Cesar Chavez-Capitol Hill

About Cesar Chavez Public Charter School of Public Policy

Grades: 9-12

Chavez website

Programs at Chavez

“Keep Up” Tutoring Program. RICH targets the students most at risk of failing or dropping out of school and offers tutoring in the subjects in which the students have the most difficulty. This program is paired with …

… “The Village Watch” Program, where we allow some students we have tutored to fend for themselves. We then monitor their progress and move them back into the “Keep Up” program if necessary.

The Saturday Academy, where underclassmen relearn material in math and English and seniors work on their year-long theses (term papers).

Teacher Mentoring. RICH’s instructors have an average experience level of twenty years and can help the young, talented staffs at our partner schools with curriculum design as well as diagnosis of learning differences in students. Since 2005, RICH’s mentoring efforts with the Chavez math department have resulted in teacher retention of twice the national average.

MATHletes, where RICH targets the best math and science students and enriches their curriculum with topics to help prepare them for a rigorous college program. MATHletes also participate in national math contests and serve as peer tutors after school.

DREAM TEAM. Students learn how to publicize the plight of immigrant children and their lack of college access. Approximately 3,000 immigrant children, many of whom are legal residents, cannot get in-state tuition rates or publicly funded financial aid for college. Cesar Chavez students have written a petition, and have been gathering signatures on Washington’s streets since March.

Alumni Tracking Program, where at least twice per year we correspond with alumni of RICH’s programs to ensure they are on a college or career track. RICH also works with Year Up, an intensive one-year program for young adults 18-24, providing technical and professional training, college credits, an educational stipend and access to corporate and/or federal internships.

Oxford Manor

In the summer of 2011, RICH launched an out of school time program at the community space at Oxford Manor, managed by the Community Preservation Development Corporation. This program and location allow RICH to establish a home base in Anacostia and better serve Washington’s neediest children.

The Academies at Anacostia

About The Academies at Anacostia

Grades: 9-12

The Academies at Anacostia website

Programs at the Academies at Anacostia

“Keep Up” Tutoring Program. Similar to the program at Cesar Chavez, RICH is helping those scholars who are candidates for college achieve their maximum level of proficiency during their high school career. Positive outcomes include on-time high school graduation and the maximization of college scholarship programs. This program is paired with …

… “The Village Watch” Program, where we allow some students we have tutored to fend for themselves. We then monitor their progress and move them back into the “Keep Up” program if necessary.

Word Stars. RICH is working with those reading at the kindergarten and first grade levels to try to lift their reading levels up to a functional literacy. Many of these scholars face challenges in their home lives as well. RICH is collaborating with both public and private agencies, such as New Heights, to serve these scholars as much as possible.

MATHletes. For the first time in most of these scholars’ lives, they are recognized for their intelligence, good work in school and potential for growth. Scholars are taught material not commonly found in the normal math syllabus. In the summer of 2011, seven MATHletes from Anacostia learned four chapters from Richard Brown’s “Advanced Mathematics” pre-calculus book and tutored younger residents at Oxford Manor.

Attendance Task Force. Director Penniman helps organize home visits once per month on a Friday afternoon by Anacostia teachers to students who have not been attending school.

Teacher Mentoring. As with the program at Cesar Chavez, Director Penniman consults with the young staff regarding curriculum planning and troubleshooting concerning students who are struggling.