Notice of Petition to Amend Charter: Facility Amendment Request – MM Bethune PCS

UPDATE: The public comment window originally closed for this item on January 29, 2024. To allow for further engagement, DC PCSB is reopening this item for public comment until March 1, 2024. The vote is now scheduled for March 18, 2024 instead of February 26, 2024 as previously posted.

The District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) announces an opportunity for the public to submit comment on a request from Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy Public Charter School (MM Bethune PCS) to amend its charter agreement. The public comment window originally closed for this item on January 29, 2024. To allow for further engagement, DC PCSB is reopening this item for public comment until March 1, 2024. The vote is now scheduled for March 18, 2024 instead of February 26, 2024 as previously listed.

 The school seeks authorization to relocate its facility from Sixth Presbyterian Church at 5413 16th Street NW to Takoma Park Baptist Church at 635 Aspen Street NW ahead of school year (SY) 2024 – 25. The school submitted its request on December 11, 2023. The proposed facility would provide more space for students and staff. It can serve up to 173 students at capacity, and it features larger classrooms, a library, an environment science room, a playground, and offices.

 Founded in SY 2015 – 16, MM Bethune PCS educates 361 scholars in grades prekindergarten-three (PK3) – 8 across two facilities located at 5413 16th Street NW (Ward 4) and 1404 Jackson Street NE (Ward 5). Of that total, 93 students in grades PK3 – 5 attend the 16th Street facility. The school’s mission is to “implement a high performing day school that provides a challenging academic program in a supportive, parentally involved, and diverse learning environment to enable each student to achieve academic success, talent, and positive social development.