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DC Students Struggle to Get to School


This winter DC students will spend long mornings riding public transit and slogging through rain and snow on their way to school. How does the absence of a centralized school bus system affect educational outcomes in the District and what can we do to offset this?

The slow approach of winter brings to light an issue facing many District families. As a city, DC lacks a school bus system and instead relies on public transit, parents, and the students themselves to get students to and from school.

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Meet Kyle Machicado

In late July, CIS of the Nation’s Capital welcomed on board Kyle Machicado, a new Communications and Administrative Associate. As CIS continues to expand in DC schools, Kyle’s role is to document and communicate the work being done in schools, to highlight the students, staff, and communities that make it all possible, and to draw attention to the work that still needs to be done. He also takes on administrative responsibilities at the central office in Georgetown to make sure programming continues to run smoothly.

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Starting School, Seeking Supplies

Walking down Clifton Street on the morning of August 20th, you would have noticed the sounds first. Music drifted down from the entrance of the Cardozo Education Campus, punctuated by the shouts of children and teenagers excited, and a bit nervous, for the first day of the school year. Some students may have been more anxious than others, having arrived at school without the necessary supplies, unsure of how they were going to write down their schedules or complete their assignments.

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Summer Institute 2018

It was early on a Tuesday that CIS of the Nation’s Capital Site Coordinators came together in a conference room of the Alston & Bird law office to participate in the 2018 Summer Institute. Amid the yawns, complementary coffee, and playful banter that accompany an early-morning training, there was tension. The school year was fast approaching, and with it a rush of students and parents, each facing their own challenges and overcoming their own obstacles. The Site Coordinators are on the frontline, working with students and families daily to navigate the challenges faced in the community. They had come together from schools across the city for four days of sharing best practices and preparing to implement new programs, and the knowledge that the first day of classes was just a few weeks away weighed on the minds of most. Continue reading “Summer Institute 2018”