DC Prep board approves negotiating Aspire accountability measures with PCSB
February 01, 2025 | DC Prep PCS, School Boards, District of Columbia
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DC Prep PCS trustees voted to authorize staff to negotiate selected school-specific performance measures with the Public Charter School Board (PCSB) under the new Aspire accountability framework, the board decided after a discussion of proposed metrics for middle and elementary schools.
Hillary, a DC Prep staff member leading the Aspire work, told trustees the new Aspire system replaces the district’s pre-COVID performance management framework and will weigh 90% state and system metrics and 10% school-selected measures. “It is 10% of our score, and we have to select 2 different measures,” Hillary said, adding that each measure will count for 5 percentage points of the school-specific portion.
The board’s negotiated priorities for middle schools include algebra 1 enrollment (and participation in the Algebra 1 state assessment) as a measure of equitable access and a growth measure—median growth percentile in math across grades 6–8—for students identified as "at risk." For elementary schools the staff recommended a K–2 math growth metric (NWEA/MAP growth percentile) and reenrollment rate for students who remain in the District of Columbia. Hillary described algebra 1 participation as “something that showcases the rigor of our program” and said DC Prep is “the only school where all students take the Algebra 1 test,” a point staff want to use both for accountability and recruitment.
Board members asked for clarification on technical definitions. Hillary and other staff explained that “median growth percentile” is a relative growth measure (a student-level growth percentile aggregated to a school median) and that PCSB’s business rules set the exact thresholds for earning partial or full points (a typical range is a 30–70 band for growth). The board also asked staff to provide clearer explanatory materials about growth calculations for the PCSB negotiation.
On a motion identified in the record as Terry’s motion to authorize staff to pursue negotiations with PCSB on the proposed metrics, the board voted in favor; the motion carried. Trustees asked staff to return with final details after negotiations and additional explanatory material for the board and for families.
The decision does not finalize the metrics; it authorizes DC Prep staff to negotiate with PCSB within the set of options discussed and return with the negotiated language and any required business rules. Staff said they would pursue definitions that are quantifiable and provable under PCSB rules and would report back to the board after negotiations.
Ending: Trustees and staff signaled the next step will be a follow-up report after negotiations with PCSB, and staff said they will provide clearer explanatory language about growth metrics for board review.
Hillary, a DC Prep staff member leading the Aspire work, told trustees the new Aspire system replaces the district’s pre-COVID performance management framework and will weigh 90% state and system metrics and 10% school-selected measures. “It is 10% of our score, and we have to select 2 different measures,” Hillary said, adding that each measure will count for 5 percentage points of the school-specific portion.
The board’s negotiated priorities for middle schools include algebra 1 enrollment (and participation in the Algebra 1 state assessment) as a measure of equitable access and a growth measure—median growth percentile in math across grades 6–8—for students identified as "at risk." For elementary schools the staff recommended a K–2 math growth metric (NWEA/MAP growth percentile) and reenrollment rate for students who remain in the District of Columbia. Hillary described algebra 1 participation as “something that showcases the rigor of our program” and said DC Prep is “the only school where all students take the Algebra 1 test,” a point staff want to use both for accountability and recruitment.
Board members asked for clarification on technical definitions. Hillary and other staff explained that “median growth percentile” is a relative growth measure (a student-level growth percentile aggregated to a school median) and that PCSB’s business rules set the exact thresholds for earning partial or full points (a typical range is a 30–70 band for growth). The board also asked staff to provide clearer explanatory materials about growth calculations for the PCSB negotiation.
On a motion identified in the record as Terry’s motion to authorize staff to pursue negotiations with PCSB on the proposed metrics, the board voted in favor; the motion carried. Trustees asked staff to return with final details after negotiations and additional explanatory material for the board and for families.
The decision does not finalize the metrics; it authorizes DC Prep staff to negotiate with PCSB within the set of options discussed and return with the negotiated language and any required business rules. Staff said they would pursue definitions that are quantifiable and provable under PCSB rules and would report back to the board after negotiations.
Ending: Trustees and staff signaled the next step will be a follow-up report after negotiations with PCSB, and staff said they will provide clearer explanatory language about growth metrics for board review.
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