In 2018, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) launched the Investment in Schools (IIS) grant, which is designed to support the city’s lowest performing schools. OSSE made its second round of federally required school improvement designations after the 2021-22 school year. On this page, you will learn how OSSE designates these schools, which schools are currently designated and how OSSE is supporting these schools.
How OSSE Designates Schools
OSSE is federally required by the US Department of Education (USED) to designate schools for additional support using the methodologies detailed in its Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) state plan. For the 2022 designations, OSSE is using its ESSA Addendum. The names of these designations have changed slightly, as demonstrated below. OSSE is responsible for making the following designations.
Comprehensive Support and Improvement Schools: Low Performing (CSI)
The lowest-performing 5% of all schools receiving Title I, Part A funds
Addendum Methodology: All schools are ranked by summative score. OSSE then identifies the eight lowest-scoring elementary and middle schools and two lowest-scoring high schools which equals 5% of all Title I schools.
Previous Name (2018 Designations): Comprehensive Support Type 1 (CS1)
Comprehensive Support and Improvement Schools: Low Graduation Rate (CSI- Grad)
Public high schools in the state failing to graduate one third or more of their students.
Addendum Methodology: OSSE identifies all high schools in which both four-year and five-year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rates fall below 67%.
Previous Name (2018 Designations): Comprehensive Support type 2 (CS2)
Comprehensive Support and Improvement Schools: Student Group (CSI-SG)
Schools identified for Targeted Support Type 2 (now called ATSI) that have not satisfied the statewide exit criteria. (Please note: These designations are not being made in the 2022-23 school year.)
Previous Name (2018 Designations): Comprehensive Support type 3 (CS3)
Targeted Support and Improvement Schools (TSI)
Schools with one or more “consistently underperforming” student group(s).
Addendum Methodology: OSSE identifies schools with student group(s) performing below the threshold set for designating CSI schools in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2021-22.
Previous Name (2018 Designations): Targeted Support type 1 (TS1)
Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI)
Schools that are doing as poorly for a student group as the bottom 5% of all schools are doing for all students.
Addendum Methodology:OSSE identifies schools with student groups performing below the threshold set for designating CSI schools in 2021-22.
Previous Name (2018 Designations): Targeted Support type 2 (TS2)
School Improvement Designations
Using the methodologies above, OSSE designated the following schools in 2022:
Comprehensive Support and Improvement – Low Performing
- KIPP DC - Inspire Academy PCS (KIPP DC PCS) - CSI – Low Performing
- Sousa Middle School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Low Performing
- Kramer Middle School (District of Columbia Public Schools ) - CSI – Low Performing
- Johnson Middle School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Low Performing
- Eagle Academy PCS - Capitol Riverfront (Eagle Academy PCS) - CSI – Low Performing
- King Elementary School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Low Performing
- Kelly Miller Middle School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Low Performing
- Moten Elementary School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Low Performing
- Ballou High School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Low Performing
- Anacostia High School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Low Performing
Comprehensive Support and Improvement – Graduation Rate Schools
- Ballou STAY High School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Graduation Rate
- Roosevelt STAY High School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Graduation Rate
- Luke C. Moore High School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - CSI – Graduation Rate
- Goodwill Excel Public Charter School (Goodwill Excel Center PCS) - CSI – Graduation Rate
- Kingsman Academy Public Charter School (Kingsman Academy PCS) - CSI – Graduation Rate
- Maya Angelou Public Charter High School – Evans Campus (Maya Angelou PCS ) - CSI – Graduation Rate
Targeted Support and Improvement Schools (TSI)
- Leckie Education Campus (District of Columbia Public Schools) TSI – Students with Disabilities
Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI)
- Leckie Education Campus (District of Columbia Public Schools) - ATSI – Students with Disabilities (Elementary School)
- Early Childhood Academy PCS (Early Childhood Academy PCS) - ATSI – Black/African-American Students (Elementary School)
- Drew Elementary School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - ATSI – Students with Disabilities (Elementary School)
- Langley Elementary School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - ATSI – Black/African-American Students (Elementary School)
- Excel Academy (District of Columbia Public Schools) - ATSI – Black/African-American Students (Elementary School)
- Browne Education Campus (District of Columbia Public Schools ) - ATSI – Hispanic/Latino of Any Race Students (Elementary School)
