We're here to help you!
Need help? The Critical Response Team (CRT) is here!
We work one-on-one with you to help resolve concerns with DC Public Schools. Whether you're a parent, student, teacher, community member, or just interested in DC Public Schools, we're here to serve you.
We're happy to answer your questions, hear your concerns, or just receive feedback from you about DC Public Schools. The CRT reports directly to Chancellor Henderson with what you have to say!
There are two ways to reach us:
- Send us a message
- Call the CRT Hotline at (202) 478-5738. Our phone line is staffed by real people empowered to give you real answers. We're available Monday through Friday, from 8:30AM to 5:30PM.
Remember, your first and best source of information is always the school-based staff. Please do not hesitate to contact your school's principal or other school-based staff for help.
If you still have questions after talking to the school staff, please contact us.
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How do I talk to a real person about my concerns?
The CRT Hotline at (202) 478-5738 is staffed by real people empowered to give you real answers. CRT staff have often served previously in the classroom, and are trained to ensure that difficult issues are being presented clearly and understandably.
We're available from 8:30AM to 5:30PM Monday through Friday.
We can only help you if you call us!
Or, send us a message, and we'll schedule a time to talk over the phone.
We're looking forward to hearing from you.
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How do I find my student's in-boundary school?
Finding your student’s in-boundary school (also called the "neighborhood school") is easy by using our School Profiles tool.
You should enter the address of your primary residence in the field marked "Enter your address to find", and select "In-boundary school." (Please note that primary residence is verified by proving residency at that address. Additional information about proving residency is available here.
Students are guaranteed a seat at their in-boundary school in grades Kindergarten through 12. Please note that students are not guaranteed a seat at their assigned school for Pre-School or Pre-Kindergarten. Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten seats are primarily assigned to students through the Pre-School & Pre-Kindergarten Lottery.
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Are there still seats available for Preschool and Pre-K for 2012-2013?
At this time, there are no seats available for Preschool or Pre-K. If you are interested in hearing more from our Early Childhood Education Team, please submit your information here. You will contacted in the event a seat becomes available.
If you were unable to obtain a Pre-School or Pre-Kindergarten seat for this school year, we encourage you to participate in the 2013-2014 PS/PK Lottery. Please check the DCPS website in January for more information.
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What’s a good online resource for parents to use to find more information about schools?
Visit our school profile page that has information about each DCPS school and allows you to compare information about schools.
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What is "The Lottery"?
The "Lottery" can mean two things: the Pre-School/Pre-Kindergarten Lottery OR the K-12 Out-of-Boundary Lottery.
Parents or guardians may submit one application per student to enter the lottery. The lottery application is completed entirely online. There are no paper applications for the lottery.
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When does the 2013-2014 Lottery begin?
The Pre-School/Pre-Kindergarten and Out-of-Boundary Lottery for School Year 2013-2014 (the school year beginning in August, 2013) will open on Monday, January 28, 2013 and close on Monday, February 25, 2013.
Families interested in participating in the lottery must submit an application online no later than February 25th.
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What is the K-12 Out-of-Boundary Lottery?
The K-12 Out-of-Boundary Lottery is an opportunity for parents to apply for available seats at a school other than their child's assigned school(s). (Your assigned school(s) is often called your "neighborhood school" or "in-boundary school.")
The K-12 Out-of-Boundary Lottery will begin on January 28, 2013 and end on February 25, 2013. More specific information will be posted as the Lottery approaches.
The application will be completed entirely online; there are no paper applications. Parents will be able to select up to six schools through the application; results of the lottery will be posted online in early March and mailed home to parents during the first week of April.
The K-12 Out-of-Boundary Lottery is the single best way to ensure that, as a parent, you have choice in determining where your student is enrolled. Please contact the Critical Response Team with questions at (202) 478-5738.
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What is the Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten Lottery?
The Pre-School & Pre-Kindergarten Lottery is the method through which DCPS allocates its Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten seats. Last year we offered over 5,600 seats in 84 schools throughout the District and will be offering a similar program for the 2012-2013 School Year.
DCPS does not guarantee seats for Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten. Seats will be filled first through the Pre-School & Pre-Kindergarten Lottery; any remaining seats will be filled via waiting lists. In case of programs that do not have waiting lists following the completion of the lottery, seats will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Participating in the Pre-School & Pre-Kindergarten Lottery is the best opportunity to find your student a seat in Pre-School or Pre-Kindergarten. Unlike grades K-12, parents are not guaranteed a seat, even at your assigned school (often called your "neighborhood" or "in-boundary" school.)
The Pre-School & Pre-Kindergarten Lottery will begin on January 28, 2013 and end on February 25, 2013. The application will be completed entirely online; there are no paper applications. Parents will be able to select up to six schools through the application; results of the lottery will be posted online in early March and mailed home to parents during the first week of April.
Please contact the Critical Response Team with questions at (202) 478-5738.
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How old does my student have to be to be eligible for Pre-School? For Pre-Kindergarten?
Per DC Municipal Regulations, parents may only enroll students in Pre-School if they are three years old by September 30, 2012.
Per DC Municipal Regulations, parents may only enroll students in Pre-Kindergarten if they are four years old by September 30, 2012.
Regrettably, DCPS is unable to provide any exceptions.
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What resources are available to help parents understand the lottery and enrollment process?
The Critical Response Team is ready to assist parents on a one-on-one basis when it comes to understanding the lottery process. We want to "personalize" enrollment so parents can be assured that their students are being placed in the right setting for them.
