Past Events

DC Public Education Learning Series

DC Public Education Learning Tours: Technology-based Learning Models
May 9, 2012

The role that technology can and should play in the classroom has recently become a hotly-debated topic in education. This month’s tour focused on blended (also known as hybrid) learning, a term used to refer to a wide spectrum of academic models combining online and offline learning experiences.
Achievement Prep

Achievement Prep Community Day
May 5, 2012

Achievement Preparatory Academy (Achievement Prep), a public charter school serving 210 scholars east of the Anacostia River, is among the highest performing public schools in the city, according to 2011 DC-CAS scores. To spark new relationships with families and celebrate the East of the River Community, Achievement Prep hosted its inaugural Achievement Prep Community Day on Saturday, May 5 in Oxon Run Park.
Two Rivers

First Fridays: Two Rivers Public Charter School
May 4, 2012

April's First Friday tour explored Expeditionary Learning and 21st Century skills at Two Rivers Public Charter School.
DC Public Education Learning Series

DC Public Education Learning Series: Transformation In Our Schools: Driving Change in DCPS' Lowest-Performing Schools (Tour)
March 15, 2012

“If we turn around just the bottom 1 percent, the bottom thousand schools for the next five years, we could really move the needle, lift the bottom and change the lives of tens of millions of underserved children.” – US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (2009)

In recent years, a renewed sense of national urgency has placed a spotlight on the importance of transforming our chronically failing schools. This month’s EduTour examined approaches to school transformation within DC Public Schools (DCPS), where more than 50% of schools are currently in the most severe school improvement categories under No Child Left Behind.
The SEED School of Washington, DC

First Fridays: SEED School of Washington
March 2, 2012

The March First Friday tour spotlighted The SEED School of Washington, DC—the nation’s first and only free, public boarding school. Serving sixth through twelfth graders who live on campus Sunday through Friday, the Ward 7 school integrates an academic, extra-curricular and life-skills program into its college-preparatory curriculum.

DC Public Education Learning Series

DC Public Education Learning Series: Building Capacity in the Charter Sector (Tour)
February 15, 2012

Examined through the lens of a pilot initiative working to strengthen instructional capacity, February's EduTour focused on building capacity within the charter sector.
The Great Reset

CityBridge Book Club: The Great Reset
February 7, 2012

In "The Great Reset," Richard Florida describes what it will take to generate real recovery from the current economic crisis: technological innovation, a massive overhaul of our education system, major changes to where and the way we live, and new energy, transport, and communication infrastructure. He highlights DC as a flagship city where these trends are already emerging.
First Fridays MAPCS

First Fridays: Maya Angelou Public Charter School
February 3, 2012

The February First Friday's tour was held at Maya Angelou Public Charter School in Ward 7.
Teach Plus

Teach Plus' DC Launch
January 31, 2012

On January 31, Teach Plus announced the launch of their work in DC and introduced the first class of Teaching Policy Fellows with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Funder Roundtable

Funder Roundtable: Alternative Teacher Certification Programs
January 25, 2012

Focusing on alternative pathways to teacher certification, this Funder Roundatble exposed participants to national research on teacher effectiveness and provided an opportunity to explore three teacher preparation pipelines operating in the District of Columbia.
In the Deep Heart's Core

CityBridge Book Club: "In the Deep Heart's Core"
January 24, 2012

Participants in this session of CityBridge Book Club discussed "In the Deep Heart's Core," Senator Michael Johnston's memoir of his time as a Teach for America corps member serving in the Mississippi Delta.
DC Public Education Learning Series

DC Public Education Learning Series: Teacher Effectiveness (Tour)
December 7, 2011

December's DC Public Education Learning Tour focused on models for supporting our city's teachers.
Class Warfare

CityBridge Book Club: "Class Warfare"
December 6, 2011

Throughout the fall, CityBridge hosted a series of four Book Club discussions around Steven Brill's "Class Warfare."
Elsie Whitlow Stokes

First Fridays: Elsie Whitlow Stokes
December 2, 2011

Our December First Fridays tour was held at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School, a Pre-K through sixth grade elementary school in Ward 5, which offers a rigorous language immersion program and aims to civically engage all students.
Turnaround for Children

Turnaround for Children Site Visit
November 14, 2011

To highlight Turnaround for Children's work in DC, CityBridge and Turnaround convened a group of 20 education funders for a site visit at Wheatley Education Campus—one of three schools in Turnaround's DC Cohort.
Teach for America

Board Candidate Training with Teach For America Alumni
November 10, 2011

As a first step towards board service in the DC education sector, a cohort of twenty-three Teach For America alumni and education professionals participated in a day-long training designed to educate, inspire, and equip these talented individuals for charter or nonprofit board service.
E.L. Haynes

First Fridays: E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
November 4, 2011

The November First Friday visit brought this fall's tour series to the Kansas Avenue Campus of E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, which opened this past August to house its early childhood program and new high school.
DC Public Education Learning Series

