By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
kmcneir@afro.com
On Monday, Aug. 25, school bells will ring once again for D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) as students, teachers and parents face a new set of challenges in a year that has been marked by financial uncertainty, greater divisions along racial lines, and political unrest on local and national fronts.
Nonetheless, DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee, the man hired in 2018 by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to promote equity and transparency, stands cool and collected, armed with new, creative initiatives and a set of policy changes that he believes will better prepare each student for greater academic success and individual growth.
Under Ferebee’s leadership, DCPS represents the fastest improving urban district in the nation, making historic gains on the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) over the past decade. In 2019, DCPS marked its fourth-consecutive year of progress made on Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), outpacing state averages for both English language arts (ELA) and math. And for the first time since 2006, the District enrolled more than 51,000 students.
Ferebee spoke with the AFRO to share his vision and address the strategies he and his staff will unfold throughout the year in efforts to help youth overcome obstacles that have especially hampered African American students both here in D.C. and across the U.S., from disproportionate disciplinary actions and academic disparities to generational poverty.
AFRO: There have been conversations about children falling behind on scores since the pandemic. How are D.C. children doing given the latest numbers?
FEREBEE: DC Public Schools (DCPS) is proud of the academic progress our scholars have made since the pandemic — including being recognized as the fastest-improving urban school district based on data from the Nation’s Report Card. DCPS is the only large urban school district in the country to make significant or nominal increases in all four grade and subject combinations tested. D.C. also ranked first among states in both math and reading recovery between 2022-2024 according to the Harvard/Stanford Education Recovery Scorecard.
AFRO: What are the greatest challenges facing D.C. schools that you are currently addressing? For example, in several school districts in Virginia, they are tackling issues like transgender bathrooms and cell phones during school hours. What about D.C.?
FEREBEE: Along with districts across the country, D.C. continues to be challenged by attendance. We have made progress after the pandemic but acknowledge there is more work to do. Schools are beginning to see progress from a pilot partnership with the DC Department of Human Services (DHS), where students and their families receive intensive case management and support to remove attendance barriers.
Other strategies aimed at boosting attendance include: Sixth and Ninth Grade Academies that help students adjust during transitions to middle and high school, strong Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, a plan to double afterschool participation for middle school students, and enhanced engagement in the form of monthly attendance competitions and family meetings for chronically absent students. DCPS remains committed to creating learning environments where students feel a sense of belonging.
AFRO: The National Education Association (NEA) has stated over the past four years that America faces a teacher shortage, estimating around 300,000 vacancies for teachers and support staff – a shortage which its president has described as a “five-alarm crisis.” The NEA further highlights that this situation is not new, with job openings starting to outpace hires since 2017, and the pandemic exacerbating the issue. Does DCPS face any shortages as the school year approaches?
FEREBEE: At DCPS, we don’t have a teacher shortage. We have filled 99 percent of teaching vacancies for this school year.
AFRO: What is the impact of AI on students and what kinds of changes have you made to ensure that it is beneficial to students?
FEREBEE: As with all technology, students and staff are required to use AI in a responsible and ethical manner. AI tools should be used by students and staff as a supplement, not a substitute, for learning. DCPS provides students with lessons on the benefits and risks of AI through digital citizenship and AI-specific courses.
AFRO: Are there any new schools opening this year or in the near future?
FEREBEE: We are excited to begin school year 2025-2026 with modernizations and additions at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School (Adams Campus), Truesdell Elementary School, and Stoddert Elementary School. This represents Mayor Bowser’s commitment to education and totals more than $180 million in state-of-the-art improvements.
Dr. Ferebee earned his doctorate in educational leadership from East Carolina University, a master’s degree in school administration from The George Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from North Carolina Central University.
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