Partnering with DC Public Schools

District of Columbia Public Schools | 1200 First Street, NE | Washington, DC 20002 | T 202.442.5885 | F 202.442.5026 | www.dcps.dc.gov

Partnering with DC Public Schools Shereen Williams Director, Community Partnerships Hillah Culman Coordinator, Community Partnerships

Community Partnerships

The DCPS Community Partnerships team seeks to leverage

resources from external partners that drive

academic performance and enhance the

student experience.

Partnerships - managing a variety of

relationships with external stakeholders

Volunteers – recruiting and

processing volunteers for one time and episodic

service opportunities

Donations – processing cash and

in-kind donations

Events – managing large district wide

events, including our annual DCPS

Beautification Day

District of Columbia Public Schools | May 9, 2012 2

Partnering with DC Public Schools

Kids Scramble Through D.C. Schools’ First Scrabble Tournament



DCPS Scrabble Championship – May 5, 2012



48 Students Participated:

• 3 Elementary Schools

• 3 Middle Schools

• 2 High Schools

Scrabble Coaches:

• Librarians

• Out-of-School Time Coordinators

• Volunteers

Community Partners who provided resources:

• National Scrabble Association

• Arnold & Porter LLP

• The Navy N1

• Shook Hardy and Bacon LLP

• American University

• North Star Games

• DC Scrabble & Scrabble Meet-Up of DC

How Well Do You Know DC Public Schools?



Quiz Answers

1. Who is our chancellor?

2. In what year did mayoral control begin?

3. Name the most recent DCPS Principal of the Year?

4. Which office vets groups that want to provide after school programs?

5. Name three of our high schools.

6. Which ward has the most schools?

7. What award did we win for our website?

8. Name three past superintendents.

9. Which High School marching band performed at this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll?

10. What is the name of the annual event at the Kennedy Center that celebrates DCPS highly effective Teachers?

What Are the Core Beliefs of DCPS?


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We believe that all children, regardless of background or circumstance, can achieve at the highest levels.

We believe that achievement is a function of effort, not innate ability

We believe that we have the power and the responsibility to close the achievement gap.

We believe that our schools must be caring and supportive environments.

We believe that it is critical to engage our students’ families and communities as valued partners.

We believe that our decisions at all levels must be guided by robust data.

District of Columbia Public Schools | May 9, 2012

Key Statistics

Introduction to DCPS & OFPE

125 Schools

• (2) Early Childhood Centers

• (64) Elementary Schools

• (16) PS/PK/K-8 Education Campuses

• (14) Middle Schools

• (2) 6-12 Education Campuses

• (16) High Schools

• (7) Alternative Schools

• (3) Adult Education High Schools

• Fillmore Arts Center

Total Students (SY11-12) 48,925

Special Education 8,711 (17.8%)

Economically Disadvantaged (Free or Reduced Lunch)

25,839 (52.8%)

English Language Learners 7,474 (15.3%)

Out-of-Boundary (Attending a school for which they are not geographically zoned)

24,186 (49.4%)

Family Engagement Data (SY11-12)

Average Parent Attendance at October Parent-teacher Conferences

52.8%

Average Parent Attendance at February Parent-teacher Conferences

51.1%

Average Parent Attendance at Back to School Night

34%

7 District of Columbia Public Schools | May 9, 2012


The Capital Commitment

By 2017 DCPS will:

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• At least 70% of our students will be proficient in reading and math and we will double the number of advanced students.

Improve Achievement Rates:

• Our 40 lowest-performing schools will increase proficiency rates by 40 percentage points.

Invest in Struggling Schools:

• At least 75% of entering 9th graders will graduate from high school in four years.

Increase Graduation Rate:

• 90% of students will say they like their school.

Improve Satisfaction:

• DCPS will increase its enrollment over five years.

Increase Enrollment:



Management Team

Nathaniel Beers, Chief of Special Education

John Davis, Chief of Schools

Anthony DeGuzman, Chief Operating Officer

Jason Kamras, Chief of Human Capital

Josephine Bias Robinson, Chief of Family and Public Engagement

Lisa Ruda, Chief of Staff

Delores Shepherd, Chief Financial Officer

Cate Swinburn, Chief of Data and Accountability

Robert Utiger, General Counsel

Carey Wright, Chief Academic Officer



School Profile Page



School Profile Page (cont.)




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Meet Our Partners Higher Achievement

Innovations for Learning

Heart of America

Washington Performing Arts Society

Higher Achievement



Mission:

Higher Achievement closes the opportunity gap during the pivotal middle school

years. By leveraging the power of communities, Higher Achievement’s proven

model provides a rigorous year-round learning environment, caring role models,

and a culture of high expectations, resulting in college-bound scholars with the

character, confidence, and skills to succeed.

Who they are:

• Year round program

• Work with Grades 5-8

• Advance Curriculum aligned with

the State Standard Core

• Afterschool Academy, Summer

Academy, and high school

placement services.

Higher Achievement (cont.)



DCPS Centers:

Ward 1 – Marie Reed Elementary School

Ward 4 – Brightwood Education Campus

Ward 7 – Kelly Miller Middle School

Ward 8 – Savoy Elementary School

Years they have been involved:

• Founded in 1975

• Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1985.

• In 1999, it reorganized as an outcomes-based model for high-level academic

achievement during out-of-school time.

Outcomes:

• Over the past 35 years, Higher Achievement has worked with more than 10,000 youth

in the DC Metro area.

• 95 % of Higher Achievement scholars advance to top academic high schools.

• 93% of Higher Achievement scholars go on to college.

