D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A1202
Public education in the District of Columbia is provided by the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and by Public Charter schools. DCPS is a traditional local education agency with a superintendent and a Board of Education. It is responsible for educating District of Columbia children as well as planning, operating, maintaining, designing, and constructing public school facilities (see text box on 12-4). The Charters are publicly funded schools organized as non-profit corporations and managed by independent Boards of Trustees. 1202.1
Public education in the District of Columbia is provided by the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and by public charter schools. DCPS is a traditional local education agency. It is responsible for educating District of Columbia children and coordinates with the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM) in planning, operating, maintaining, designing, and constructing public school facilities (see text box on 12-4). The Public Charter schools are publicly funded schools organized as nonprofit corporations and managed by independent Boards of Trustees.".
Map 12.1: Location of DCPS Schools
Understanding the Relationship of DC Public Schools to District Government
The District of Columbia Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007, effective June 12, 2007 (D.C. Law 17-9; 54 DCR 4102), created a new and re-organized structure of educational leadership. Direct mayoral control of District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) as a cabinet-level agency was established. The Mayor appoints a Deputy Mayor for Education to support the development and implementation of an education reform vision. In addition, the Mayor appoints a Chancellor to oversee day-to-day operations of DCPS, including academic improvement and student performance, and the hiring of teachers and principals. The Office of State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) requests, distributes, and monitors the use of federal grant monies, sets state policy and regulations, and supports and advises the District's State Board of Education. The District's State Board of Education is responsible for advising OSSE on educational matters, including state standards and state policies, including those governing special, academic, vocational, charter, and other schools, state objectives, and state regulations proposed by the Mayor or the State Superintendent of Education. The Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM) oversees the maintenance, construction, and modernization of all DCPS facilities. All public charter schools receive authority from the Public Charter School Board.
Many DCPS schools are in desperate need of modernization. As recently as 2002, 70 percent of its campuses were rated to be in poor physical condition by the Army Corps of Engineers. Over 80 percent of the school buildings are more than 55 years old, and many lack the necessary amenities and features for contemporary teaching. More than 65 schools are located on sites smaller than three acres, which is extremely confined by any standard.
DCPS faces the challenge of declining enrollment. Between 1970 and 1990, as the city's population fell by 20 percent and birth rates declined, enrollment plummeted from 147,000 students to 80,000 students. Forty three schools closed. Enrollment continued to decline during the 1990s, though at a much slower rate. Between 1997 and 2005, enrollment dropped by another 11,000-this time the loss was largely driven by the growth of Public Charter schools. As Figure 12.1 shows, total enrollment in DCPS and the charter schools has been relatively stable since 1998, but the DCPS share has consistently declined. Enrollment in charter schools climbed to about 15,000 in 2005-more than 25 percent of the public school enrollment total. 1202.6
Like many urban school districts across the country, DCPS is struggling with large financial needs and increasing social needs. Poverty, disrupted families, and neighborhood violence challenge schools to do more-stay open longer, expand their services, and adopt a broader constituency. Many DCPS buildings, meanwhile, still look and operate much as they did generations ago. 1202.7
Through its Facilities Master Plan update, DCPS is evaluating all schools to "right-size" facilities to better meet the needs of existing and future students. Many schools are operating with enrollment that is far below recommended levels. Although smaller schools may sound attractive on the surface, they can lead to a more limited curriculum and reduced program offerings. The text box on the next page includes the recommended enrollment levels for elementary, middle and high schools and describes the number of under-enrolled schools. 1202.8
The District of Columbia has one of the most robust charter school programs in the country. As of the 2005-06 school year, there were 52 charter schools in the city operating on 64 campuses. The location of Public Charter Schools in the city as of 2005 is shown in Map 12.2. 1202.9
Figure 12.1: Public School Enrollment Trends in the District
Best Sizes for Schools
Elementary Schools: DC PS indicates that an elementary school needs at least 318 students to offer quality, cost-effective programming. That assumes two classrooms per grade level; a full complement of art, music, physical education and library services; and a student: teacher ratio of 20: 1 for grades pre-K-2 and 25: 1 for grades 3-6. The recommended elementary school size is between 300 and 500 students.
In 2005, 40 DC PS elementary schools enrolled fewer than 300 students, 20 enrolled between 200 and 250 students, and 10 enrolled fewer than 200 students. One way schools have continued to operate with lower enrollments has been to eliminate educational offerings; for example, elementary schools have cut staff for art, music, physical education and libraries. In all, DC PS is currently supporting 600 underutilized elementary-level classrooms and has about 14,000 available elementary school seats.
Middle/Junior High Schools: The recommended middle/junior high school size is between 400 and 600 students. The larger middle schools would have the capacity to provide additional course variety beyond a high-quality core program.
In 2005, DC PS had three middle or junior high schools with less than 350 students, one with less than 300 and two with fewer than 250. In all, DC PS is supporting 250 underutilized middle/junior high school classrooms and has more than 5,000 available seats.
High Schools: The recommended comprehensive high school size is been 600 and 1,200 students.
DC PS operates 20 senior high schools - 10 comprehensive high schools and 10 citywide magnet high schools.
Four DC PS high schools enroll between 1,000 and 1,500 students, four enroll between 800 and 1,000, five enroll between 500 and 800, and five enroll less than 500. In all, there are more than 2,200 available high school seats in DC PS.
Further growth in charter school enrollment is expected in the future, creating the need for additional space and financial resources. Like the modernized DC Public Schools, charter schools have helped catalyze the revitalization of several District neighborhoods. This is particularly true for schools that have occupied and restored DCPS facilities, such as Chamberlain, Woodridge, and Thurgood Marshall Academy. 1202.12
Map 12.2: Location of Public Charter Schools
The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9 a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A1202