FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 19, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shayne Wells (DME) 202.215.8384, [email protected]

(Washington, DC) – Today, Deputy Mayor for Education Jennifer Niles launched the Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force. The task force is charged with developing a report for the Mayor with clear and fair recommendations on how to improve the coherence of public education in DC for families and increase the collaboration across DC Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter school sectors to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and student outcomes.

“This process is long overdue,” said Deputy Mayor Niles. “With approximately 56% of public school students attending DCPS and 44% public charter schools, the next chapter of our education improvement efforts needs to be deliberate and purposeful collaboration.”

The Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force provides a unique opportunity to bring together education leaders and the public from across the city to tackle some of our city’s biggest educational challenges.  

“With the remarkable progress that DCPS and the charter schools have made in recent years, the time is right for us to identify areas for coordination and collaboration,” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “I'm excited for the cross sector taskforce to help identify how DC can do even more to create great opportunities for our students.”

Over the next two years, the Task Force will host multiple opportunities to get public input. The DME is in the process of identifying members who will include a diverse group of public school parents, community members, school leaders, and relevant government agency representatives. The Task Force will begin meeting in October.  For more information on this initiative, please visit dme.dc.gov/collaboration.  

“We look forward to participating and finding new ways to improve public school for all students in Washington, DC,” said DC Public Charter School Board Executive Director Scott Pearson.

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