FOCUS D.C. Public Charter School Bulletin

September 29, 2003

--FOCUS Schedules Charter School Public Info Sessions
--Charter School Students Make Big Gains

Fall Information Meetings Target No-Charter Zones

As part of a major new effort to increase the number of charter schools in D.C., FOCUS has scheduled two public information sessions west of Rock Creek Park. The first session will be held Thursday, October 23, at the Tenley-Friendship Library; the second is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, at the Cleveland Park Library. Both sessions begin at 7:15.

None of D.C.'s thriving public charter schools -- now numbering 40 and enrolling more than 15% of the District's public school students -- are west of the park, even though many west-side parents would like their children to attend. Scores of these parents have placed their children on waiting lists at charter schools in Mt. Pleasant and Columbia Heights but have little
hope that they will gain entrance.

The information sessions are aimed at parents, community organizations, teachers, and other public and private school staff. Those who attend will learn what charter schools are, why many parents and teachers prefer them, who starts them and why, and how they can start their own charter schools.

Those wishing to attend one of the sessions should call FOCUS at 202/387-0405 to reserve a seat.

In addition to the information sessions, FOCUS will spread the word about charter schools and reach out to potential applicants across the District through mailings, advertisements, and meetings with universities and community-based organizations.

FOCUS also is sponsoring a charter school startup training seminar in mid-November and will soon publish a comprehensive guide to starting a charter school in the District.

Public Charter School Board Releases "School Performance Reports"; Significant Gains in Evidence

The D.C. Public Charter School Board has just released the 2003 performance reports on its 21 charter schools. Although some schools -- especially the high schools -- are struggling to consistently improve their students' performance, test scores
for students at many of the schools are showing meaningful gains. For example, at the Arts and Technology Academy PCS (PreK-6; 97% low income), 18% of students are at the proficient and advanced level in reading, up from 6% in 2000, while 16% are proficient or advanced in math, up from 2% in 2000. Friendship PCS's Chamberlain campus (K-5; 80% low income) over the last
four years has cut by more than 50% the number of students at the below-basic level in reading and math, and more than 60% of its students are at or above the national average in both subjects. And at KIPP DC:Key Academy PCS (Grades 5-6; 79% low income), 90% of the students are scoring at or above the national average in mathematics.

The Board of Education, D.C.'s other chartering authority, has not yet released its 2003 test scores.



Friends of Choice in Urban Schools
1530 16th Street, NW #001
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 387-0405 phone
(202) 667-3798 fax
www.focus-dccharter.org