The Board Approved Five New Public Charter Schools to Open SY 2020-21
On Monday, May 20, the DC Public Charter School Board voted to approve five new public charter schools to open in school year 2020-21. The board chair, Rick Cruz, gave brief remarks around the eleven new public charter school applications that the board and board's staff considered to identify the strongest candidates for approval. He says, "These applications represent quite literally years of efforts on the part of founding groups and leaders. Several individuals here this evening have stepped down from full-time roles at other schools and organizations to focus 100% on developing innovative approaches to serving the districts students. It is also important to note that these individuals are parents, teachers, and some are our neighbors. Thank you to all of you for your commitment. I cannot think of a finer example of civic engagement on behalf of our city than the work each of you has done." Read his full remarks here.
The five schools that were approved are Capital Village, Girls Global Academy, The Sojourner Truth School, I Dream School and Social Justice School.
Capital Village will have an EL (Expeditionary Learning) model serving students in grades 5-8.
Girls Global Academy will be a single sex program serving students in grades 9-12.
I Dream School will be an inquiry-based, learner-centered program approach serving students in PK3-5.
Social Justice School will have an EL (Expeditionary Learning) focused on social justice activism serving students in grades 5-8.
People Love Their Public Charter Schools
Educators at Cedar Tree PCS Focus on Meeting All Students Individual Needs
Photo credit: Cedar Tree PCS Children receive a quality education in an environment where they feel safe, supported and free to share ideas. To provide a quality education, educators should allow their students’ natural curiosity to direct hands-on, thought-provoking, engaging lessons and activities. At Cedar Tree Academy, smaller class sizes, small group instruction, and a model with three adults in every classroom ensures that I meet all students’ individual needs in my classroom.
The Importance of Having a School "Barrier Buster" at Early Childhood Academy PCS
Photo credit: Early Childhood Academy PCS
Walking swiftly with poise and a cheerful high pitched “Hello” Cortney Wiggins-Mayfield can be found throughout the halls of Early Childhood Academy (ECA) wearing one of her many hats as Family Support Coordinator. Mrs. Wiggins-Mayfield is glad to be known as the person you come to if you need help. As the Family Support Coordinator, Mayfield supports families through homelessness, attendance, providing children who are out of uniform with uniforms, planning school-wide events and so much more. Mayfield is also known as the ECA barrier buster. Whatever barriers students may face that distracts them from receiving a quality education, Mayfield tackles them head on. Her first goal is to always build relationships with families. As someone who simply “just wants to help”, Wiggins-Mayfield receives the most joy from ECA family triumphs. “Whenever I feel like I’m not doing enough they (the parents) come and visit me and tell me they got an apartment or job. Or our students gleam and smile when I give them a clean uniform or new pair of shoes. Those are the things that keep me going.”
Thurgood Marshall PCS is Committed to Teacher and Student Retention
Photo credit: Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS
Ms. Tara Allen has been with Thurgood Marshall Academy (TMA) PCS for 12 years and currently serves as the Math Department Chair. The educators at TMA and their commitment to student success is what makes TMA PCS so special. TMA encourages teachers to be creative in their teaching styles and honors their efforts to reach students at all levels. You may walk into a classroom and see students working in groups, alone on a computer, or with a partner. Educators at TMA PCS understand that each student learns differently and they ensure students have the tools and information needed to be successful. Allen says, “I love working at a school that has structures in place to prepare students for college and get the education they deserve, says Allen.”
Digital Pioneer Innovators Represent DC in National KidWing Challenge
Photo credit: Digital Pioneers Academy PCS
The founding year at Digital Pioneers Academy (DPA) PCS is coming to a close but the members of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Junior Club are just getting started. After coming in 1st place at the DC Competition, the members of NSBE Jr. club will represent the District of Columbia in the National KidWind Challenge starting May 28. During this process, some students felt that making the wind turbine for the DC KidWind competition was a difficult process. While the team, the DPA Innovators, had a lot of fun, in the beginning, they struggled with communication when making the base to support the blades of the turbine. The final base was made of PVC pipe, which, along with friction, was held together with gorilla glue and an unusually large amount of hot glue that resulted in two legs, each of which had two other legs sprouting from it for support. Some students feel that this process has been an "emotional rollercoaster" and for lots of others, making this wind turbine was a very fun experience
Upcoming Events
June 17 - Board Meeting
The Board will hold its next monthly meeting on June 17 at 6:30 p.m. *The meeting will be held at DC PCSB (3333 14th Street NW, Suite 210). A meeting agenda will be available here.
Watch the meeting on our website. Missed last month's meeting? Read a summary here.
