Impact
Bold experiments.
Lasting results.
DC Ed Fund backs cutting-edge initiatives with the potential to generate systemic change. Our investments have transformed DCPS into the fastest-improving urban school district in the last decade.
Our founding
The DC Public Education Fund was founded in 2007 to help DC Public Schools address its most pressing challenges through organized philanthropy.
Pursuing excellence
Our first investment fund raised $65M to support IMPACTplus, the nation’s first performance and compensation system to attract, evaluate, and incentivize the highest performing educators.
Student experience
We expanded our efforts to address what students were learning in their classrooms. The Cornerstones initiative introduced the city’s first curriculum strategy stacked with powerful lessons and experiences, all in pursuit of closing the opportunity gap.
Expanding our vision
Since the beginning, we have raised over $200M in seed capital to launch a series of new start-up initiatives that continue to raise the bar for what’s possible in public education.
Proof of concept
Today, DCPS still holds the title of being the nation’s fastest-improving urban school district, much of it accelerated by DC Ed Fund-supported investments.
Targeted investments to achieve DCPS’ most ambitious goals.
Standing Ovation
Standing Ovation was designed as a way to honor the achievements of DCPS’ top teachers, leaders, and school communities. For more than ten years, this unique DC tradition has played a critical role in elevating the teaching profession and celebrating what’s working in urban education.
Bard High School Early College DC (Bard DC)
Bard DC is a four-year public high school that offers students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma, up to 60 transferable college credits, and an associate in arts degree from Bard College. As the first stand alone early college high school East of the River, Bard DC is moving the finish line for students motivated by getting an early start to college.
Check it outEnrollment increase since SY 2019
Bard DC on-time cohort graduation rate in 2021 and 2022.
Bard students who have earned associates degree by high school graduation in class of 2022, saving an average of $92k/student in college credit costs.
Learning Together to Advance our Practice (LEAP)
LEAP built on the early success of IMPACTplus taking the quality of instruction from good to great. At the core, LEAP is about helping teachers become true subject-matter experts so that every student across the city experiences rich, engaging, and challenging instruction every day. Teachers engage in intense, weekly cycles of development in small content-specific professional learning communities in their buildings.
Check it outLEAP leaders enrolled annually
Seminars completed since launch
Coaching sessions completed since launch
Cornerstones
Cornerstones introduced high-quality, powerful lessons and student experiences across every grade, every ward, and every content area including ELA, math, science, social studies, art, health, PE, and world languages.
Check it outCornerstone experiences designed and implemented
Number of 2nd graders to-date that have learned how to ride a bike
Number of students nationwide who have experienced Cornerstones