The Office of the State Superintendent of Education is committed to school improvement through partnering with LEAs and PCSB to target resources, supports, and interventions to the lowest performing schools and schools with the largest achievement gaps. Each school that is classified as Priority (lowest performing) and Focus (largest gaps) must create improvement plans aligned with seven research-based turnaround principles. The interventions should include strong principal leadership; effective staffing practices and instruction; curriculum, assessments, and interventions; effective use of time; effective use of data; school climate and culture; and effective family and community engagement. During years one and two of implementation, OSSE provides feedback on plans. In year three of school improvement, OSSE will prescribe the use of a portion of federal funds intended for use in turnaround activities and approve improvement plans. These plans are “living” documents and are regularly updated by LEAs to reflect their improvement efforts.

Questions for schools operated by the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) should be directed to [email protected].