What Happened?

The D.C. board that approves charter schools turned the two applications it received over the past five years. That is according to a Legis1 review of a report released last week. ​

The report, District of Columbia Charter Schools: Key Changes Made to Academic Accountability System, comes from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). It covers the D.C. Public Charter School Board (PCSB), the District's sole authority for chartering schools.

In the previous five-year review, covering 2016-2021, PCSB received 30 applications and approved 11. PCSB officials attributed the drop to a more rigorous application process, the report states. The changes include** that n**ew charters must "fill a demonstrated need."

Why Does it Matter to Me?

Almost one-half of District public-school students were enrolled in 133 charter schools during school year 2025-26, the report says. For those families, PCSB is the body that reviews new charter applications and monitors existing schools.

The District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995, as amended, requires PCSB to review and approve charter applications, monitor schools and submit annual reports on its work.

Since 2024, PCSB has also used a rating system called the Annual School Performance Index Report and Evaluation (ASPIRE). The report says ASPIRE "emphasizes school performance," and PCSB uses it to decide which schools need more monitoring or support.

If your child has a disability or is learning English, ASPIRE calculates performance measures for those student groups, rather than for all students combined.

Both Sides, Now

PCSB officials attribute the drop in applications to a tougher process, the report states. The board has not approved a new school in the last five years, and its own announcements show earlier rejections and a pause.

In April 2021, PCSB rejected four of five new-school applications, according to the board's announcement. In September 2021, it said it would not accept applications while it reconsidered its application and grade-expansion process, with a modified cycle to launch in 2023, according to the DC Public Charter School Board.

The authority sits with PCSB under the 1995 law. A separate law, the District of Columbia Appropriations Act of 2005, as amended, directs GAO to review the District's chartering authorities every five years.

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