Accelerating learning for all students, but especially for those who have been most impacted by the pandemic and interrupted instruction, sits at the core of our investments for recovery and restoration. To support our schools in this effort, we are taking a multi-pronged approach, including expanding access to tutoring, helping schools adopt high-quality curricula and training educators in the science of reading. We strive to bring an equity lens to this work to help close historic opportunity and achievement gaps for our students.​

Key Strategies​

We are employing the following strategies to accelerate learning:​

• Expand Access to High-Impact Tutoring: Enable more students to benefit from intensive, or high-impact, tutoring by offering grants to expand successful tutoring models by proven providers, extending tutoring to non-school locations, such as libraries and recreation centers, and working closely with the highest-need schools to build their tutoring capacity. ​
• Scale High-Quality Instructional Materials: Understand the current state of math and English Language Arts curricula across the District and then offer grants that enable schools to adopt high-quality curricula and train staff in its implementation.​
• Scale Literacy Training Grounded in the Science of Reading: Provide literacy training to educators across the District that deepens their understanding of the science and reading and their capacity to teach all students how to read.​
• Strengthen Math Instruction: Provide K-5 and secondary school educators – focusing on those with less than five years of teaching experience and those teaching in high-needs schools – with high-quality professional development through intensive math “bootcamps” focused on content and pedagogy, and provide a supplemental, digital math curriculum to every interested elementary school in DC.
• Measure Student Progress: Help schools assess the impact of interrupted instruction and evaluate ongoing student progress with tools and trainings related to the use of high-quality interim assessments, Kindergarten readiness assessments, and English Language Proficiency assessments.​
• Extend Learning Time: Create more time for student learning by funding a grant for LEAs to establish summer accelerator programs and providing academic and enrichment opportunities through out-of-school-time programming via the Deputy Mayor for Education’s Out-of-School-Time Office.​
• Expand Connectivity for Students: Provide internet service to low-income families to help ensure that all students can access distance learning through the “Internet for All” program, in partnership with the Office of the Chief Technology Officer in DC. ​
• Strengthen English Learner Programs: Provide technical assistance to select local education agencies with the purpose of helping them assess the strengths and weaknesses of their English learner program and build capacity through coaching and professional learning. ​
• Build Educator Knowledge & Skills: Offer additional supports to help build educator knowledge and skills including through coaching to strengthen instruction in virtual, in-person and hybrid settings and the development of an OSSE learning management system to enable the more effective delivery of professional learning to educators now and in the future.
• Develop New Social Studies Standards and Aligned Materials: Advance new standards and materials that support students in building an in-depth understanding of complex historical ideas, concepts, and skills, and incorporate multiple perspectives and a global understanding of history.