After wrapping up another successful DC Public Charter School Recruitment Expo, we want to keep you informed on upcoming public charter school enrollment deadlines and information. DCPCSB has posted a comprehensive list of these dates on their website that is available here.
Mayor Vincent Gray’s administration has exhibited a welcome change in attitude toward the city’s public charter schools, compared to his predecessor Mayor Fenty. This new approach has included recognizing that D.C.’s public charter schools, which are publicly funded and run independently of D.C. Public Schools, should receive the same funding as city-run schools. Gray also has stated that he believes charters should be able to buy or lease school buildings no longer needed by D.C. Public Schools.
Happy New Year! The next meeting of the DC Public Education Finance Reform Commission (Commission) will be held this Thursday, January 5th at 5:30 PM in the Anacostia Public Library. The address is 1800 Good Hope Road SE, Washington, DC 20020. To access the library from public transportation, consider the 92 bus or the Potomac Ave/Skyland Circulator route. Parking is also available.
Once 2012 begins, take advantage of upcoming public charter open house events, held to update you on enrollment procedures and admissions deadlines for the coming school year. We’ll keep you posted on open houses throughout 2012, but for now, here are the public charter open houses scheduled for January (alongside relevant links where applicable):
New Year’s is coming up, which means it’s time to reflect on 2011 and look to what’s ahead. To help, here’s a sample of recent articles, many directly mentioning FOCUS, that highlight issues like equitable funding, the achievement gap, charter accountability, and school enrollment in relation to the public charter school movement.
Treat D.C.’s charter school students fairly (The Washington Times, 12/13)
Help DC parents choose the right school for their child. FOCUS wants YOU to help us share public charter school success stories with DC families and prospective teachers.
We’re already preparing for the 3rd Annual DC Public Charter School Recruitment Expo, where public charter leaders and staff will gather to share the mission and successes of their schools with parents looking for the best education for their child.
You may not know it, but one of D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s key election pledges is in danger of falling hopelessly behind schedule.
The next meeting of the DC Public Education Finance Reform Commission (Commission) will be held this Wednesday, December 14. The Commission will meet via conference call from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. We invite you to listen to the Commission meeting by joining via computer or phone.
To join from your computer (preferred), please click here.
To join from a phone, dial (408) 600-3600 and enter the code “661 559 456.”
December doesn’t just usher in the holiday season – it means that public charter school open houses are in full swing, too! Open houses are your best bet to learn about the admissions processes, campuses, and staff of DC public charter schools. To ensure you don’t miss out, here are this month’s upcoming open houses, along with relevant school web pages where you can find out more (and, for some of the schools, RSVP for their open house):
AppleTree PCS (all campuses): December 7th