Piloting change: how DC schools are transforming education

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In Washington DC, two not-for-profit organisations are working to ensure that every student feels seen, valued, and empowered. Oak partners Education Forward DC and Transcend have joined forces to support the launch of innovative mental health pilot programmes that are transforming how students engage with their school communities.

These initiatives are especially important in the post-Covid era, as many teachers and students grapple with mental health challenges. While this particularly affects those with learning differences, students from all backgrounds report feeling disconnected from the wider school community, which affects their attendance and engagement with learning.

In the spring of 2023, Education Forward DC and Transcend supported four schools in Washington DC in launching pilot programmes that support the wellbeing of both students and staff. The pilots aimed to promote collaboration and shared learning among participating schools.

Each pilot was tailored to address the unique needs and profiles of each school, focusing on key themes such as mental health, community, and student self-esteem. This focus was informed by the 2023 Panorama SEL survey, administered to over 30,000 students in 16 schools across Washington DC. The survey found that while most students value school highly and know their teachers want them to do well, they still struggle to feel engaged. This may be because less than 50 per cent of students from grades 6-12 reported feeling a sense of belonging at school.  

In fact, one programme at Bunker Hill Elementary School focused specifically on boosting a sense of belonging among students. The pilot project team worked with students for whom English is not their first language. Bunker Hill conducted workshops with these students entirely in Spanish, focusing on building self-esteem and strengthening their sense of community. As they gained more confidence, the students began leading monthly town hall meetings for the entire school, with activities in Spanish.

The pilot programme empowered the students and created opportunities for connection across language barriers. As one parent commented, their child “now feels more included at school and is not embarrassed to form friendships with more kids that don’t speak Spanish”.

The Panorama survey also highlighted the need for clinical mental health support to school staff. As a result, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School (TMA), alongside a team of social workers and counsellors, offered 1:1 consultations and counselling sessions for teachers. Following this, TMA teachers reported feeling more valued and supported. This is especially important given that teacher wellbeing is linked to positive outcomes such as improved teacher retention, teacher-student relationships, and student achievement.

“When educators can show up fully at school, they are better equipped to address challenging issues such as student mental health and absenteeism. Addressing the well-being of teachers is really a holistic approach,” says Margie Yeager, managing partner of Ed Forward DC.

All four pilot programmes were related to the implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL), which encompasses the skills by which young people and adults develop healthy identities, manage emotions, achieve goals, show empathy for others, establish supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. Across the board, the positive results of these pilots showed that incorporating these principles into everyday practices creates school environments where students feel secure, cared for, and connected.

Ultimately, Education Forward DC believes that these programmes can be replicated in schools across the city. Its latest whitepaper shares more results and further insights on integrating SEL in school, supporting educators, and including students of diverse backgrounds.

Oak’s Learning Differences Programme supports Transcend’s work to create and expand learning environments that enable all students, especially the most marginalised, to learn in ways that nurture their growth. Oak also supports Education Forward DC in its efforts improve mental health for students with learning differences, in which Transcend was a key partner. 

In Spring 2023, Oak launched an initiative with eight exceptional organisations to pilot solutions for school-based mental health support and social emotional learning. Education Forward DC is one of the organisations in this cohort.

Oak’s Learning Differences Programme commits its resources to ensuring that educational systems unlock each student’s creativity and power, regardless of learning differences, race, income, or other personal identifiers. To read more about the programme’s updated strategy, click here. To learn more about Education Forward DC, click here. To read more about Transcend, click here.