DCPS Board of Education announces sweeping steps to improve student achievement and school operations
February 4, 2004

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News Release

DCPS BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES SWEEPING STEPS TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND SCHOOL OPERATIONS

Washington, DC - The District of Columbia Public Schools Board of Education today announced measures that will establish rigorous instructional standards, improve student achievement, create world-class business systems, and ensure the safety and security of students.

During an intensive two-day retreat that included a thorough review of the district's student performance data and the Mayor's Citizen's Summit, the board accepted the recommendations outlined in a recent assessment by the Council of the Great City Schools in a report called Restoring Excellence to the District of Columbia Public Schools - a study requested by the Superintendent.

This report found the district's instructional system to be unfocused and ineffective. Students in this city are not achieving even a minimal standard for performance. The report recommends the board establish a relentless focus on instruction, exacting standards, clear goals, strong accountability, cohesive materials, regular supervision, and good data — none of which exist today.

The Board of Education assembled to assist with the retreat a team of experts, including Don McAdams, President of the Center for Reform of School Systems, Michael Casserly, Executive Director of the Council of the Great City Schools, and Terry Williams, former managing director of McKinsey and Company's D.C. Office.

"At the retreat we confronted the most difficult issues in the school system," said Board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz. "The board understands the urgency of moving forward quickly on the reforms announced today. With Dr. Massie's leadership, we are developing an academic: plan to educate all students to the highest standards, and ensure effective delivery of all essential services to support our schools."

"We know we are choosing a difficult and painful path, but it is one that is necessary and long overdue," Cooper Cafritz stresses.

In embarking on this challenging reform agenda, the school board will within the next several months adopt specific policies to accomplish the following:

• Take from the best state standards those that will ensure that all D.C. students meet the highest expectations for knowledge and skills at each grade level. The board is committed to ensuring that the children of the District of Columbia are competitive regionally and nationally.
• Establish a comprehensive districtwide instructional system ready for implementation this fall. This would include a new districtwide reading and math program, coherent curriculum for all grades, unified and focused professional development around the irriplementation of the new curriculum, regular assessments of student progress, close monitoring of implementation, and strong accountability for results-including performance contracts for staff;
• Contract at the earliest possible date with a proven national firm to build a world-class business system for the D.C. schools to support teaching and learning and improve effectiveness and efficiency in all operations.
• Adopt for DC Public Schools a discipline management plan, and partner with city and community leaders to ensure the safety and security of all D.C. schoolchilldren.

"These broad measures and their implementation will transform this school system into a first-rate school district that this city can be proud of," said Interim Superintendent Elfreda W. Massie. "What the board is proposing is a fundamental redesign of this district-and it can not happen fast enough."