Panel discussion on public school choice in DC, June 5

Since the DC School Reform Act was passed into law in 1996, the District's public education system has experienced dramatic change – much of it driven by an expansion of choices for parents and students on where to attend school. Neighborhood public schools run by DC Public Schools (DCPS) are no longer the only option for many families. Charter schools – publicly funded but independently managed – now educate 41% of all DC public school students. Even within DCPS, students and parents now have the opportunity to apply to any district school across the city through the annual out-of-boundary lottery.

What has been the impact of this expansion in public school choice in DC? In what ways has it led to improved student outcomes and in what ways has it fallen short of expectations? How can parents and students make informed decisions on what schooling option makes the most sense for them? How have charter schools and DCPS influenced each other? With the DCPS Chancellor in support of making DCPS a second charter authorizer in the city and the City Council Chairman calling for a neighborhood admissions preference for charter schools, what does the future hold for public education in DC?

Young Education Professionals-DC (YEP-DC) invites you to explore these and other questions with a distinguished panel of experts on June 5 at the Wilson Building. Light refreshments (food and drink) will be provided.

WHAT: Assessing the Impact of Public School Choice in DC
WHERE: John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Room TBD (Accessible via Metro Center)
WHEN: Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 5:30-7:30 pm
RSVP: on the YEP-DC website

Panelists:

• Mary Filardo, Executive Director, 21st Century School Fund
• Clara Hess, Director, Human Capital & Strategic Initiatives, DC Public Charter School Board
• Crystal A. Moore, Instructional Coach, District of Columbia Public Schools
• Jessica Sutter, Senior Advisor for School Quality, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education
• Margery Yeager, Policy Advisor, Education Counsel
• Moderated by Sarah Rosenberg, Policy Analyst, Education Sector

The event is being held with support from Frontstream Payments.

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