Team:

As many of you head out for a well-deserved summer break, I want to share some very exciting news. For a second consecutive year, DSST Public Schools has been named one of the top three charter networks in the country by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. In an announcement this morning, the Alliance and the Broad Foundation selected DSST, as well as Achievement First and Uncommon Schools, as the three finalists for the 2018 Broad Prize – a prestigious award in recognition of work to help students achieve significant academic gains and college readiness, particularly among low-income students and students of color.

The $250,000 award must be used for college-readiness efforts. A 10-member board of national education experts reviewed publicly available student performance data from 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years for 41 of the country’s largest public charter management systems. The review board considered student outcomes, college-readiness indicators, scalability, size, poverty, special education results, and demographics. DSST Public Schools was named a finalist for the first time in 2017, and we are honored to be named a finalist again this year.

This year, Achievement First and Uncommon Schools join us as finalists for the prize. These networks are giants in our work. They have been national leaders and innovators in public education for the past 20 years. We are humbled to be considered alongside them as one of the top three charter networks in the country.

This recognition is because of you. It is a reflection of the sustained and extraordinary excellence of our students, our teachers, staff and leaders. A world-class education is not only possible for all students, but should be the norm for all students in our country. You live this mission, and your work is being recognized across the country.

Thank you for you work, your time, your commitment.  

The winner will be announced on the morning of June 18th. We will, of course, keep you posted.

In gratitude,