News Room

As Teacher Appreciation Week Kicks Off, Mayor Bowser Announces Record Enrollment Numbers for the District’s Public Schools

david.hudson — Mon, 06 May 2024 15:20:37 +0000

Monday, May 6, 2024

Audited Data Released Today Confirms Second Consecutive Year of Enrollment Growth During School Year 2023-24

(Washington, DC) – Today, on the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) announced that enrollment in the District’s public schools reached 98,649 students in the 2023-24 school year – a new record since OSSE began tracking enrollment in 2007. The official audited enrollment number represents an additional 2,126 students, or a 2.2% increase, over the previous school year. The Mayor will highlight the enrollment numbers today at a Teacher Appreciation Week celebration at the River Terrace Education Campus in Ward 7.

“As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, these enrollment numbers are a testament to the work of our educators,” said Mayor Bowser. “We love our teachers. This week and every week, we celebrate our teachers in schools across all eight wards who love and challenge our young people and push them to dream big.”

Enrollment in �鶹�� (�鶹��) increased from 50,131 to 51,293 students, a 2.3% increase over the previous school year. Enrollment in DC’s public charter schools increased from 46,392 to 47,356 students, a 2.1% increase over the previous school year. These enrollment figures represent the final, audited numbers. Unaudited numbers were released in October 2023.

“It’s important to remember that public school enrollment in the District of Columbia isn’t just a number to us—it’s a testament to the trust that families place in our education system and reflects our collective commitment to providing quality education,” said State Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant. “This milestone is crucial because it signifies progress and the potential for even greater achievements in the future. It’s a clear indicator that our city values education and is dedicated to the growth and development of every student.”

The chart below tracks enrollment trends since the 2007-08 school year with final, audited numbers for the 2023-24 school year.

School Year	�鶹��	Charter	State
2023-24	51,293	47,356	98,649
2022-23	50,131	46,392	96,523
2021-22	49,035	44,899	93,934
2019-20	49,890	43,942	93,832
2018-19	51,037	43,518	94,555
2017-18	49,056	43,960	93,016
2016-17	48,555	41,506	90,061
2015-16	48,439	38,905	87,344
2014-15	47,548	37,684	85,403
2013-14	46,393	36,565	82,958
2012-13	45,557	34,673	80,230
2011-12	45,191	31,562	76,753
2010-11	45,631	29,366	74,997
2009-10	44,718	27,661	72,379
2008-09	45,190	25,729	70,919
2007-08	49,422	21,947	71,369

As the state education agency, OSSE is responsible for contracting with an independent auditor to conduct an annual audit of the student enrollment data submitted by local education agencies (LEAs) in the District of Columbia. In the first week of October, auditors contracted by OSSE launch an audit of public-school enrollment in DC that includes a review of student enrollment documentation submitted by LEAs.

As part of the annual process, LEAs resolve any anomalies found in enrollment documents and are offered the opportunity to appeal the results of the audit as they relate to their schools. Once all documents and appeals are reviewed and resolved, OSSE releases final, official enrollment numbers to LEAs.

For additional resources regarding the District of Columbia 2023-24 school year student enrollment audit, as well as information about past enrollment audits, visit the OSSE website at osse.dc.gov.

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Public Hearing Testimony on �鶹��’ Budget Oversight

andrea.roberson — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:17:02 +0000

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Public Hearing on �鶹��’ FY25 Budget Oversight

Testimony of Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, Chancellor
District of Columbia Public Schools

Before the Council of the District of Columbia
Committee of the Whole

The Honorable Phil Mendelson, Chairperson

View the full testimony below.

Attachment(s):

�鶹�� Testimony for FY25 Budget Oversight Hearing.pdf

Ahead of �鶹�� Spring Break, Mayor Bowser Encourages Families to Explore Programming for Kids and Teens

david.hudson — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 15:21:49 +0000

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

(Washington, DC) – With the �鶹��’ (�鶹��) Spring Break just around the corner, from April 15 through April 19, Mayor Muriel Bowser is encouraging families to take advantage of programming through the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and DC Public Libraries (DCPL) that keep children and teens safe and engaged while they are out of school. DPR is specifically inviting teens to take advantage of Teen Break Time programming, which caters to teenagers and provides safe spaces to gather, socialize, and play. Get the full list of DPR’s Teen Break Time activities on the Teen Break Time website. For a full list of DCPL’s events, visit their website.

