Frequently Asked Questions

Please click on a question to scroll down to the answer.

What are charter schools?
Who has authority to grant charters in Washington, DC?
Who is eligible to establish a public charter school?
What are the application requirements?
How do I enroll my child in a charter school?
How can I find a faculty or staff position in a charter school?
What if I have a concern about my child's school?
How are charter schools held accountable?
Do charter schools have to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act?
How can I find out about a school's performance?
What if my question is not answered here or I need help understanding some of these concepts?

What are charter schools?


Charter schools are independently-operated public schools that are open to all District residents, regardless of their neighborhood, socioeconomic status, academic achievement, or ethnicity. There are no admission tests or tuition fees. Parents and students choose to attend a particular charter school because its unique focus, curriculum, structure, size, environment and other features meets the needs of those students. Click on charter schools for a listing of schools.

Who has authority to grant charters in Washington, DC?


The District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (PCSB) is the only entity with the authority to grant charters in the District of Columbia. The PCSB was created as part of a 1996 amendment to the D.C. School Reform Act of 1995. The PCSB members are appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia from a list of recommendations submitted by the U.S. Secretary of Education. The D.C. Board of Education (BOE) was the first authorizer under the School Reform Act of 1995, and performed those duties between 1996 and 2006. In 2006 The BOE voted to relinquish its authorizing responsibilities. After the City Council passed legislation to give the Mayor direct authority over the traditional public school system, the oversight responsibility for the charter schools previously authorized by the BOE was transferred to the PCSB.


Who is eligible to establish a public charter school?


Teachers, parents, or community members can organize charter schools. A new school can be sponsored by a university, non-profit service provider, museum, theater, or any other non-sectarian organization. Click here to learn about the application process.


What are the application requirements?


Applicants must submit a written proposal to either authorizer, and must undergo a rigorous application process. Each year the PCSB publishes Application Guidelines, which provide all the details of the process.


How do I enroll my child in a charter school?


Parents must choose the charter school that best fits their child's needs and interests, and then contact the school directly for application procedures. Click on enrollment procedures for more details.


How can I find a faculty or staff position in a charter school?


Potential faculty and staff members should also exercise their choices by researching the school that best fits their career interests (teaching and management philosophies, school curriculum/model, size, location, school focus, etc…) and then contact the school directly. The PCSB posts open positions on the website, as a courtesy to schools, but does not get involved in personnel decisions. Click on employment opportunities to see current vacancies.


What if I have a concern about my child's school?


Public charter schools create school communities, in which open dialogue between students, parents, faculty and staff is expected. Parents should first discuss concerns with the student's teacher, counselor or principal, as appropriate. If the parent feels that the school faculty and staff members are unresponsive, they should then contact the school's Board of Trustees (the school founders), who oversee the school administration. If Trustees are unresponsive, they should then contact the school's authorizing board. Click on complaint process for more details.


How are charter schools held accountable?


Once approved, D.C. public charter schools sign a charter agreement with their authorizer, to help their students reach specified academic and non-academic targets. They must establish measurable goals as part of an accountability plan that is approved by the authorizer. The authorizer monitors each school's academic progress, operational and financial management, and legal compliance annually, and conducts a cumulative review of each school's progress at the end of each five years. At the end of each five year review, the authorizer determines how well the school has met its targets, and whether it has earned the right to remain open. If it has not performed up to the standards established within the charter agreement, the authorizer may choose to revoke the school's charter. Click here to learn more about charter school accountability.


Do charter schools have to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act?


Yes, public charter schools must comply with the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). They must hire only highly qualified teachers, and must help students meet state-determined targets for Adequate Yearly Progress on standardized tests. Click here for the NCLB Fact Sheet.


How can I find out about a school's performance?


Parents can find out directly from their child's school how well the school is meeting it targets and serving students, by speaking with the Principal and asking about the school's performance on its accountability plan targets and other internal measures. In addition, the PCSB publishes annual School Performance Reports which compile the results of all of the PCSB's monitoring reports, school-wide test scores, NCLB Report Card, and Board actions regarding the school. It also shares information about each school's accomplishments, honors and awards. Parents can use this document as one way to determine if the school is right for their child.


What if my question is not answered here or I need help understanding some of these concepts?


Community members can browse the site for detailed information, or they can contact the PCSB staff offices, by emailing us at dcpublic@dcpubliccharter.com (we respond quickly- put your question in the subject line), or by calling 202/328-2660 between the hours of 9:00am and 5:30 p.m. We enjoy communicating with community members, and think their feedback is very important.