Monday, December 21, 2020

Grant Program Will Advance Much-Needed Return to In-Person Instruction, Contribute to Equitable Resourcing for Reopening Charter Schools

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a $10 million grant program for the District’s public charter schools to support and prioritize the return of students to classrooms and contribute to the equitable resourcing for reopening efforts across the city. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is administering the grant with support from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education.

“The District’s educators have done remarkable work with students through virtual instruction, but we know the best place for teachers to engage and nurture our students is in the classroom alongside their peers,” said Mayor Bowser. “These grants will support a much-needed return to in-person learning so that, together, we can begin the process of recovery and address the academic and social-emotional needs of every student.”

Funds will be first made available to public charter schools operating full-time learning hubs or full hybrid models with in-person instruction, similar to DC Public Schools CARE Classrooms. In-person learning is considered full-time if a school building is open and in use by students for academic instruction with adults for a minimum of four days per week. Each public charter school operating these full-time in-person programs will receive a $50,000 base award plus up to $2,000 per in-person student. The maximum award is $750,000 per LEA.

Remaining funds will be made available to public charter schools operating other in-person models such as part-time tutoring and Social-Emotional Learning programming. Public charter schools operating these alternative models will receive a $50,000 base award plus up to $500 per student participating in in-person programming, depending on funding availability.

“While learning at home works for some families, we know too many students are falling behind. The Bowser Administration is leading coordination across the District’s public schools to prioritize the safe delivery of in-person instruction of students who need it most,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. “Providing this support to our public charter schools so they can reopen their doors to students is the first step in the recovery process, which includes our ongoing partnership with stakeholders across the city to further the development of plans that leverage proven methods to accelerate learning this summer and into next school year.”

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education will communicate additional details on the grant process directly with the District’s public charter schools this week. Charter LEAs may contact osse.charterreopen@dc.gov for additional information.