Have a GREAT School Year! 📚

Parent leaders share their hopes for the school year!

Today, DC Public Schools and many public charter schools will return to school - if they haven’t already!

Ahead of the new school year, PAVE parent leaders shared their hopes, visions, and concerns for their kids.

Christine Miller, Citywide PLE and Ward 1 PLE Board member

"I am excited! It is like a fresh start and especially this year, I think we all need a fresh start. Last school year felt like we were just getting our feet back in the water. I feel like this is the year where I can finally reclaim some of that lost time and experiences, and having the opportunity to go back into the schools is going to be huge. In my experience, there was a severe disconnect between school and family, largely due to the pandemic. It’s imperative that we start off strong this school year by providing strong mental health support and prioritize community engagement. Schools will have to work hard to rebuild their relationships with families. I feel like the District has made a lot of progress, but there is more work to be done."

Dominique Moore, Citywide PLE and Ward 4 PLE Board member

"I hope this year is kind to our babies, the teachers, administrators, and all the amazing people who show up and show out for children year after year! My biggest fear is that the inequities will continue to grow, leaving our babies even more systematically disadvantaged. I want to see all children and families having access to a quality education system regardless of race or socioeconomic status."

Kevin Waller, Ward 5 PAVE parent leader

"I am excited to see my children start their senior year of high school. I want to see them continue to grow and excel academically and socially. I want the schools to have all the necessary protocols to provide a safe and nurturing environment for all students."

Cassandra Gentry, Citywide PLE and Ward 6 PLE Board member

"I think it is going to be really important to focus on the social needs of children. I know schools are going to feel pressure to make up for the learning lost from the past two years. We can do that, I think, if we meet kids where they are now, and strengthen them there. Schools also need to put more energy into responding to their social emotional needs. I know there are some schools that have social emotional learning as part of their curriculum. That is important for all schools, to bring kids back and reteach them how to engage and interact with their peers. They have been distanced for so long, those skills are important to rebuild. Finally, families need good communication from schools. We need to know what's going on and how we can support our children."

Charline Smith-Johnson, Ward 7 PAVE parent leader

"I have several concerns with my kids going back to school. COVID-19 is still a big concern, specifically the cleanliness of the buildings and information sharing. Last year, I felt that I did not receive information about outbreaks in the school until much later. Due to this experience last year, I felt apprehensive about sending my sons back to school, but my sons want to be back in school and socializing with their friends. I am allowing them to return, but I think it is very important that the lines of communication remain open. It is imperative that parents are informed about outbreaks of any kind. We deserve to know if our children are at risk of exposure."

Sondra, Ward 8 PAVE parent leader

I am a parent of an eager, incoming 7th grader at an all girls school. Going into the new school year, I am concerned my daughter's school environment is not the safe space it is expected to be. School should be a safe haven but sometimes it’s not and I am concerned about bullying. My daughter was bullied last year so my goal this year is to have a good repore with her teachers to stay informed on my daughter’s social emotional and academic experiences.

One thing that will never change is that PAVE will be here to support DC families.

Use this guide to find out what the vaccine requirements are for all students upon returning to school.
Families with students who qualify for free and reduced lunch will need to reapply - here is information about that process!
Find information about before and after school programs at Learn24.dc.gov.
Out-of-School Time (OST) scholarships from $1,000 to $10,000 are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more, here.
DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) program registration is OPEN now! Click here for registration and to explore the DPR programs offered this fall!