure achievement, or how students are performing today, we are placing greater emphasis on growth, or how much students improve during their time at a specific school. Achievement offers a snapshot of where students are, while growth paints a clearer picture of where they are going, reinforcing our shared commitment to continuous improvement and stronger outcomes for students.
The Board also heard from Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, which looks to amend their charter to add a new facility to educate learners.
The Board then moved forward with several key actions
Charter Reviews and Renewals Approved
As part of our role as the authorizer, the Board conducts charter reviews every five years to take a comprehensive look at each school’s performance over time, including academic results, financial health, and overall operations. These reviews help determine whether a school is delivering on its mission and serving students well.
At the March meeting, the Board approved the following:
- Washington Latin Public Charter School – 20-Year Review
- Richard Wright Public Charter School – 15-Year Renewal
- KIPP DC Public Charter School – 25-Year Review
“Tonight is about results, but more importantly, it’s about momentum. It’s about a sector that is learning, evolving, and pushing forward together, and most importantly—it’s about students who are not just meeting expectations—but exceeding them,” said Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis.
To see a list of board actions and watch a video of the March 23 meeting, head over to our Board Meetings page. For recordings of all previous board meetings, visit our YouTube page.