- Hope Community PCS - Tolson (Hope Community PCS ) - ATSI – Students with Disabilities (Elementary School)
- Lawrence E. Boone Elementary School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - ATSI – Hispanic/Latino Students of Any Race (Elementary School)
- Wheatley Education Campus (District of Columbia Public Schools) - ATSI – Black/African-American Students (Elementary School)
- Center City PCS - Capitol Hill (Center City PCS) - ATSI – Students with Disabilities (Elementary School) and ATSI – Students with Disabilities (Middle School)
- Cardozo Education Campus (District of Columbia Public Schools) - ATSI – Hispanic/Latino of Any Race Students (Middle School)
- H.D. Cooke Elementary School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - ATSI – Black/African-American Students (Elementary School)
- Center City PCS - Trinidad (Center City PCS) - ATSI – Students with Disabilities (Middle School)
- Seaton Elementary School (District of Columbia Public Schools) - ATSI – Asian Students (Elementary School)
- Two Rivers PCS - Young Middle School (Two Rivers PCS) ATSI – Two or more races (Middle School)
How OSSE Supports Designated Schools
The school improvement planning process provides an opportunity for each of DC’s lowest performing schools to work with their communities to urgently improve educational outcomes for students. All schools designated as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) are eligible for the IIS grant. By targeting funding to the CSI schools, OSSE aims to leverage limited federal funding to the schools most in need and maximize the impact on student performance.
Schools were first designated by OSSE in 2018. CSI schools designated in 2018-19 are in the third year of their three-year school improvement cycle in the 2022-23 school year and will receive IIS grant funding this year. Due to the impact of the pandemic, USED granted OSSE a waiver for accountability requirements in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years. While CSI-designated schools continued to receive funding during this time, these two years were considered “null years.” CSI schools designated in 2022 will be in the first year of a two-year school improvement cycle and are eligible for IIS grant funding this year.
The next full three-year school improvement cycle will begin in 2024 (based on data from the 2023-24 school year). The chart below displays the timeline for these designations:
Required Analyses and Documentation
Per federal law, LEAs with schools identified in school support and improvement categories are responsible for ensuring that several requirements are fulfilled. All designated schools (CSI, CSI-Grad, TSI and ATSI schools) are responsible for developing and submitting to OSSE school improvement plans. CSI and CSI-Grad schools are required to complete a needs assessment, resource equity analysis (if there is more than one school in the LEA) and a school improvement plan. CSI and CSI-Grad schools are required to use OSSE’s templates for all three activities and will submit to OSSE for approval. CSI schools are eligible for the IIS grant and are responsible for submitting a grant application. TSI and ATSI schools are encouraged to use OSSE’s school improvement template but are permitted to design their own and submit their template to OSSE for approval. TSI and ATSI schools are not required to conduct a needs assessment or a resource equity analysis but may choose to do so if they better inform the development of their school improvement plan. While OSSE does not approve plans from TSI and ATSI schools, LEAs with these designated schools are required to share final plans with OSSE.
Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI and CSI-Grad) schools
- Conduct a school-level needs assessment with input from stakeholders
- Complete a Resource Equity Analysis at the LEA level to analyze resource distribution to all schools, if applicable
- Develop a school improvement plan with input from stakeholders
- Have the plan approved by the school, the LEA and OSSE
- Participate in periodic monitoring of the plan by OSSE
Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI and ATSI) schools
- Develop a school-level targeted support and improvement plan with principals, other school leaders, teachers, parents
- Have the plan approved by the LEA
- Submit to OSSE the completed school improvement plan
- Participate in monitoring of the plan by the LEA
Deliverables
- Needs Assessment: For each school, engage and gather perspectives from key stakeholders; review data and other qualitative evidence over time; and identify needs, determine root causes and areas for change. View the Needs Assessment template here.
- Resource Equity Analysis (coming soon): Document expenditures for every school in the LEA as well as centralized LEA spending. Include breakout of federal and local funding sources and grant funding.
- School Improvement Plan (SIP): Based on the findings of the school-based needs assessment and Resource Equity Analysis, LEAs ensure that schools identify goals and specific evidence-based strategies in their improvement plans. They must be approved by the school, the LEA and OSSE. View the School Improvement Plan template here.
- School Improvement Plan Rubric: This rubric will be used by OSSE staff to conduct a review of SIPs for schools designated as CSI and/or CSI-Grad. View the School Improvement Plan Rubric here.
