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Strong charter sectors are built on two essential principles: autonomy and accountability. While school leaders and authorizers do not always agree, those differences are not signs of dysfunction.

The purpose and intent of this policy is to implement the Expanding Equitable Access to Schools Amendment Act of 2020, that seeks to give greater access to at risk students and their families to the schools they want to attend, and ensuring  those schools are prepared to serve higher numbers of at risk students. Beginning in School Year SY 2022-23, DC public charter schools will offer an admission preference to students who are at risk, with prior approval from DC PCSB.  The preferenceͪ shall remain in effect for five years and may be renewed an unlimited number of times, each time for an additional five-year period. This policy outlines the process and baseline criteria DC PCSB will use to approve schools to offer the equitable access preference, as well as the standards for renewing the preference. This policy also outlines how schools approved for the preference may seek approval from DC PCSB to discontinue the preference, should it choose.

As population forecasts for school-age children decline and city conditions change, DC PCSB must create the policies for thoughtful charter sector planning. This policy offers three pathways to support the sector’s sustainability, efficiency, and quality. They are mergers, standard acquisitions, and emergency acquisitions. DC PCSB will review these reorganization requests in alignment with this policy.