[Link to Equal Employment Opportunity Project] [Link to Fair Housing Project] [Link to Public Accomodations Project] [Link to Disability Rights Project] [Link to DC Prisoners' Rights Project]
[Link to Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project] [Link to Derechos de los Inmigrantes y Refugiados] [Link to Public Education Project] [Link to Special Projects]
[Link to History] [Link to How You Can Help]

PUBLIC EDUCATION PROJECT

The Public Education Project, the District of Columbia's major link between D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) and the legal community, has pressed for real change and educational improvement in D.C. schools for over twenty years. Project activities empower parents and other citizens with the necessary tools - information, advocacy skills, organization - to participate effectively in public education and the reforms that are critical to making D.C. Public Schools effective. Drawing on past experience, the Washington Lawyers' Committee knows that the advocacy and organizational skills possessed by lawyers and the experience and knowledge of the Project staff can work to accomplish the goals of parents, children and schools. The Public Education Project promotes this involvement through two distinct but complementary components: the Public Education Reform Project and the D.C. Public School Partnerships Project.

 

REPORT

D.C. Public School Funding: Myth & Reality


 A Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools Civic Leader
Advisory Committee Report

[Click here to download - PDF]


DC HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS REPORT
Unlevel Playing Field Report 2008

Unlevel Playing Field 2003

Unlevel Playing Field 2002

Unlevel Playing Field 2001

REPORT
Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools Releases Special Report:


Separate and Unequal, the State of the D.C. Public Schools Fifty Years after Brown and Bolling

[click here to read report]

Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools Releases Report: Leaving Children Behind: The Underfunding of D.C. Public Schools Building Repair and Capital Budget Needs

[Click Here To Read Report]

 [Download Report -- PDF Format]

School by School, Child by Child
A handbook on launching and growing law firm/public school partnerships.
For more information, please contact Iris_Toyer@washlaw.org
or (202) 319-1000.
  
School Partnership Handbook
HANDBOOK CONTENTS
·
 Handbook, Pages 1-25 [PDF 1.13 MB]
·
 Overview of Law Firms' Partnership
Activities, Pages 26-27
[PDF 70.5 KB] [MS Word]
·
 Partnership Contact Information,
Pages 28-30 [HTML]
·
 Sample Forms, Pages 31-34 [MS Word]
   

PUBLIC EDUCATION

REFORM PROJECT

Mary Levy, Project Director

The Public Education Reform Project is the Washington Lawyers' Committee's link to the reform initiatives currently underway in the D.C. Public Schools (DCPS). Project staff studies and reports on DCPS, and

has participated intensively in formulating and developing the plans and some of the legislation under which DCPS is now working.The Project is active in: 

  • Collaborating with school officials, D.C. government officials, parents, and community activists in supporting implementation of school reform 
  • Providing independent and reliable basic information, data, and analysis about D.C. Public Schools
  • Acting as a source of technical assistance, data, and information for education reform activities led by others, including DCPS, the recently formed District Community Voices Organized and Informed for Change in Education (DC VOICE), the D.C. Council, and parent and community organizations 
  • Pursuing litigation periodically to improve public education services in the District 
  • Applying its expertise in school finance to drafting a per pupil formula for funding the District's public schools, a collaborative effort among District officials and community representatives

If you are a D.C.-area attorney interested in learning more about the Public Education Reform Project, or in volunteering for the Washington Lawyers' Committee, please e-mail the Project at WLC@washlaw.org or call 202-319-1000.

D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOL

     PARTNERSHIPS PROJECT

Iris J. Toyer, Project Director


The D.C. Public School Partnerships Project seeks to bring lawyers into public education by creating lasting partnerships between volunteer law firms and individual D.C. public schools (DCPS). Using the Committee's extensive network of volunteer law firms, D.C. Public School Partnerships Project facilitates new partnerships and supports the partnerships and acts as a clearinghouse and advisor on partnership activities. The staff keeps firms abreast of legislation, DCPS initiatives, and policy changes affecting school operations through regular meetings of law firm representatives and the publication of its newsletter, Partners Unlimited Bulletin Board.

The partnerships bring firms into schools to provide multiple resources, especially tutoring, mentoring, and peer mediation programs. They offer a variety of other resources as well, including: technology training for students and school staff, minor facilities repairs, computer networking or support, fundraising support, summer jobs for students, and field trips. 

D.C. Public School Partnerships Project has established a matching funds mini-grant program to provide financial resources to the organized parent groups at the partner schools to enhance parent advocacy and to support enrichment programs for students. It is an opportunity for the law firms and parents to work together to accomplish school improvement activities and to bring these stakeholders together to work on shared goals.

If your DC - area firm or organization is interested in establishing a partnership with a D.C. public school or in volunteering for the Washington Lawyers' Committee, please e-mail the Project or call 202-319-1000. The Project offers ideas for partnership activities and for getting started.
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