Thinking of Starting a Charter School in Washington, DC, 2013 Application Guidelines Released

Contact: Audrey Williams  202-328-2748
[email protected]

Washington, D.C. — The DC Public Charter School Board has released the 2013 Application Guidelines for any individual or group looking to start a charter school in the District of Columbia.  The guidelines outline the required steps to open a new charter school (or convert a traditional, parochial or private school). The application deadline is March 1, 2013.  Approved schools would open in the fall of 2014.
 
The guidelines include the following new additions:
 

  • Questions on how to serve students with disabilities in the Educational Plan section.
  • Additional information requested on the performance history of experienced charter operators was added, should an applicant group decide to contract with one.
  • An expanded “School Goals” section.
  • A new section, titled “Future Expansion and Improvements” to the Business Plan section with questions on how a school would work to increase enrollment, expand its school facility and attract additional qualified staff.

Prospective applicants may download the application guidelines from the Board’s website or come in person to the PCSB offices to pick up a printed copy. 

(Organizations who already operate schools should instead refer to PCSB’s Application Guidelines for Experienced Operators.)

PCSB will host an information session for prospective applicants on October 17 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at 3333 14th Street, NW, 2nd Floor Conference Room.  For more information about the application process, visit the PCSB website at www.dcpcsb.org.

About the PCSB: The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) is setting a national model for creating quality public school options through its rigorous review of new charter applications and effective oversight of charter school performance that is leading the transformation of public education in Washington, DC. PCSB currently oversees 57 public charter schools on more than 100 campuses serving nearly 32,000 students living in every ward of the city. Learn more at www.dcpcsb.org.