As a reminder, on Tuesday, April 16, District Government will observe DC Emancipation Day and indoor recreation facilities will be closed. However, DPR outdoor parks, playgrounds, athletic courts, and fields will be open. All previously permitted events on these outdoor spaces will take place as scheduled. Nine indoor pools will be open across the District: Marie Reed, Takoma, Roosevelt, Turkey Thicket, William H. Rumsey, Deanwood, Ballou, Barry Farm, and Ferebee-Hope. Three �鶹��-based pools, Marie Reed, Roosevelt, and Ballou, which are usually closed during the day to serve the school, will be open to the public all day. For hours of individual pools, please visit DPR’s website.

DPR Community Events and Activities

Teen Open Gym
The following recreation center gymnasiums will be open for teens to shoot hoops and engage in open play: Bald Eagle, Barry Farm, Benning Stoddert, Columbia Heights, Deanwood, Edgewood, Emery Heights, Ferebee Hope, Fort Davis, Fort Stanton, Glover Park, Hillcrest, Joseph Cole, Kenilworth, King-Greenleaf, Lamond, North Michigan Park, Raymond, Ridge Road, Riggs-LaSalle, Shepherd Park, Sherwood, Trinidad, Turkey Thicket, and Woody Ward. For dates and times, visit TeenBreakTime.SplashThat.com.

Kennedy Recreation Center Grand Re-Opening (All ages)

When: Monday, April 15, 11:30 am
Where: Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW)

Matinee Movies (Ages 13+ or accompanied by adult)
Outdoor movies will be shown at 1 pm on the big screen.

When: Monday, April 15 (Creed III); Wednesday, April 17 (Space Jam New Legacy); Thursday, April 18 (Super Mario Bros); Friday, April 19 (Across the Spider-Verse)
Where: Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW)

Kickball Tournament (All ages)

When: Monday, April 15, 12 pm
Where: King Greenleaf Recreation Center (201 N Street, SW)

River Cleanup at Diamond Teague Park (All ages)

When: Tuesday, April 16, 10 am
Where: Diamond Teague Park (100 Potomac Avenue, SE)

Spring Break Bash (All ages)

When: Wednesday, April 17, 11 am
Where: New York Avenue Recreation Center (100 N Street, NW)

Capture the Flag: Gel Blaster Battle (Ages 6-12)

When: Wednesday, April 17, 12 pm
Where: King Greenleaf Recreation Center (201 N Street, SW)

Kennedy Community Bike Ride (All ages)

When: Wednesday, April 17, 4 pm
Where: Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW)

Go-Go Skate Party (All ages)

When: Wednesday, April 17, 5 pm
Where: Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW)

Earth Week Garden Party (All ages)

When: Thursday, April 18, 1 pm
Where: King Greenleaf Recreation Center (201 N Street, SW)

DPR Program Showcase (All ages)

When: Thursday, April 18, 2 pm
Where: Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW)

Nerf Wars / Z-Tag (All ages)

When: Thursday, April 18, 6 pm
Where: Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW)

Pump It Up Palace (All ages)

When: Friday, April 19, 1 pm
Where: Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW)

Go-Go Karaoke (All ages)

When: Friday, April 19, 6 pm
Where: Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW)

Roving Leaders Spring Break Hoops Classic (All ages)

When: Saturday, April 20, 11 am
Where: Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW)

Emery Heights Celebrity Basketball Game (All ages)

When: Saturday, April 20, 12 pm
Where: Emery Heights Community Center (5701 Georgia Avenue, NW)

Southwest Garden Fest (All ages)

When: Saturday, April 20, 12 pm
Where: King Greenleaf Recreation Center (201 N Street, SW)

eGaming (Ages 13+)

Deanwood Aquatic Center (1350 49th Street, NE)

Monday, April 15; Wednesday, April 17; & Friday, April 19, 6 - 8:30 pm

Raymond Recreation Center (3725 10th Street, NW)

Thursday, April 18, 3 - 8 pm

DPR Aquatics Events (Ages 13+)

Deanwood Aquatic Center (1350 49th Street, NE)

Aqua Kickboxing - Monday, April 15, 2 pm. & Friday, April 19, 2 pm

Takoma Aquatic Center (300 Van Buren Street, NW)

