DC.gov Mayor Fenty DC Guide Residents Business Visitors District of Columbia Government Kids  




News Releases
 News Advisories
 Schedule
 Frequently Asked Questions
 Photo Gallery


News Release for Immediate Release
November 28, 2007

Fenty, Rhee, Reinoso Introduce New School Initiatives to Renew, Revitalize and Reorganize DCPS

(Washington, DC) Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Deputy Mayor for Education Victor Reinoso announced a proposal to overhaul the city’s poor performing public schools by delivering new, innovative programs to stimulate and boost academic achievement across the school system. The introduction of new programs will align with DCPS’s efforts to right-size the school system ensuring that all resources are focused on supporting academic programs while eliminating excess space.

“We have the resources to offer our students the best programs and services, but we aren’t utilizing those resources as effectively as we should be,” said Fenty. “Our children and parents deserve to have every opportunity to succeed and this proposal lays the groundwork for that.”

RENEW. Academic Programs
Academic success will remain at the forefront of all proposed initiatives. The school system will offer a variety of high-quality programs that provide exciting educational options found in the highest-performing school districts across the nation.

The school system will begin to create and expand the following academic program options for implementation during the 2008/2009 school year:

  • Early Childhood
    There is a critical need to increase the quantity and quality of programs for children three- to four-years old. The school system is considering expanding the use of the renowned Reggio Emilia approach—already successfully utilized in one DCPS school—in other schools.  In the Reggio model, teachers follow students’ interests and view children as competent, resourceful, and curious.
  • Inclusive and Integrated Special Education
    DCPS will take steps to better serve special needs students in inclusive settings. The school system is examining the development of lab schools that model inst