Built on stakeholder feedback, the state education agency’s new plan aims to close achievement gaps for all DC students.
Today, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) released its 2023-2025 strategic plan which outlines the agency’s path to raise the quality of education and close opportunity gaps in the District of Columbia. Building upon the leadership of Mayor Muriel Bowser and OSSE’s previous planning efforts, learnings through the pandemic, and historic recovery investments, the plan lays out a clear pathway for recovery to restoration and beyond.
"Our new strategic plan is grounded in community voice and incorporates feedback from early childhood educators, principals and teachers, parents, advocates, health practitioners and many other stakeholders from across the DC educational landscape.” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Christina Grant. “This plan builds on bright spots and identifies areas for improvement and new focus. It also creates a clear roadmap for us to strategically and thoughtfully invest in opportunities for students who historically have been left out and under-supported.”
"OSSE’s new Strategic Plan will bring us closer to ensuring a high-quality education for every student in the District,” said DC Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee. “DC Public Schools is grateful for the partnership of State Superintendent Grant and the entire OSSE team. Together, we are strengthening our commitment to the continued academic recovery of our students, and I am excited to see this work implemented across DCPS' schools.”
OSSE’s revised vision and mission statements make clear the role for OSSE in this work. Seven strategic priorities, Start Early, Advance Excellence, Achieve Equitable Outcomes for All Students, Build Futures, Foster Student and Staff Well-being, Cultivate Team and Reimagine Systems, will drive OSSE’s progress over the next three years.
Each priority is supported by strategic initiatives, which include both new bodies of work and efforts to improve the quality, rigor or consistency of existing activities. The plan also identifies key results for each priority that allow OSSE to monitor progress.
“We are incredibly proud of the public education system we have built in the District, and we are only getting stronger. OSSE plays a vital role in our coordinated public school infrastructure, delivering essential services and supports to our students, families, and school communities,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. “OSSE’s new strategic plan will ensure that we continue our collective work to put all District learners, particularly those furthest from opportunity, on pathways to success.”