DC Public Education Learning Tours 2011-12


CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

Series Kick-Off Breakfast:
Raising Expectations for All DC Schools - Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Join us for a lively panel discussion with: Kaya Henderson, DCPS Chancellor; Hosanna Mahaley, State Superintendent of Education; De'Shawn Wright, Deputy Mayor of Education; Brian Jones, Chairman of the DC Public Charter School Board; David Coleman, Panel moderator, leading author and architect of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). David Coleman will also present an overview of the emerging Common Core State Standards. Please note: This event is mandatory for all EduTours registrants.

EduTours:
School Leadership
Fostering Excellence in School Leadership - Wednesday, October 26, 2011
A strong school leadership team can be a change agent, improving school culture and driving student achievement. This tour will explore the expanding role of a principal in today’s urban schools, with particular attention to how well-developed leadership teams can support principals in organizing schools for success.

Teacher Effectiveness
Supporting Our City's Teachers - Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Research tells us that having an effective teacher in the classroom is one of the most important factors influencing student achievement. Building on our previous conversations around teacher quality, this tour will explore the many ways that public schools in DC are striving to develop a highly effective teaching force. In particular, we will examine how schools are cultivating the skills of all teachers with supports tailored to individual needs.

School Transformation
Addressing the challenges of failing schools frequently requires expertise and capacity beyond that which schools and districts can provide. In the “Whole School Transformation” and “Partnership Schools” tours, we will explore how external partner organizations can extend the capacity of struggling schools to address the needs of students living in poverty.

Whole School Tranformation - Wednesday, February 15, 2012
On this tour, we will explore how embedded support organizations are helping schools to drive student achievement by fundamentally restructuring the ways in which they meet students’ social and emotional needs, recruit and develop human capital, and conduct family engagement.

Partnership Schools - Wednesday, March 14, 2012
This is our third year of exploring the complex process of turning around chronically underperforming public schools. DCPS has engaged two high potential and successful school management organizations with a mandate to dramatically improve the climate culture, and academic achievement in two DCPS schools. Join us on this tour as we continue the journey of these two partners, both of whom have designed customized strategies to meet the needs of their school communities.

Technology-Based Learning Models
Next Generation Learning Models - Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Education, like every other industry, must continually innovate to better serve the needs of its constituents. Hybrid learning models have become prominent across the country, with entities like Rocketship, School of One, and Khan Academy garnering huge attention for their innovative approaches to student engagement, teacher resource allocation, and seat time. On this tour, we will see how DCPS is attracting, seeding, and ultimately scaling innovative hybrid learning models across the District.

Funder Roundtables and other select learning opportunities
Funder roundtable events will be scheduled during the months of November, January, April and June. We will focus on investment opportunities that support the Edutours theme of the previous month(s). Additionally, from time to time one or more of the planning committee organizations may also sponsor small group events that enrich our understanding of public education in the city. Registration for these events will be separate.

Culminating Year-End Breakfast
Looking Forward - Next Steps for Education Reform in the District - Wednesday, June 6, 2012
This breakfast is open to all tour participants and executive directors of participating foundations.

DC Public Education Learning Series 2011-12

The District of Columbia hosts one of the most dynamic public education sectors in the country – and also one of the most challenged. District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) reforms since 2007 and the presence of the second-largest charter sector in the country have placed DC education reform in the national spotlight. As local funders we have an obligation to study the complexities of public education in our city. The DC Public Education Learning Series is designed to facilitate the kind of learning that fosters this deeper understanding.

Important progress has been made, but there is still much work to be done. Now more than ever the DC philanthropic community must be engaged, strategic, and focused in our investments in public education. With this in mind the planning committee for the DC Public Education Learning Series 2011-12 has identified four high-impact areas to explore together this year: 1) school leadership; 2) teacher effectiveness; 3) school transformation; and 4) technology-based learning models.


DC Public Education Learning Series

The Banyan Tree Foundation, the CityBridge Foundation, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, and the DC Public Education Fund invite members of the philanthropic community to join us for Year 3 of our series in 2011-12. The events are designed to:

  • Encourage participants' philanthropic giving and inform philanthropic strategy in support of effective education reform efforts
  • Help philanthropists gain a deeper understanding of key topics in education reform in DC
  • Provide philanthropists with opportunities to network with key leaders in  DC education and with each other

Program Overview

This year’s learning series is intended to probe more deeply into education reform efforts citywide, building on the previous two years of tours, while welcoming newcomers who were not previously able to join us. Our signature EduTours will be offered on five mornings over the course of the school year, with transportation and lunch provided. We will explore proven best practices
and emerging options for increasing student achievement in DCPS schools and DC public charter schools. Each of these EduTours will culminate with a panel discussion over lunch around the tour theme. During months when EduTours are not scheduled, we will be inviting our participants to join us for smaller, more focused Funder Roundtable events. Over coffee, tea and refreshments, the participants will have frank conversations and be presented with opportunities for investment. Additionally, throughout the year participants will also be invited to other select learning opportunities sponsored by one or more of the planning committee organizations (listed above).

Registration Information

Each EduTour has a limited number of seats and registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis: we encourage you to register as soon as possible. There is a registration fee of $40 for each tour. Year-long registration is available for $150/year for WRAG members, and $175/year for non-WRAG members. You can register for the entire year of tours by contacting Rebekah Seder at seder@washingtongrantmakers.org or 202-939-3435. You can also register for select tours at right. We will maintain a wait list for each event once available registration slots have been filled. Please note: You will be contacted regarding the scheduling of the Funder Roundtable events as the year progresses. You do not need to pre-register for those events at this time.

If you have questions or would like to refer someone to our mailing list please feel free to contact Erica Pressman at pressman@washingtongrantmakers.org.

The 2011-2012 DC Public Education Learning Series is generously sponsored by: