ASPIRE on hold?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like PCSB is planning to hold off on ASPIRE for a bit longer still: ASPIRE Grace and Acclimation Period in SY 2026-27

DC PCSB has been considering potential updates to the ASPIRE System to account for DC CAPE 2.0, the new state assessment that PK – 8 and high schools will begin administering in SY 2026 – 27.

After internal deliberation and input from the ASPIRE Technical Advisory Group, the LEA Advisory Group, ASPIRE Working Groups, and other partners, DC PCSB staff is proposing a Grace and Acclimation Period for SY 2026 – 27 PK – 8 and high school accountability.

During the Grace and Acclimation Period, DC PCSB would publish ASPIRE measure-level outcomes without an overall ASPIRE score or level. Additionally, DC PCSB would not use SY 2026 – 27 ASPIRE results or state assessment outcomes for goal determinations, charter reviews, or renewals for PK – 8 and high schools. This approach would not apply to schools evaluated under the PK-Only, Adult Education, Alternative Accountability Frameworks, as well as schools evaluated by the PK – 8 Framework that do not serve grade 3 or above; they are not subject to the new state assessment for accountability purposes.

This proposal gives PK – 8 and high schools time to adjust to the new assessment before results are used for high-stakes decisions. It also preserves the Board’s ability to carry out reviews and renewals, as DC PCSB will still have four years of academic data when contemplating school continuance or renewal.

We also want to acknowledge the questions raised during recent meetings. DC PCSB staff are compiling these questions and will address them in upcoming communications, including a forthcoming FAQ. If you have any questions or feedback, please complete the ASPIRE Feedback form.

DC PCSB staff will present its Grace and Acclimation Period proposal at the December 8, 2025, public meeting. In the meantime, for more information, see materials from recent ASPIRE PK – 8 and High School Working Group meetings. (Note: these materials use the phrase “hold harmless” to describe the Grace and Acclimation Period DC PCSB staff is proposing.)

[Anonymous]

Oh FFS. Clearly they are doing this because too many schools would have failed. Passing marginal schools along with waivers and extensions is their favorite hobby.

[Anonymous]

Soooo we are looking at exactly one year of accountability for charter schools before it is paused again? If I remember correctly the PMF was paused because there were no tests because of COVID, and then PCSB decided to use that time to make a new framework which is Aspire, which hasn’t even gone live yet. Next year it will be paused. Am I correct that the last PMF/Aspire/accountability framework that was published and counted was with 2018-2019 data?

Meanwhile OSSE rolled out the DC School Report Card that measures essentially the same things and is already updated with the latest data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Soooo we are looking at exactly one year of accountability for charter schools before it is paused again? If I remember correctly the PMF was paused because there were no tests because of COVID, and then PCSB decided to use that time to make a new framework which is Aspire, which hasn’t even gone live yet. Next year it will be paused. Am I correct that the last PMF/Aspire/accountability framework that was published and counted was with 2018-2019 data?

Meanwhile OSSE rolled out the DC School Report Card that measures essentially the same things and is already updated with the latest data.

You are correct. It's crazy that the PCSB can't figure out how to assess the progress of schools. Progress and accountability matter. I say this not only from the point of view of a parent but as a taxpayer and as a person working in education. The only way for the public right now to know which charters are low or mid or high performing is to watch PCSB reviews -- and that's only for the handful of schools being reviewed that year -- or work through all of the data OSSE releases or compare proficiency rates that EmpowerK12 releases on its data sites. If OSSE is the best place to go for information on school performance, and the PCSB continues to be behind, I'm not sure why they (PCSB/charters) just don't adopt OSSE's system.

[Anonymous]

I’m wondering if the pause might be connected to OSSE rolling out the new DC CAPE 2.0 assessment? I’m curious whether the transition to a new statewide test is part of why things are on hold.

https://osse.dc.gov/release/osse-announces-new-dc-cape-20-statewide-assessments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m wondering if the pause might be connected to OSSE rolling out the new DC CAPE 2.0 assessment? I’m curious whether the transition to a new statewide test is part of why things are on hold.

https://osse.dc.gov/release/osse-announces-new-dc-cape-20-statewide-assessments

Yeah, I think that’s the official justification

[Anonymous]

From what I’ve gathered, ASPIRE isn’t actually being put “on hold.” What DC PCSB is saying is that when the new DC CAPE 2.0 test comes out, there will be kind of a grace period. During that year, they’ll still share the different data points, but they won’t give an overall ASPIRE score, and the results won’t count toward renewals or accountability while everyone gets used to the new test. So it’s really just a transition year because the state test is changing—not a full pause on ASPIRE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I’ve gathered, ASPIRE isn’t actually being put “on hold.” What DC PCSB is saying is that when the new DC CAPE 2.0 test comes out, there will be kind of a grace period. During that year, they’ll still share the different data points, but they won’t give an overall ASPIRE score, and the results won’t count toward renewals or accountability while everyone gets used to the new test. So it’s really just a transition year because the state test is changing—not a full pause on ASPIRE.

Got it. Another year of passing along performing schools that would be closed if the PCSB had the nerve to stand behind its own rules.