In partnership with Harmony Public Schools, an award-winning STEM-focused charter program, DCSRN recently filmed a virtual school tour of one of their middle schools in Houston, Texas. Harmony DC currently operates a K-5 elementary school in Ward 5 and plans to open a 6-8 middle school for SY16-17. Featuring Harmony Science Academy - Houston, the virtual school tour will provide a reference for what the DC middle school will look like so families can make informed application choices during the 2015-16 application season. Thanks to Harmony for being a wonderful new DCSRN partner.

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A New HQSC Parent: Completing Enrollment
DCSRN spent the month of April helping matched HQSC families complete enrollment for their children. After receiving a match to The SEED School of Washington, DC (SEED), watching SEED's virtual school tour and seeing the school for himself, Charles Hudson, Sr. decided SEED was the best fit for his son, who wants to be a pediatrician. DCSRN provided him a free shuttle ride to the school to submit his enrollment paperwork and as he left he said, "I could not have done all this without DCSRN." DCSRN will check in with Mr. Hudson over the summer to help him overcome any barriers that may prevent his son from attending SEED in the fall. DCSRN will also check-in quarterly thereafter with Mr. Hudson to support him in ensuring his son maintains enrollment throughout the next school year.

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A Great Night at Tico
DCSRN recently enjoyed an evening of conversation about DC public education and sharing DCSRN's important work helping families gain access to quality schools. Thanks to all who attended, including representatives from My School DC, the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, DCPS, charter schools, educators and parents. Special thanks to Tico DC for hosting! 

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In Case You Missed It: Must Reads

Policy 

• April 6—DC's attorney general has okayed DCPS's plan to help males of color. But that may not be the end of the story.
• April 7—Senate education leaders unveil bipartisan compromise to rewrite the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
• April 8—Waitlist numbers are up for District schools.
• April 9—DC is giving low-income babies and toddlers the kind of childcare they need.
• April 10—Where to apply—and not to apply—in Round 2 of the DC school lottery.
• April 10—Proposal for military charter school moves forward in Ward 8.
• April 12—Hillary Clinton and education: What's her record? What will she campaign on?
• April 14—'Free-range' parents plan to file lawsuit after police pick up children.
• April 16—Judge upholds revocation of charter for DC's Community Academy.
• April 28—Bowser protege Brandon Todd wins Ward 4 seat; Ward 8 too close to call.
• April 30—The Chancellor's testimony at the DCPS FY16 budget hearing.

Research

• April 1—Promising Practices and Unfinished Business: Fostering Equity and Excellence for Black and Latino Males.
• April 1—Board-certified teachers are more effective, new studies affirm.
• April 3—Charter schools still a DC hot-button issue.
• April 7—Why I'm calling it quits after six years as a teacher.
• April 10—New York City charters leave thousands of seats unfilled despite exploding demand, study finds.
• April 15—Report offers a case study of turnaround at J.C. Nalle Elementary in the District.
• April 17—Struggling readers in DC's high schools need help from professional tutors.
• April 21—School waitlist data can tell us what families want.
• April 23—More families are waitlisted at neighborhood preschools.
• April 29—Segregation of the nation's children starts with preschool, new report finds.

Funding

• April 2—Mayor's capital plan delays some school projects.
• April 2—DCPS plans to give Wilson High School less money to serve more students.
• April 8—Howard to offer free courses to some DC high school seniors.
• April 12—Hoping to raise interest in books, the public library opens a school branch.
• April 14 — Rocketship breaks ground on new District charter school after delays.
• April 20 — Advanced Placement offerings vary widely in DC high schools.
• April 23 — DC schools budget includes wide range in per student spending.
• April 29 — New rules would govern how DC public schools fund renovations.  
• April 30 — Mayor Bowser joins President Obama to announce efforts to improve students' access to public libraries. 

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