HydroBoard - Monday, April 15, 1:30 pm & Friday, April 19, 1:30 pm .
Tabata Aqua Dance - Thursday, April 18, 1:30 pm

Ferebee Hope Aquatic Center (700 Yuma Street, SE)

Tabata Aqua Dance - Wednesday, April 17, 1:30 pm

Turkey Thicket Aquatic Center (1100 Michigan Avenue, NE)

Indoor Kayaking - Wednesday, April 17, 1:30 pm

Barry Farm Recreation Center (1230 Sumner Road, SE)

Water Volleyball - Thursday, April 18, 2 pm

DCPL Community Events

Alma W. Thomas: Imagine That! (Ages 13+)

When: Sunday, April 14, 2 pm
Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St, NW)

Know Your Power Residency with Imagination Stage (Ages 13-19)
An arts and writing workshop series for teens

When: Thursday, April 18, 4 pm
Where: Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library (5401 South Dakota Ave, NE)

Third Annual Day of Play at RFK! – Presented by Events DC and Giant
Residents are invited to Day of Play at RFK presented by Giant Food with friends, family, or neighbors during Spring Break 2024. Events DC will host this free, field-based event to gather adults and youth in DC for a day of fun, family-friendly competition, featuring music, food trucks, and activities for all ages. Assemble your squad of friends, teammates, or family and create your team of adults, youth, or both and come play! Teams can be co-ed. Registration is required, but the event is free. All youth must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18.

When: Tuesday, April 16, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: The Fields at RFK Campus, 401 Oklahoma Avenue NE
Register and learn more at playrfk.splashthat.com.

Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser
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Mayor Bowser Announces Legislation to UPLIFT Families and Keep District Youth Safe, In School, and Engaged

david.hudson — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 20:23:13 +0000

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Legislation Focuses on Early Intervention, Alternative In-School Placements, Enhanced Family Engagement, and Accountability

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the “Utilizing Partnerships, Local Interventions for Truancy and Safety (UPLIFT) Amendment Act of 2024” which focuses on early intervention, alternative in-school placements, enhanced family engagement, and accountability to keep young people safe, in school, and engaged.
 
“We know that the safest place for our young people is in schools. Not only is school the safest place for our young people, it is also where they connect with trusted and caring adults who can assess their needs and make sure they have what they need to be safe, healthy and happy,” said Mayor Bowser. “This is about working together as a community to put meaningful interventions in place that better support young people and their families.”

The legislation Mayor Bowser is sending to the Council of the District of Columbia includes provisions to address truancy and chronic absenteeism, enhance school discipline, and establish stronger accountability.

To address truancy and chronic absenteeism, UPLIFT will:

Streamline and strengthen the District’s truancy referral process, by activating the Department of Human Services (DHS) to support students and families, prior to referrals to the Child and Family Services Agency or the Court.

UPLIFT recognizes many of the barriers students face in getting to school are due to resource challenges, such as housing or food insecurity, which the Department of Human Services (DHS) is well-positioned to address through its early intervention services to youth and families. For cases where student absenteeism continues to persist, this proposed legislation requires the Court to take action to ensure accountability that matches the seriousness of truancy.

To enhance school discipline, UPLIFT will:

Establish temporary alternative school placement as an alternative-to-suspension model for students (Grades 6 – 12) involved in serious incidents.
Fine tune the District’s approach to discipline by defining allowable suspensions for serious safety incidents for middle school students (Grades 6–8), clarifying definitional language, and allowing a designee of the head of a local education agency (LEA) to approve suspensions for more than 20 cumulative days.

Alongside the District’s efforts to strengthen conflict resolution skills through rigorous statewide Social-Emotional Learning standards, the temporary alternative school placement proposed in this legislation provides a safe place where students with the most serious infractions and behavioral health needs can receive education and support services beyond what a traditional school can provide. UPLIFT gives schools and the Court more tools to address the most serious safety infractions.

To establish stronger systems of accountability, UPLIFT will:

Increase parental accountability by requiring parents or guardians to participate in a mandatory family group conference and any identified rehabilitative services with the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services when their child is charged with a gun crime or a crime of violence.
Limit diversion for youth charged with committing a dangerous crime while armed or having available a knife, pistol, firearm, or imitation firearm.
Ensure the Court has greater insight and oversight of youth charged with a crime of violence or dangerous crime while armed by narrowing the scope of youth eligible for Consent Decrees and Deferred Disposition Agreements.

