Washington, DC

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Deputy Mayor for Education Jennifer Niles, DC Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Kaya Henderson and D.C. Public Education Fund President and Executive Director Jessica Rauch announced a $4 million investment by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation to support a new curricular strategy across DCPS. The new investments will help DCPS continue to improve teaching and learning at every public school in all eight wards. 

“While our schools have made great progress, we need to plow ahead and increase the pace of reform. This investment will be a valuable asset for our students as they prepare for college, job training and careers.” said Mayor Bowser. “On behalf of the students and families in the District, I thank Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation for their support in helping to elevate our school system.”
           
DCPS has been recognized as a national leader for its dramatic progress transforming education for the nearly 48,000 students it serves. This year, Mayor Bowser proposed a budget that makes the largest-ever investment in DCPS’ operating budget. In 2012, DCPS was one of the first districts to adopt the Common Core State Standards and since that time, DCPS has invested in instructional strategies that accelerate learning for students in every part of Washington, DC, from Anacostia to Columbia Heights to Cleveland Park.

Investments from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Schusterman Family Foundation will help DCPS build on its Common Core strategy and recognition as the fastest-improving urban school district in the nation, according to the National Assessment for Educational Progress. While DCPS has made great strides, the quality of teaching still varies across the city.

“Every student at every school deserves a world-class education” said Chancellor Kaya Henderson. To ensure every student receives the highest-quality education, DCPS will implement Cornerstone Assignments to provide all DCPS educators the tools they need to be even more effective starting in School Year 2015-16.

Cornerstones are high-quality, in-depth core curricular experiences to be taught within the DCPS units of study. Cornerstones will be taught across all grade levels in Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Physical Education, Health, and World Languages and anchored by top-tier content-specific instructional models.

As the next phase of DCPS’ Common Core State Standards are implemented, Cornerstones will provide access to rigorous content for every student, improved professional development for teachers that is focused on student work, continuity and consistency across every grade and every subject. These important programs will be enhanced with the the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Schusterman Family Foundation.