Innovations for Learning



Who they are:

• A nonprofit focused on building age-

appropriate reading ability amongst first and

second graders

• IFL mission derives from abundant data

indicating that for children reading well below

target levels by third grade, educational

outcomes are in turn, predictably poor for

their entire academic careers.

• Created a supplemental online beginning

reading and math instructional program for K-

2 classrooms. • Tutors are connected to students over the internet, where they share the same screen

and a phone connection for 30 minutes a week.

Innovations for Learning (cont.)



Schools they work with:

• Davis Elementary

• Ferebee-Hope Elementary

• Garfield Elementary

• Hendley Elementary

• Kenilworth Elementary

• Ketcham Elementary

• Kimball Elementary

• Martin Luther King Elementary

• Neval Thomas Elementary

• Patterson Elementary

• Payne Elementary

• Plummer Elementary

• Savoy Elementary

Years they have been involved:

• An Illinois-based nonprofit (but with a

national focus) formed in 1993

Outcomes:

• Pilot year 2010-2011: Reading

proficiency levels went from 16% to 49%

nationally.

• For this current year look to be equally

dramatic but won’t be official till June

2012.

• 200 Tutors in the DC/Metropolitan area

participate

Heart of America



Mission:

To provide children in need everywhere with the tools to read, succeed and make a

difference.

The READesign® Library Makeover revitalizes elementary school libraries into warm,

friendly places that engage children in learning, creating a love of reading.

Since Heart of America Foundation® was

founded in 1997, it has:

• Replenished, redecorated and

revitalized 166 public elementary

school libraries and reading spaces.

• Provided children living in poverty

with 2.8 million books -- a value of

nearly $17 million.

Heart of America (cont.)

DCPS Library READesigns

Bancroft ES

Simon ES

Garfield ES

Garrison ES

Davis ES

Amidon Bowen ES

Hendley ES (Today! May 9th)

Reading Corners

Ferebee Hope ES

Smothers ES

Books, Computers, Furniture

Ballou SHS

Hart MS



Arts Partner Concerts In Schools (as part of AFES)

Pre K-12th grades

In-School educational and interactive experiences of musicians, dancers, storyteller, and visual artists

In Schools Artist Residency

Pre K-8th grade

An in-depth extension of the Concerts In Schools experience over 5 sessions, focusing on a defined plan to support the curriculum and classroom goals.

Embassy Adoption Program

5th-6th grades

Year long program with 62 DCPS classrooms participate

Program occurs during the school day;.

Capitol Strings Project

4th and 5th grades

In-School Year long program (each school receives up to 14 residency visits, in-school performances, and field trips)

Bruce-Monroe Elementary School, Burrville Elementary School.

Capitol Jazz Project

6th-8th grades


Alice Deal Middle School, Columbia Heights Education Camps

Hart Middle School, Ron Brown Middle School, Sousa Middle Stuart-Hobson Middle School.

Capitol Dance Project

4th-5th grades


Hart Middle School. M.C. Terrell Elementary School. Simon Elementary School.

Capitol Voices Project

4th-5th grades

In-School Year long program (each school receives up to 14 residency visits, and two in-school performances)

Savoy Elementary School, Turner Elementary School.



Washington Performing Arts Society (cont.)

Exposure to new

genre of music

Helpful, caring

nature of Artists

Chances to perform

Improved Student

Confidence



“The Capitol Jazz Project was one of the best things that happened to my students.”

“This program has aided the youth in DC and should continue with major support!”

“WPAS is truly a wonderful partnership that I appreciate and say BRAVO!!!!”

Best Practices



Align your efforts with the needs articulated by the school.

Commit to a period of time (at least a year).

Good communication is essential, establish a point person.

Decide if you want to work directly with students or offer indirect support (or both).

Be mindful of the school calendar and important events.

Collaborate and communicate with other partners at the school.

Poor Practices



Not providing enough lead time

Not doing the homework on schools you would like to partner with

Not aligning with school leadership

Personal Shopping

Not following DCPS policies and procedures

Failure to adhere to DCPS media protocols


So Now What?

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Key People

District of Columbia Public Schools

Name/Title DCPS Division Email Address

Kevin Hudson/Director of College Readiness

OCAO [email protected]

Camsie McAdams/Director of STEM


Daniela Grigioni/OST External Relations


Kate McNamee/ Coordinator, Embassy Adoption Program

OBE [email protected]

Sara Madera/ Arts & Music Specialist

OFPE [email protected]

Ben Hall/Director of Music OCAO [email protected]

Stephanie Cobb/ Coordinator, Volunteers & Donations

OFPE [email protected]

Introduction to DCPS & OFPE Partnering with DC Public Schools

Forms of Communication

Donations Link

Opportunities to Provide Resources

Educator Portal

Teachers

Counselors

Central Office Staff

Principal Portal

Principals

School Leadership

Facebook

Teachers

Staff

School Leaderships

Students

Alumni

Community Members

Twitter

Teachers

Staff

School Leaderships

Students

Alumni

Community Members



Umbrella Organizations

Washington Lawyers’ Committee

Greater Washington Jump$tart

Double the Numbers



Community Partnerships Division New Initiatives

Customer Relationship Management System

Partnerships Fair



Things to Keep in Mind



DCPS does not have money to fund community partners

Transportation is a huge obstacle

DCPS cannot force schools to participate in partner programs and events

DC CAS is in April

DCPS has several schools that are in need of partners, but some partners select the same schools all of the time

Your program or event may not be a good fit for DCPS

Partnering with DC Public Schools

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