These reports ensure that public charter schools operating residential programs provide a secure living environment that protects the health and safety of all students, as required by DC Code § 38–1802.04(c)(4). Residential programs are visited annually and consist of:
An interview with the personnel directly responsible for the residential programming and facility
A walkthrough of the school's residentials building(s)
The School Reform Act (SRA) requires that DC PCSB revoke the charter of any public charter school that (1) has engaged in a pattern of nonadherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); (2) has engaged in a pattern of fiscal mismanagement; and/or (3) is no longer economically viable. Further, each DC public charter school is required to conduct annually a thorough audit of its finances and operations. Schools must choose a third-party auditor from a list of auditors approved by DC PCSB, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). DC PCSB, with support and counsel from OCFO and OSSE, analyzes and summarizes the information in these audits to produce the Financial Analysis Report (FAR), which presents consistent and transparent information about DC public charter schools’ finances and operations.
This policy explains the process by which DC PCSB will review charter amendment petitions pertaining to enrollment ceiling increases (ECI), grades served, and replications. School expansions are difficult to execute effectively and have citywide impact. Accordingly, this policy establishes a high bar for approving expansion requests, thereby limiting growth opportunities to schools demonstrating capacity to successfully implement the plan and sustain positive outcomes for students.
Each year, DC PCSB assesses the finances and operations of DC public charter schools. These reviews evaluate how well schools manage their finances. High-performing schools ensure they have sufficient funds for the year and contingencies. For low-rated schools, the School Finance Team collaborates with leadership to discuss ways that ensure solvency. Additionally, detailed financial information, including budgets, fiscal audits, and 990s, is published for each school.
The number of students enrolled in public schools in Washington, DC in the 2024-25 school year increased slightly compared to 2023-24 enrollment, with 99,652 students enrolled in District public and public charter schools according to preliminary data released by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).