(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser announced eight new awardees of the District’s Community School Incentive Initiative Grant. Community schools have proven to be successful in reducing absenteeism, improving the health and well-being of students and their families, and increasing rates of high school graduation and college attendance. Throughout Washington, DC, 25 traditional public and public charter schools will have community school models during the 2017-18 school year, and 10 community schools initiative grantees will support students and community members at 16 of those schools.
“When our families and communities succeed, our students succeed,” said Mayor Bowser. “As we continue to build on the progress our schools have made over the past ten years, these grants will help us bring entire neighborhoods together under one goal—setting more students and families up for success.”
The FY18 Community Schools Incentive Initiative grantees are:
- Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital at Eastern Senior High School (Ward 6)
- Communities in Schools at J.O. Wilson Elementary School (Ward 6)
- DC Scholars Community Schools at DC Scholars Public Charter School (Ward 7)
- DC Scholars Community Schools at Stanton Elementary (Ward 8)
- Edgewood/Brookland Family Support Collaborative Community School Consortium at Jefferson Academy and Amidon-Bowen Elementary School (Ward 6)
- Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) Community School Consortium (Ward 1)
- Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) at Cardozo Education Campus (Ward 1)
- Mount Pleasant Community School Consortium (Ward 1)
- E.L. Haynes/Mary’s Center Community School Partnership (Ward 4)
- Georgia Avenue Family Support Collaborative at Roosevelt High School (Ward 4)
“When teachers, administrators, and community members come together, we can change the odds for our students and set them up for success,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Jennifer Niles. “I’m proud that our community schools grants not only invest in the future of our students, but also the future of our communities.”
Since fiscal year 2016, Mayor Bowser has invested more than $4.5 million in community schools to foster partnerships between schools and their surrounding communities. The eight new awardees will join two existing grantees, Communities in Schools at J.O. Wilson Elementary School and the Latin American Youth Center at Cardozo Education Campus, creating a total of 10 grantees running community school models funded by the Bowser Administration. Detailed information on the latest grantees can be found at osse.dc.gov.
“We are thrilled to support these new grantees as they work to create school models aimed at serving children and youth holistically,” said State Superintendent Hanseul Kang. “Community schools can play a critical role in ensuring our students are healthy and can succeed academically.”
About the District’s Community School Incentive Initiative Grants
A community school is a public and private partnership to coordinate educational, developmental, family, health, and afterschool programs during school and non-school hours. These services and programs are available to students, families, and local communities at a traditional public school or public charter school with the objectives of improving academic achievement, reducing absenteeism, building stronger relationships between students, parents, and communities, and improving the skills, capacity, and well-being of the surrounding community.
Each grantee will receive up to $177,146.76 and will be eligible for continued funding for two additional years, subject to available appropriations. With the funds, the grantees are charged with implementing a community school model and providing a system of supports for students and families that result in increased academic success for students. For example, DC Scholars Community Schools will create a “Parent University” that will offer workshops in computer skills, resume and interview skills, healthy habits, and stress management for parents at DC Scholars Public Charter School in Ward 7. Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital will provide school-wide support services that foster a positive school climate and help increase student attendance and parent engagement at Eastern Senior High School in Ward 6.
Accelerating school reform continues to be a top priority for Mayor Bowser. In her fiscal year 2018 budget, the Mayor invested $1.74 billion in public education, an increase of $121 million over last year’s budget and the largest investment in public education in the city’s history. In addition, the new teachers’ contract will provide an additional $110.5 million to DCPS and an additional $92.6 million to public charter schools from FY2017 to FY2021.