Title
Friends Of Choice In Urban Schools (FOCUS)

Description
FOCUS promotes public school reform in the District of Columbia through the development of high quality public charter schools. We believe that what ails public schooling in the District should be treated by focusing school reform efforts on the creation of large numbers of schools that: Are independent of the school system or have autonomous status within the school system, including control over personnel, finances, and the academic program; Enroll only students whose parents choose to have them attend; and Maintain a constant focus on literacy and implement a comprehensive approach to closing the achievement gap FOCUS is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1996. FOCUS helped to get D.C.’s strong charter school law passed and over the years has repeatedly gotten it amended to remove barriers to charter school success. Since its founding FOCUS has worked with the D.C. government, the Congress, the press, and the public to increase their understanding of and support for public charter schools, which now enroll 36% of all D.C. public school students. FOCUS also has been the charter schools’ advocate and problem solver, going to bat for them to equalize funding, free up school buildings for their use, and defeat attempts to inhibit their autonomy. Beginning in 2003, FOCUS also became the District’s one-stop charter school startup center, providing information, training, and support to qualified charter applicants. We now offer a wide range of training and support to both new and established D.C. public charter schools, including comprehensive performance management services designed to help schools use data to improve teaching.

Keywords
charter, school, non-profit, washington, dc

Unique Visitors
686 per month

Visits
1,168 per month