A description of a school’s discipline policies and procedures is required as part of its charter petition pursuant to the D.C. School Reform Act of 1995, D.C. Code §38-1802.02(10), which provides: A description of the student enrollment, admission, suspension, expulsion, and other disciplinary policies and procedures of the proposed school, and the criteria for making decisions in such areas. A charter school may develop discipline policies and procedures different from those of the District of Columbia Public Schools (“DCPS”).

According to the School Reform Act (“SRA”), each school is its own Local Education Agency (“LEA”). Some public charter schools or LEAs have multiple campuses and/or operate in more than one facility. Pursuant to a school’s charter agreement, DC PCSB may close a single underperforming campus instead of revoking the entire charter, which would result in all campuses closing regardless of performance, if a charter school is designated as a multi-campus school. This policy defines school, campus, and facility to clarify PCSB's charter granting, expansion, replication, and closure policies.

Third-Party organizations, such as those seeking to do business with or provide financing to public charter schools, often require verification from the school’s chartering authority that schools are in good standing. This policy determines whether, and in what form, the DC Public Charter School Board (“PCSB”) should issue these letters.

When a parent or community member reaches out to the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) with a complaint against a school, the primary goal is to ensure that the school has (a) followed its complaint process in order to address the parent’s concern (See D.C. Code § 38- 1802.04(c)(13)); (b) is in compliance with its charter and charter agreement, and (c) has not violated any applicable laws. 

DC PCSB will notify Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (“ANCs”) of proposed actions that will impact their respective neighborhoods. ANCs will be notified 30 business days before a public hearing or vote.

On June 25, 2015, the Board voted to approve, on an emergency basis, the following policy statement:

Subject to the School Reform Act of 1995, D.C. Code §§ 38-1802 et seq., DC PCSB shall consider increases in student achievement by subgroup as defined in 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)) as one of the most important factors when deliberating charter school renewals and revocations. 

As a leading charter school authorizer, recognized by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), the DC Public Charter School Board has greatly improved student performance, school quality, and access to quality public charter school seats.

View operating status for schools Thursday, January 20, 2022.

Today OSSE announced that 76.4% of public charter students graduate in four years in school year 2018-19, up four percentage points from last year, while the number of students graduating in five years declined by 1.1%.  

DC PCSB Chair Rick Cruz and Vice-Chair Saba Bireda are l

On December 5, 2018, we held a focus group session with charter school leaders in partnership with Praesidium, an industry leading consultant we are collaborating with in sex abuse prevention work.

Find the results of lead testing at all DC Public Charter Schools.