Keith Fletcher

The public session agenda included the review and consideration of initial provisional applications from Bridging Nations University and the National Institute of Emergency Medical Services. Additionally, the commission addressed renewal applications from the Capital Health Institute, LLC and the National Housing Corporation Learning Center, along with informational items regarding correspondence and communications from Citiwide Computer and Nursing Assistant and Dudley Beauty College.

The panel reviewed the Annual Performance Report and focused on draft annual report sections related to graduation and post-secondary outcomes, discipline, and parent involvement. Discussions highlighted positive trends and ongoing concerns in areas such as parent survey participation, student inclusion in general education settings, discipline data quality, and stagnation in graduation rates. Recommendations were formulated for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to improve data collection, program quality assessment, and monitoring processes.

This document, 'Accelerate DC: A New Vision for School Improvement,' serves as the roadmap for the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to enhance school improvement efforts. It outlines a new framework, 'Accelerate DC,' which focuses on five key domains: Transformational Leadership, Talent Development, Instructional Excellence, Strong School Climate, and Organizational Health. The vision is to drive rapid improvement and close opportunity gaps in the District's lowest-performing schools through a scaffolded system of supports, increased accountability, and strategic investments, ultimately aiming to accelerate student learning outcomes.

The meeting of the UPSFF Working Group included introductions and discussion of the UPSFF context, an overview of the UPSFF, focus areas for the working group to discuss, and a public comment period. The group discussed webinar logistics, working group norms, and the dates for future meetings.

The meeting included a recap of the November meeting, discussion of costs associated with previous recommendations, a discussion on special education, and an initial discussion on report recommendations. The definitions of adult education and alternative programs were shared, and the criteria for being an alternative school were discussed. The cost impact of previous working group recommendations was reviewed, including the overage high school students supplemental weight.