The DC Charter School Alliance is D.C.’s premier advocacy organization dedicated to supporting and representing the robust charter school presence in the nation’s capital.
With the support of the eight-member DC Charter School Alliance team, the charter school community can ensure that all students in D. C. receive the great public education they deserve while being ensured of the continued strength of the charter sector.
More Choices for Families
The DC Public Charter School Board welcomes all students back to classes for the 2020-21 school year.
While this this year will look a lot different than years’ past, DC PCSB and educators across the District remain committed to providing a quality education to students whether that be online, in-person, or a hybrid of the two.
Over the course of the current academic year, there will be nine new programs or grades expansions that will provide more quality options for students.
Also, the new term began with the opening of five new schools.
They include: The Girls Global Academy; I Dream; Social Justice Project; Sojourner Truth; and Capital Village public charter schools.
Rising to the Challenge
(Excerpted from essay by Shannon Hodge, founding executive director, DC Charter School Alliance)
“No one wanted the school year to start this way. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the country, deeply affecting communities of color here in DC. Families who have experienced COVID-19 firsthand, lived in fear of their exposure, and lost loved ones now have to grapple with ensuring that their children thrive educationally in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.
“For teachers, staff, and school leaders, there is no substitute for the energy of a classroom full of eager, engaged students. And yet there is no higher priority than keeping students and communities safe. After planning for fully in-person learning, fully distanced learning, and everything in between, charter school leaders will begin the school year with solutions designed to meet the needs of their unique communities. For most, that means online learning.
“In this largely virtual environment and with the threat of COVID-19 peeking around every corner, schools and leaders must innovate to educate effectively and equitably, and DC’s charter school leaders have risen to the challenge.”
To read the entire essay, go to the DCPCSB website.
Census Activities Continue
Since July, census takers have been visiting homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 census.
Census takers, who will wear masks and follow local public health guidelines when they visit homes, will complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols before beginning their work in neighborhoods.
The goal of census takers is to help everyone in a home be counted in the 2020 census. If the census taker who visits a home does not speak the household’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who speaks their language.
Census takers work between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., including weekends.
If no one is home when the census taker visits, they will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail.