That's why DC PCSB has long used the Qualitative Site Review (QSR) as part of its oversight process. The QSR provides a snapshot of a school's instructional program, highlighting strengths and identifying growth opportunities that can drive continuous improvement. In fact, consistent with previous studies linking teacher quality and student outcomes, schools with strengths in instructional quality and leadership identified during the QSR preceded improved student achievement.
The QSR is a familiar process for many schools and has been used for years, usually in the year leading up to a school’s five-year charter review. What is evolving is the experience, how we gather information, deliver feedback, and partner to develop actionable insights to strengthen teaching and learning.
The QSR includes three key components: classroom observations, reviews of special education and emerging multilingual learner programs, and an analysis of the assignments students receive. Together, these elements help us understand the quality of the experiences taking place across a school.
Beginning with the 2026–27 QSR cycle, DC PCSB will use the 2022 edition of Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching (FFT) during classroom observations. The updated framework reflects current research and places a stronger emphasis on culturally relevant and responsive teaching practices. It provides a common language for discussing effective instruction and allows for more precise feedback about what is working well and where growth opportunities exist.
Another important tool used during the QSR is the New Teacher Project's (TNTP) Assignment Review protocol. DC PCSB uses TNTP's Assignment Review protocol, a nationally recognized tool that helps evaluate whether students are being given meaningful opportunities to engage with challenging, grade-level work.
Equally important is how DC PCSB uses the information gathered through the QSR. In recent years, we have redesigned our debrief process with schools to be more collaborative and action-oriented. Rather than simply sharing findings, our staff works alongside school leaders to reflect on results, identify strengths, and discuss strategies for continued improvement.
This approach reflects our commitment to creating the conditions that empower educators to do their best work in service of students. Feedback from school leaders following the QSR debriefs highlighted the value of the process, the practicality of the resources provided, and the strong partnership between schools and the DC PCSB team.
As one school leader shared, “Thank you so much for the follow-up [here] and these tremendous resources. Again, we really appreciate the opportunity to work with you [here] around this area. We will be meeting to talk through the next steps and the application of these resources."
As the QSR evolves, its purpose remains the same: to provide meaningful insights into classroom experiences and help schools strengthen teaching and learning. By combining thoughtful oversight with actionable feedback, professional learning opportunities, and data-informed conversations about instructional practice, the QSR remains an important tool for helping schools strengthen teaching and learning for public school students across Washington, DC.
DC PCSB will conduct QSR trainings for schools going through the QSR process in SY 2026–27 during the weeks of July 13 and July 20, 2026, with make-up sessions in August 2026. Training dates for 2022 FFT will be held the weeks of August 10 and/or August 17, 2026.