Public education will never be the same.
Years of targeted innovation
Raised from the philanthropic community
The fastest improving urban district in the last decade.
Sometimes, having a real impact means reimagining what’s possible.
We raise major start-up capital to test and scale bold ideas for DC Public Schools.
It’s time to challenge the status quo.
The future of public education won’t design itself.
Current Initiatives
Let’s build a legacy of innovation.
Capital Math Collective
The Capital Math Collective is a public-private partnership to accelerate math outcomes for students across the District. Coordinated by the DC Public Education Fund, the DC Math Hub, and CitySchools Collaborative, and building on the work of the OSSE Math Task Force, this project focuses on boosting math achievement for all students across DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools.
Civics & Social Studies
In 2026, DCPS and DCPEF launched an initiative to strengthen civics and social studies education for students growing up at the center of American democracy. Building on DCPS’s inquiry-based 6-12 curriculum and its mandatory 8th grade Action Civics course, the work connects students to real civic experiences, from presenting community projects to DC policymakers to visiting the city’s civic institutions, with a focus on students in Wards 5, 7, and 8.
DCPS Reading Clinic
The DCPS Reading Clinic launched in 2018 to meet two critical needs at once: offering intense, one-on-one decoding sessions for DCPS’ most struggling readers, and providing clinical apprenticeships for DCPS educators to become literacy experts. The Clinic now operates in three locations across the city.
Beyond the Bell
Beyond the Bell enriches the middle school experience for DC Public School students by expanding access to youth sports, clubs, and immersive activities. Aligned with DCPS’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, this initiative helps students grow, connect, and thrive by doubling afterschool enrichment opportunities and boosting students’ sense of belonging.
Banneker Bound
Since 2020, the Banneker Bound Grant has supported Benjamin Banneker Academic High School’s commitment to academic excellence and equity by investing in AP and IB teacher training, curricular materials, SAT preparation, dual enrollment, and family engagement. Over that time, the share of AP students earning qualifying scores has risen from 47% to 79%, and in 2026, 95% of IB diploma candidates earned the full diploma, the highest rate in program history.
High School Redesign
In February 2022, DCPS and XQ launched “DC+XQ”, a multi-year partnership to reimagine the high school experience in the nation’s capital. This community-led initiative brings together teachers, families, students, and community members to imagine what’s possible for DCPS’ high school students.
Equity Centered Principal Pipeline
DCPS works in partnership with Universities and Community Organizations leaders to create, design, and implement an equity-centered leadership pipeline where educators and the students they serve feel loved, challenged, and make an impact on Washington D.C. and the world at-large.
DCPS Persists
DCPS Persists is the first college completion initiative ever led by a traditional public school district in the country. For the first time, DCPS is providing college-bound students with a support network to help them succeed and complete college.
Dual Language
In 2024, the DCPS Language Learning Team launched a multi-year effort to expand and strengthen dual language programming across the district, guided by a vision that every DCPS student has access to high-quality language learning that leads to advanced proficiency and the Seal of Biliteracy.
Opportunity Academy Earn & Learn
In 2024, DCPS launched the Opportunity Academy (OA) Earn and Learn program, a healthcare career pathway for students at DCPS’s alternative high school campuses, many of whom are working to re-engage with school while balancing work, caregiving, and other responsibilities. In partnership with the University of the District of Columbia, students build employability skills, earn industry credentials like CPR certification, and prepare for entry into a phlebotomy certification program, with coursework ongoing.
Featured updates, news and stories
Quarterly Newsletter | DC Ed Fund
EmpowerK12: DC Students Post a Fourth Straight Year of Gains on the 2026 State Assessments
What We’re Learning: How DCPS Cut the Share of Below Grade-Level Readers in Half by Investing in Teachers
Quarterly Newsletter | DC Ed Fund
What We’re Learning: How Strategic Investments Expand What’s Possible for Students
