Since 2017, the D.C. Policy Center’s Education Policy Initiative has brought objective analyses to education conversations in the District of Columbia. The Education Policy Initiative’s research reflects the D.C. Policy Center’s broad urban policy perspective, making our work unique in the education research space.
We recognize that public schools factor into where families want to live; how public schools mix students from different backgrounds can increase opportunities (or amplify inequities); schools can shape neighborhoods, and vice versa, even in a unified school district with a great degree of choice; and that schools can alter how employers perceive the local workforce. Thinking of the public school system through this urban policy lens is important because it focuses the policymakers on what local laws and policies can do to bring about change.
Throughout our work, we highlight inequities in education, and how these tie to other areas such as housing and workforce policies. We seek to bring new data and information to help improve outcomes for D.C.’s students, especially those students furthest from opportunity.
D.C. released the PARCC statewide assessment results for school year 2022-23. The results shed light on academic recovery, which was a key focus for the District during school year 2022-23—and that recovery, in terms of learning, is off to a good start. But digging deeper reveals large differences in the results between elementary, middle, and high schoolers.
Our D.C. Voices series elevates front-line perspectives, including government officials, practitioners, and community members.
D.C. released the PARCC statewide assessment results for school year 2022-23. The results shed light on academic recovery, which was a key focus for the District during school year 2022-23—and …
DC teacher and principal salaries are both higher than the national average and surrounding areas with the exception of New York City. The National Teacher and Principal Surveys uses representative …
On June 7, 2023, Director of Policy and Research Emilia Calma testified during the Committee of the Whole Public Hearing on the provision of out of school time (OST) programs, …
In D.C., many adults lack a high school diploma, and most jobs require some postsecondary education. Thus, career and education support for adult learners is incredibly important. While workforce training …
My School DC has released the results of the 2023 common lottery, which matches students who newly enroll in pre-kindergarten, at a public charter school, or at a District of …
Out-of-school time (OST) programs, such as afterschool and summer programs, are important to many families the District of Columbia. Based on our analyses of where students live and go to …
Charts of the week are published every week in the D.C. Policy Center’s email newsletter. In addition to content created across the organization, the EPI team creates education-specific charts to illustrate relevant data.
Leave a voicemail for the Education Policy Initiative at (202) 223-2233, email us at contact@dcpolicycenter.org, or click any individual staff member for their email address.
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Now in years 5 and 6 of its work, the Education Policy Initiative’s current two-year research agenda examines how D.C.’s public schools create opportunity through progress into upper grades and transitioning to workforce.
Hear from EPI experts and dig into our research at virtual and in-person events.
EPI experts are often interviewed and our research is frequently highlighted by the press.
These staff members are at the core of the Education Policy Initiative.
Our research is guided by a group of education researchers with deep knowledge of D.C.’s public schools and public school choice.
Matt Chingos
Urban Institute
Nora Gordon
Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy
Arthur McKee
CityBridge Education
Taylor White
New America
Jon Valant
Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institute
The D.C. Policy Center created the Education Policy Initiative in October of 2017 to focus on the intersection of education and demographics in D.C. Our Education Policy Initiative is supported by generous grants from Education Forward DC and the Walton Family Foundation.
