With public health at stake, and student absenteeism a growing concern, DC PCSB took action. In partnership with OSSE and DC Health, DC PCSB hired two experienced school health consultants, Sharon Bostic and Diana Bruce to help Public Charter Schools implement stronger immunization practices and improve compliance in grades where students could face exclusion for missing required vaccines (PK3, kindergarten, seventh, and eleventh).
The result? A remarkable turnaround.
Over the past two school years, this consultant-led support model has delivered measurable progress:
- SY23-24: Immunization compliance in exclusion grades jumped from 58% to 85%
- SY24-25: That number rose again, from 74% to 96%
These improvements weren’t accidental. They came from expert guidance, boots-on-the-ground technical assistance, and a deep commitment to student health. Without this targeted, hands-on support, such dramatic gains would not have been possible.
So, what made this model work so well? Bostic and Bruce supported Public Charter Schools across the District by offering:
- Customized, real-time support to school staff through calls, emails, texts, and meetings
- Hands-on coaching for Immunization Points of Contact (IPOCs)
- Communities of Practice workshops, where school staff could learn from one another and build capacity
- Creative and equity-centered family engagement strategies to address vaccine hesitancy
- Training and resources tailored to the unique needs of each school
- Ongoing alignment with OSSE and DC Health guidance
They also helped schools understand how to use immunization data systems, which allowed for transforming raw data into actionable plans. Perhaps most importantly, they worked alongside schools as thought partners, helping to create a culture of proactive health compliance. By the end of the SY24-25, the data spoke volumes:
- More schools than ever reached 97% compliance
- Fewer schools had to submit additional exclusion data to OSSE
- The number of students at risk of exclusion dropped dramatically
While overall compliance outside exclusion grades still needs improvement, the focused, grade-specific approach proved highly effective. It demonstrated that schools progress most when supported, especially in navigating complex health requirements and engaging families.
Despite these successes, there’s more work to be done. Here’s why continued investment in this model matters:
- DC remains below herd immunity for measles
- Vaccine hesitancy is growing, with some families pushing back
- The DC Health School Health Services Program is in transition
- It will take until SY29-30 for all student cohorts to pass through an exclusion grade
The proven success of this model shows potential for broader school health initiatives, including:
- Emergency preparedness (e.g., cardiac events)
- Managing undesignated medication policies
- Addressing chronic absenteeism linked to health issues
In a time when public health and education are more intertwined than ever, DC’s Public Charter Schools are showing what’s possible when strategic partnerships and expert guidance come together.
With continued investment and shared commitment, we can build stronger, healthier schools, one immunization record at a time.
Note: School Health Consultants Sharon Bostic and Diana Bruce contributed to this blog.