In the heart of Washington D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser stirred up school spirit at Ida B. Wells Middle School with a High School Decision Day pep rally. It wasn't just pompoms and cheers—Bowser broke the news of a hefty $1.4 million in grants dedicated to summer programs, and a further $27.3 million for out-of-school time programming in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. "Today is an important celebration of our students and it is also a celebration of the many fantastic schools we have across DC," the Mayor rejoiced, as reported by the DC Government's official release.
The grant distribution is set to benefit 18 schools and nonprofit organizations through the Summer Strong DC initiative. Designed to provide children aged 5-18 with enriching summertime activities, the funds aim to directly support more than 1,600 students, adding to 109 already-funded organizations for year-round programming. In a compassionate move, the awardees were chosen with priority given to those planning to serve at-risk youth, students with disabilities, English Learners, and residents of certain wards according to the DC Government's official release.
For families eager to learn more, the Summer in the City event on April 6 at Raymond Elementary School offers a prime opportunity to connect with summer program providers. Parents and students can to get acquainted with a variety of activities, from academic enrichment to arts, and sports to cultural explorations, as detailed by the DC government's announcement. The event promises to be a one-stop-shop for summer planning.
Amidst the jubilation, the District unleashed the much-awaited My School DC lottery results for the 2024-25 school year. To secure their spots, families are to officially enroll at matched schools by May 1. A staggering 72% of applicants—over 23,000 students—received offers from their preferred schools. With the My School DC system entering its 11th year, it has greatly simplified the complex dance of public school applications, now providing a lifeline to those seeking specialized and engaging educational experiences for their kids. The My School DC hotline stands ready to to offer assistance to families navigating through matches and enrollment procedures. For more information, families can reach out to MySchoolDC.org or dial in for support at (202) 888-6336, the government release stated.