In addition to the proposed legislation, the Bowser Administration will continue its emphasis out-of-school time programming and the implementation of social-emotional learning standards as part of the whole-of-government approach to keeping young people safe and engaged. This also includes the continued work to bring School Resource Officers back into school communities, enhance operations and training in the Safe Passage, Safe Blocks program, and strengthen the DC School Connect microtransit program.

The District will also create best practice protocols for school safety teams and pursue the development of a robust student transfer file, giving schools the information they need to best support students moving mid-year between schools.

Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
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Attachment(s):

Mayor Bowser Introduces Legislation to UPLIFT Families and Keep District Youth Safe, In School, and Engaged

Mayor Bowser Announces New Investments in High-Impact Tutoring and Reimagining High School

david.hudson — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:33:40 +0000

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Includes Investments in Two Programs with Track Records of Increasing Student Achievement and Improving Attendance

(Washington, DC) – Today, at the DC High-Impact Tutoring Summit, Mayor Muriel Bowser previewed Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) investments in two programs with track records of increasing student achievement and increasing attendance: the high-impact tutoring (HIT) program and the District’s Advanced Technical Center. The highlighted investments are part of more than $2.7 billion in local investments to support public schools, sustain high-impact tutoring, and expand the number of students served by the Advanced Technical Center.

“Our public schools continue to be a bright spot in the story of DC, and with this budget we are making strategic investments in two programs that have a proven track record of improving attendance and increasing student achievement: high-impact tutoring and the Advanced Technical Center,” said Mayor Bowser. “These are investments that represent our commitment to equity as well as our commitment to investing in the pillars of DC’s Comeback: Downtown, public safety, and public education.”

At the summit, Mayor Bowser shared the following FY25 investments:

$4.8 million to continue high-impact tutoring
$5 million to support the reimagination of high school, including programming at the existing Advanced Technical Center in Ward 5, dual enrollment expansion, and the Advanced Internship Program and Career Ready Internships
$17 million to open a new health clinic, in partnership with Children’s National Hospital, to provide health care services and training for students at the existing Advanced Technical Center in Ward 5
$600,000 to open a new Advanced Technical Center at the Whitman-Walker Max Robinson Center in Ward 8

Earlier this year, the Mayor announced a 12.4% increase to the uniform per student funding formula (UPSFF) foundation level for FY25. The $341 million increase will help cover increases in compensation from recently negotiated collective bargaining agreements and mitigate the loss of one-time federal and local pandemic recovery funds. In FY25, the UPSFF will also include increases to the weights for at-risk students, alternative students, and adult students, ensuring a greater proportion of dollars go to students with the greatest needs.

“This year’s education spending reflects our commitment to doing more with what we have and investing with evidence, investing based on need, and investing for the future,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. “These highlights and the entire proposed FY25 budget double down on our focus to accelerate learning, keep children safe and sound, and build pathways to college and career so that every student in our system succeeds.”

The high-impact tutoring (HIT) initiative, led by Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), was established by the Bowser Administration to accelerate learning for students and to address long-standing academic disparities. The goal of the three-year HIT program is to scale high-quality high-impact tutoring to reach 10,000 public-school students in the District, or approximately 10% of the student population, with a focus on serving students designated as at-risk. Currently, OSSE is on track to exceed that.

Preliminary findings from research conducted by the National Student Support Accelerator at Stanford University provide evidence that high-impact tutoring has positive attendance benefits for DC students. The District is also seeing early signs of academic impact as well, with at-risk students who receive the appropriate amount of high-impact tutoring nearly 7% more likely to achieve their growth goals than at-risk students receiving less tutoring, according to interim assessment data.

The Advanced Technical Center, a central piece of the Bowser Administration’s efforts to reimagine the high school experience for DC students, provides career-focused high school students with an opportunity to acquire professional skills, earn industry credentials, and gain college credits in high-demand, high-wage careers such as cybersecurity and general nursing, that set them on a pathway to the middle class.