- IIS Grant Application: LEAs partner with schools to determine budgets for the SIP activities to complete the IIS grant application. View the IIS Application in the Enterprise Grant Management System (EGMS).
Investment in Schools Grant
Schools Designated in 2018
OSSE invested $11 million over three years to support the lowest performing schools in DC in their improvement efforts. Contingent on federal funding from Title I, Part A and LEAs submitting applications aligned to requirements, OSSE supported all CS1 schools (now titled CSI schools) and their LEAs to work with their communities to urgently improve educational outcomes for students.
Investment in Schools Grant Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19)
LEAs with CS1 schools identified were eligible to apply for the first year of Investment in Schools funds in December 2018 when designations are announced. As part of FY 2019 Investment in Schools LEA Application, LEAs were required to complete and submit the three components described in more detail above and below: the needs assessment, resource equity analysis, if applicable, and the school improvement plan. LEAs must submit completed needs assessments, school improvement plans and a resource equity analysis, if applicable, to be eligible for FY20 funds.
Investment in Schools Continuation Grant (FY20)*
CS1 schools remained in their designation and received funds to support CS1 schools’ implementation of their approved school improvement plans. LEAs were required to target funds toward the area(s) identified for improvement for each school based on their school improvement plan. Funds had to be used for activities allowed under ESSA Title I, Part A. The grant period was Oct. 1, 2019 - Sept. 30, 2020.
Investment in Schools Continuation Grant (FY21)*
CS1 schools remained in their designation and received funds to support CS1 schools’ implementation of their approved school improvement plans. LEAs were required to target funds toward the area(s) identified for improvement for each school based on their school improvement plan. Funds were only be used for activities allowed under ESSA Title I, Part A. The grant period was Oct. 1, 2020 - Sept. 30, 2021.
*Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, OSSE did not use an accountability system for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years CS1 and CS2 schools remained in their designation.
Investment in Schools Continuation Grant (FY22)
CS1 schools remained in their designation and received funds to support CS1 schools’ implementation of their approved school improvement plans. LEAs were required to target funds toward the area(s) identified for improvement for each school based on their school improvement plan. Funds were only permitted to be used for activities allowed under ESSA Title I, Part A. The grant period was Oct. 1, 2021 - Sept. 30, 2022.
Investment in Schools Continuation Grant (FY23)
CS1 schools will remain in their designation and will receive funds to support CS1 schools’ implementation of their approved School Improvement Plans. LEAs must target funds toward the area(s) identified for improvement for each school based on their School Improvement Plan. Funds may only be used for activities allowed under ESSA Title I, Part A. The grant period is Oct. 1, 2022 - Sept. 30, 2023.
Schools Designated in 2022
Investment in Schools Grant – Year One (FY23)
LEAs with CSI school(s) designated in 2022 (newly designated or redesignated) are eligible to apply for the first year of Investment in Schools funds in April 2023 with applications due May 2023 in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS). As part of FY 2023 Investment in Schools LEA Application, LEAs must outline their plans to complete and submit by no later than May 31, 2023, the three components described below: the needs assessment, resource equity analysis, if applicable, and the school improvement plan. LEAs must submit completed needs assessments, school improvement plans, and a resource equity analysis, if applicable, by the May 2023 deadline to be eligible for FY23 funds. The grant period is Oct. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023.
Historical Documents
If you are interested in the history of these school improvement designations, OSSE has catalogued public documentation below.
- Dear Colleague Letters from Superintendent Kang: October 2018 | February 2018 | July 2017
- School Support Designations: What are the categories and how are schools identified?
- School Support Requirements: What are designated schools required to do?
- Investment in Schools Grant: What funding is available to support schools?
- School Improvement Plans Under ESSA: How are schools using their funding to make improvements?
- Required Templates – Needs Assessment, Resource Equity Analysis, School Plan: What is the format that identified schools must use to meet requirements and by when?
- Resources: ESSA School Improvement Overview | Investment in Schools Frequently Asked Question
- OSSE Statewide Assessment and Accountability Waiver: COVID-19: Information about fiscal and programmatic waiver granted to OSSE from the US Department of Education which states that schools designated for the 2019-20 school year will remain in that same designation for the next school year and maintain supports.
- Guidance and Resources for COVID-19-related Closures and Recovery: Provides official policy guidance on the suspension of statewide assessments and impacts on the accountability system for the 2019-20 school year.
School Improvement Programs Prior to ESSA