The District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (D.C. PCSB) performance management framework (PMF) applies to all charter schools in the District of Columbia. It is primarily used to inform charter authorizing decisions. It also has family-facing aspects; however, families also have other ways to learn about school performance.
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System Summary:
The PMF is a three-tiered system that applies to all public charter schools in the District of Columbia. D.C. PCSB uses the PMF as a tool to set consistent performance standards and communicate school performance to schools and families. PMF results are a factor in charter expansion, renewal, or closure decisions. Schools are additionally subject to the specific goals in their respective charters. D.C. PCSB publishes individual school reports that families can use to find out how their school is performing or guide school selection.
Key Metrics:
Elementary/middle school ratings emphasize growth and achievement on state tests, with extra weight for third grade reading and eighth grade math. High school ratings are also based on growth and achievement on state tests, plus post-secondary readiness metrics, such as college acceptance rates. Non-academic metrics across all grades include attendance and reenrollment. There are separate PMFs for alternative, adult, and early childhood schools.
Use Cases:
The PMF was primarily designed as a tool for charter school authorizer decision-making. Based on their PMF tiers, charter schools in D.C. may be eligible for expansion or a high-stakes review process that could lead to closure ahead of regular review timelines.
Though the tool was not designed for continuous improvement, schools are encouraged to align their charter goals, action plans, and management decisions with the PMF.
The PMF was also meant to support transparency for families in the school choice process; however, D.C. parents have access to other data sources that may be more parent-friendly. One source, MySchoolDC, is D.C.’s unified enrollment system, which parents use to find and compare schools. PMF tiers are included on this site, but they play a minor role in the school’s profile. Another resource is the new state system, the STAR framework, which applies across charter and district-run schools.
The collection of images below is a sample of the D.C. PSCB PMF reports and school finder website as of fall 2019. Click on each image to view an enlarged version.
Details
SPF Creator:
D.C. Public Charter School Board (D.C. PCSB)
Number of Schools Included:
123
Types of Schools Included:
All D.C. public charter schools
School Quality Rating Policy