This personalized help session includes assistance in navigating DCPS online resources, referrals to school administrators, and the chance to find out about new and emerging programs. If you have questions regarding the lottery or enrollment in a DCPS school, please contact the Critical Response Team at 202-478-5738.
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Are students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) eligible to participate in the lottery?
Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are eligible to participate in the lottery. For students with IEPs, an additional review may be performed to ensure that the destination school is able to fully meet the needs of the IEP.
If you have questions regarding your child’s specific program, please contact the Office of Special Education at 202-442-4800.
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What are the options for students who are 18+ and/or in need of credit recovery?
The Student Placement Office provides assistance to residents between the ages of 15-22 years old seeking secondary educational options who are new to the District of Columbia, transitioning from other local schools, as well as at-risk youth. For more information, please call Faria Sellars-Stafford at (202)939-2004.
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How do I prove my residency in the District of Columbia so I can enroll my student?
Proving where you live, also called "verifying residency," is a critical part of the enrollment process. Only residents of the District of Columbia are eligible to receive a free public education in the District. In fairness to that policy, all parents are required to verify residency. Normally, this will be done at the school during the enrollment process. All parents must verify residency prior to the start of school.
Please note that only the parent and/or legal guardian of a student may enroll that student in school. The parent and/or legal guardian must be the individual listed on any/all of the requested residency documents.
Please consult the following list to see which documents will be needed to verify residency.
Any two (2) of these documents:
- District of Columbia-issued Driver's License or non-driver's identification, displaying your name and current address;
- Lease or rental agreement, displaying your name and current address, with a payment receipt for a period within 2 months;
- Utility (gas, electric, water) bill, displaying your name and current address, with a payment receipt for a period within 2 months; and/or
- DC Vehicle Registration, displaying your name and current address.
You may also use any one (1) of these documents:
- A pay stub showing DC tax withholdings, displaying your name and current address;
- Proof of financial assistance (i.e. TANF, Medicare, SCHIP, Housing, etc.) issued within the past 12 months, displaying your name and current address;
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income) annual benefits notification; issued within the past 12 months, displaying your name and current address;
- Official military housing orders, displaying your name and current address;
- Proof child is a ward of the District of Columbia; or
- Embassy letter, dated April 1, 2012 or later.
If parents have additional questions or concerns about proving residency, please contact the DCPS Residency Office at (202) 442-5215.
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I would like to report an incident or share feedback about a school. Who should I speak with?
DC Public Schools welcomes feedback from students, parents, teachers and community members.
Step 1: Contact the school principal.
If you would like to report an incident or share feedback about activities in a school, please contact the school principal. The school principal is aware of the day-to-day activities in our schools. He or she should be your first contact when sharing feedback.
Step 2: Contact the school’s cluster instructional superintendent.
Cluster superintendents oversee the activities at multiple DCPS schools. Each superintendent works closely with the principals of the schools in their cluster.
Step 3: Contact the Critical Response Team.
If you would like to share additional feedback or discuss an incident after speaking with a school principal and cluster superintendent, please contact the Critical Response Team (CRT) at:
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My student is receiving special education and I have a question about his or her Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Who should I speak with?
Step 1: Contact your student’s special education coordinator.
For questions about your student’s IEP, please contact his or her special education coordinator (SEC).
Step 2: Contact your student’s school principal.
If you are still in need of guidance after speaking with the SEC, please contact the school principal.
Step 3: Contact the Office of Special Education at 202-442-4800.
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What is DC CAS?
The District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS) assesses students on reading and math in grades 3-8 and 10, science in grades 5 and 8, biology in high school, and composition in grades 4, 7, and 10.
While DCPS oversees the administration of the test, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is responsible for the overall management of the assessment for all schools in DC. For more information, please visit the OSSE website.
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How will DC CAS affect my student?
DC CAS is used to track the progress of DCPS students and does not affect your student’s ability to graduate to the next grade level, nor does it affect their class grades.
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My student has an IEP. Will he or she be participating in DC CAS?
Students with severe cognitive disabilities take the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System – Alternate Assessment (DC CAS-ALT). For more information about which test your student may take, please contact your school’s Special Education Coordinator.
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What is the DCPS High School Online Application?
The DCPS High School Online Application is an online, web-based, application that incoming 9th and 10th students will use to apply to Specialized Citywide High Schools for the 2013-2014 school-year. he DCPS High School Online Application allows students to submit “common” information required by all schools only once, for all schools for which they wish to apply.
The deadline for the 2013-2014 Online High School Application has passed.
For updates regarding your application, please continue to check the DCPS website or sign up to receive email notifications. For any questions, please contact the Critical Response Team at (202) 478-5738.
To learn more about the online application, please contact the Critical Response Team at 202-478-5738.
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How can I request a copy of my high school transcript?
If the high school you attended is still in operation, please contact the high school registrar.
If the high school you attended is now CLOSED, please contact the Critical Response Team at (202) 478-5738 or send us a message. The CRT will work with you to locate your records and ensure that a duplicate is mailed to you.
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How can I request a duplicate copy of my high school diploma?
If you graduated from high school after 1999, please contact the high school registrar. The registrar will verify your graduation date, initiate the creation of a duplicate diploma and ensure that it is mailed to you.
If you graduated from a high school that is now CLOSED, please contact the Critical Response Team at (202) 478-5738 or send us a message. The CRT will work with you to locate your records and assist you in requesting a duplicate diploma.
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Still need help?
One thing we've learned is that not all questions fit into neat little boxes!
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Critical Response Team at (202) 478-5738. Real people are available to provide real answers from 8:30AM to 5:30PM, Monday through Friday.
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