Notice of Request to Amend Charter: Goals and Academic Achievement Expectations – The Next Step PCS

The District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) announces an opportunity for the public to comment on a request from The Next Step Public Charter School (The Next Step PCS) to amend its charter by modifying its goals and academic achievement expectations. The school submitted its request on November 16, 2023.1 

Currently in its twenty-seventh year of operation, The Next Step PCS educates adult students ages 16 to 30 at a single campus located in Ward 1. The school’s mission is to provide students who face extraordinary challenges and who are not supported in traditional high schools with the opportunity to continue their education. 

The Next Step PCS proposes revising its student progress on Adult Basic Education (ABE) goals to measure educational gains using National Reporting System Educational Functioning Levels (EFLs) rather than grade equivalency. The ABE assessment previously used by the school, TABE 9/10, was discontinued by the publisher. The school subsequently transitioned to administering TABE 11/12. Unlike TABE 9/10, the updated assessment does not currently provide grade level equivalent student outcome data.