DC Public Education Learning Series: Fostering Excellence in School Leadership (Tour)
October 26, 2011

In the first DC Public Education Learning Tour of the semester, participants explored the role that leadership teams play in creating a strong school environment.
Achievement Prep

First Fridays: Achievement Preparatory Academy
October 7, 2011

In this semester's inaugural First Fridays tour, participants visited one of the highest-performing middle schools in the city: Achievement Preparatory Academy ("Achievement Prep").
DC Public Education Learning Series

DC Public Education Learning Series: Opening Breakfast
September 21, 2011

Approximately 50 funders and members of the philanthropic community kicked off the 2011-12 DC Public Education Learning Series with a panel conversation featuring DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson, State Superintendent of Education Hosanna Mahaley, DC Public Charter School Member Darren Woodruff, and Deputy Mayor of Education De'Shawn Wright.
A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers

A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers
September 19, 2011

Each year, the DC Public Education Fund hosts "A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers" at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. On this special evening, DC community members, business leaders, and civic leaders gathered to applaud great DCPS teachers and celebrate their outstanding accomplishments.
Advisory Board Company

Presentation to Advisory Board Company: "Poverty is Not Destiny"
July 28, 2011

In response to firm-wide interest in the DC public education landscape, CityBridge presented "Poverty is Not Destiny" at Advisory Board Company.
Hopes and Dreams

Hopes and Dreams
June 30, 2011

Across the month of June, DC Public Schools collected "hopes and dreams" for our children and our schools.
E.L. Haynes

Strong Schools Award
June 8, 2011

Celebrating the Best of Education Reform: E.L. Haynes Public Charter School's Broader Impact
EduTour

DC Public Education Learning Tour Closing Breakfast
June 8, 2011

The DC Public Education Learning Tours culminated its second year with an end-of-school year breakfast on June 8. The breakfast was a chance for tour participants to celebrate and reflect on the year’s tours and deep dives.
KIPP

First Fridays: KIPP DC
June 3, 2011

For the last First Friday of the school year, participants explored KIPP DC, a network eight of high-performing college preparatory public charter schools that is dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for college and life success.
Standing Ovation Kick-Off

Standing Ovation Kick-Off
June 2, 2011

On June 2, 2011, friends, supporters, and sponsors of the DC Public Education Fund's "A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers" gathered at the home of Mrs. & Mr. Elizabeth and George Stevens, Jr., to kick-off the lead up to this year's event.
Deep Dive

Deep Dive: Parent Engagement
May 18, 2011

In this Deep Dive, Flamboyan Foundation led participants in an exploration of how family engagement can effectively drive student achievement.
Capital City PCS

First Fridays: Capital City Public Charter School
May 6, 2011

Participants in this First Fridays tour visited Capital City Public Charter School, an award-winning PreK-11 school that implements project-based learning and in-depth studies of real world topics through the Expeditionary Learning model of instruction.
Teach for America

Board Candidate Training with Teach For America
May 3, 2011

Twenty-six Teach For America alumni participated in CityBridge’s Board Candidate Training as a first step toward joining the board of a local charter school or education-focused nonprofit.
Whistling Vivaldi

CityBridge Book Club: "Whistling Vivaldi"
April 7, 2011

In Whistling Vivaldi, social psychologist Claude M. Steele explores the many (and surprising) ways that social stereotypes affect our lives. Steele uncovers the phenomenon of “stereotype threat,” whereby individuals confronted by a negative stereotype attached to their social identity underperform, ultimately confirming expectations. Tying the impact of stereotype threat to the achievement gap, Steele strategizes how to reduce its damaging effects.
AppleTree Early Learning PCS

First Fridays: AppleTree Early Learning PCS
April 1, 2011

DC public charter schools educate almost 40% of the city’s public school children – over 29,000 students across 90+ campuses. This visit at AppleTree Early Learning PCS will give participants a chance to explore a quality charter school that is serving some of DC’s youngest students.
EduTour

DC Public Education Learning Tour: Turnaround Challenge, Part II
March 16, 2011

Just as investors do not invest all their assets in one single product, neither should a school system look to make impact with one single approach to school improvement. The Partnership Schools project brings external partners who have had success in managing urban schools in to guide intensive interventions for select underperforming schools.
Thurgood Marshall Academy

First Fridays: Thurgood Marshall Academy
March 4, 2011

During this First Fridays tour—the second in the series—twenty participants ventured to Thurgood Marshall Academy, a law-themed charter high school located in Ward 8.
A Chance to Make History

CityBridge Book Club: "A Chance to Make History"
March 1, 2011

In her new book, Kopp—the founder of Teach for America—shows that we can provide children born into poverty with a transformational education and give them a shot at a better life. CityBridge's two book club sessions discussed Kopp's central messages and how Teach for America has shaped the human capital topic in our nation's schools.