Press Release November 16, 2006

HEADLINE: DC Voice Identifies Lessons for the Future from 2006 DCPS School Consolidations

DCPS 2006 School Consolidations: Lessons for the Future was released by DC VOICE today, and identified adequate time, improved management and effective communications with parents and school communities as high priority issues for future consolidations. The full report is available on DC VOICE's web site, www.dcvoice.org.

"With several more school consolidations expected over the next few years, a well thought out and collaborative consolidation transition process is central to expanding quality teaching and learning at the newly consolidated schools," advised DC VOICE Executive Director, Carmella Mazzotta.

Interviews with principals, teachers and parents from the consolidated schools revealed that successful elements of the school consolidation process this year included facilities repairs and the strong leadership of individual principals. Areas needing improvement included comprehensive planning, the transfer of special programs from one school to another, and communication at all levels.

The Board of Education vote on June 28th allowed the DCPS Administration a very short time frame in which to accomplish all consolidation transition work this year. Erika Landberg, DC VOICE's Director of Community Engagement, said, "Because the shortage of time impacted transition planning and implementation so severely, simply making school consolidations decisions earlier next year would benefit everyone involved, and could also help stem declining enrollment."

The report identifies the following recommendations for DCPS for future school consolidations:
 

1.	Make school consolidation decisions as early as possible: Allow enough time for all transition processes, from facilities work to building new school communities.
2.	Create a school and community task force to guide the transition: Empower the community to help monitor progress and communicate information regularly.
3.	Conduct a rigorous principal selection process: Ensure that the principals selected are interested in and capable of tackling consolidated schools challenges.
4.	Develop new student enrollment strategies: Confirm earlier and more accurate enrollment numbers on which to base staffing and equipment decisions.
5.	Formalize the transfer of programs: Conduct a thorough assessment of what programs will transfer to the receiving school, and ensure that what is promised is delivered.
6.	Improve communications overall: Develop a strategic communications plan that identifies a lead DCPS contact and utilizes a broad range of communications methods.

DC VOICE began in 1998 with a group of parents, teachers and other activists recognized that everyone in the community must work collaboratively to raise academic achievement in the District of Columbia. This commitment to collaboration and achievement has made DC VOICE the leading and longest standing public convener on quality teaching and learning issues.