The Advanced Technical Center launched as a pilot on the Trinity Washington University campus in August 2022, and then opened this school year in a new permanent home, centrally located at the Penn Center in Ward 5. The program has seen growing interest and demand, with enrollment surging from 96 students from eight different schools in the 2022-23 school year to 191 students from 15 different schools in the 2023-24 school year. The 2022-23 class earned an impressive 740 college credits, valued at over $570,000 in college tuition. In January, Mayor Bowser announced that OSSE received a $4.1 million Career Connected High School Grant from the Biden-Harris Administration to expand access to the District’s Advanced Technical Center.

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Six �鶹�� Seniors Awarded Full-Ride Scholarships to George Washington University

andrea.roberson — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 21:03:43 +0000

Friday, March 8, 2024

Exemplary students from five schools receive the Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship

(WASHINGTON, DC) — Yesterday, six students from �鶹�� (�鶹��) were offered full, four-year scholarships to George Washington University (GW) during surprise reveal events at their schools. The students are Jaeden Gbaba from Columbia Heights Educational Campus, Edward Hoover and Zyad Shahrli from Jackson-Reed High School, Jaden Degruy from Benjamin Banneker High School, Aanisah Myers from Eastern High School, and Constance Johnson from Theodore Roosevelt High School. These scholars were awarded the Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship (SJT), which covers all tuition, room and board, books, and fees for four years at the university.

“The bright young scholars who have received this year’s SJT scholarships are a testament to GW and �鶹��’ shared commitment of education in our nation’s capital,” said �鶹�� Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. “I am grateful that our students will enter the next phase of their educational journey with not just financial support, but with a village of mentors in Foggy Bottom committed to their success. As a proud GW alumnus, I am honored that these six seniors will continue their education in the District.”

For more than 30 years, �鶹�� has appreciated the partnership of GW for opening the door to higher education for outstanding high school students in DC through the university’s SJT program. The program has awarded scholarships to more than 200 students since the program began in 1989.

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Public Hearing Testimony on �鶹��’ Performance Oversight

andrea.roberson — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 20:29:03 +0000

Friday, March 1, 2024

Public Hearing on �鶹��’ Performance Oversight

Testimony of Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, Chancellor
District of Columbia Public Schools

Before the Council of the District of Columbia
Committee of the Whole

The Honorable Phil Mendelson, Chairperson

View the full testimony below.

Attachment(s):

�鶹�� Testimony for 3.1.24 Performance Oversight Hearing.pdf

Mayor Bowser Reminds Families to Apply to the My School DC Lottery Before Applications Close

david.hudson — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:11:13 +0000

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Families with Children Entering Pre-K3–Grade 8 in 2024-25 Should Apply by Friday, March 1 at MySchoolDC.org

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) are reminding families with children entering Pre-K3 through Grade 8 to apply to the My School DC Lottery ahead of the deadline at 11:59 pm on Friday, March 1. A My School DC lottery application is required for the 2024-25 School Year if your child will be a new student in Pre-K or if you are applying to enter your child into a dual-language strand, a selective or citywide DC Public School, an out-of-boundary DC Public School, or a DC public charter school.

“The lottery is one way that families can take advantage of the fantastic public schools we have in neighborhoods across all eight wards,” said Mayor Bowser. “We are proud of the enrollment growth we’ve seen in our public schools over the past few years, and that process of enrolling often begins with submitting your lottery application.”

The My School DC common application and public school lottery is a single, random lottery that determines placement for new students at all participating schools. Student-school matches are based on the number of available seats at each grade/school, lottery preferences, and each student’s random lottery number.

“Our annual lottery process gives every student an opportunity to attend their preferred school,” said State Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant. “DC families can find a wealth of information on our schools at MySchoolDC.org, and can complete their applications knowing that all of DC’s schools have something wonderful to offer.”

To apply, families should log on to MySchoolDC.org, select their school choices – as many as 12 – and rank their schools in order of preference before March 1.

Lottery results for Pre-K3–Grade 12 will be available on March 29. Families will receive their results by email and can log in to their My School DC accounts to check results and current waitlist positions. Students and families applying to grades 9-12 who missed the February 1 deadline can submit a post-lottery application today. Lottery applicants can also adjust the ranking of the schools on their application until March 15.

The My School DC field team will be available for in-person application support this week at the Anacostia Service Center on February 27 from 1 pm -3 pm, and Bald Eagle Rec Center on February 28 from 4 pm - 6 pm. The My School DC hotline is also available Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5 pm, to support families as they navigate the lottery process. The hotline can be reached at (202) 888-6336 or by emailing info.myschooldc@dc.gov. The team is equipped with bilingual staff and has access to interpreters through a telephonic interpretation service to support non-English speakers.

To learn more about the My School DC lottery and to apply for the 2024-25 school year, visit myschooldc.org.

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Mayor Bowser to Host 2nd Annual “Summer in the City” on April 6 to Connect Families with Summer Opportunities for DC Youth

david.hudson — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:08:16 +0000

Friday, February 23, 2024

Nearly 50 Government Agencies, Nonprofits, and Community-Based Organizations to Showcase Summer Offerings for Students

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST Office) are inviting parents and families of school-aged youth to the 2nd annual Summer in the City, set to take place on Saturday, April 6 from 11 am to 2 pm at Raymond Elementary School in Ward 4. At the event, families will be able to connect with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations to learn more about the summer programs available to their students.

“From employment opportunities to learning experiences, Summer in the City is a one-stop shop for families to learn more about the fantastic, high-quality summer programs available for youth across DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “If your family is looking for a way to keep your students engaged and active during the summer months, then I encourage you to attend this year’s Summer in the City.”

Sponsored by Learn24, the OST Office, and the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME), Summer in the City will connect children, youth, and families to summer programming, internships, and employment opportunities available to school-aged (K through Grade 12) youth. At the inaugural Summer in the City in March 2023, over 250 families were connected with summer programming opportunities for their students.

“We launched Summer in the City last year to centralize what’s available for District families and to showcase coordination across agencies and organizations that provide summer opportunities,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. “This year, with our theme ‘Engagement for All,’ we can’t wait to spotlight our Learn24 network and partners delivering incredible programs that improve academic performance, social and emotional development, and health and wellness.”

The OST Office, located in the Office of the DME, leads the Learn24 network, which consists of OST programs, government agencies, the Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes, the Institute for Youth Development, and other key stakeholders committed to ensuring all District youth have access to quality OST programming. Since 2017, the OST Office has facilitated programming for over 68,000 youth through $90 million in awards, emphasizing the Bowser Administration’s continued commitment to developing District youth and students beyond the classroom.

View more information and register for this year’s Summer in the City.

Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
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�鶹�� Unveils New Early Stages Evaluation Center in Ward 7

andrea.roberson — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 21:02:50 +0000

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Second Evaluation Center Provides Family-Centered Resources for DC’s Youngest Learners

(WASHINGTON, DC) — Today, �鶹�� (�鶹��) Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, celebrated the opening of the district’s new Early Stages Evaluation Center, co-located within Ron Brown College Preparatory High School. �鶹�� Early Stages offers free screenings and evaluations to help families understand their child’s development and eligibility for special education services. Building on Mayor Bowser’s commitment to ensuring that District youth and students have access to high-quality special education services and support, the centers serve children aged 2 years 8 months to 5 years 10 months.

“�鶹�� Early Stages Centers are more than just assessment sites,” said �鶹�� Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. “They are where young children and their families connect with experts who understand their unique needs and receive invaluable resources that will help them learn, grow, and develop critical life skills. �鶹�� is laying the groundwork for kids and their families to be prepared for Pre-K and beyond.”

Executive Director of Early Stages, Sean Compagnucci, and Early Stages' beloved puppet mascot, Doodlebug, led Chancellor Ferebee along with DC State Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant, community partners, and families on a tour of the new facilities. The new center replaces the former Early Stages site on Minnesota Avenue and provides a larger, more welcoming environment for families.

“At Early Stages, we partner with families to understand each child's learning needs and offer guidance on how to best support their development—at home and in school,” said Compagnucci. “With over 1,500 referrals and inquiries from nearly 200 organizations each year, Early Stages is constantly evolving. This new center will allow us to continue growing and meeting the needs of our community.”

To help determine whether developmental milestones are being met, Early Stages professionals may engage children in play-based activities, perform screenings, and present families with questionnaires. If a child needs support, families receive information about the district- and school-based resources they can expect. All Early Stages services are free. Anyone can refer a child to Early Stages, including parents, teachers, childcare professionals, and medical providers.

For more information about Early Stages or to refer a child, please visit www.earlystagesdc.org.

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