D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1209

EDU-2.1 Schools as Community Anchors

Effective Aug 21, 2021Authority: Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)). Source: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).District of Columbia, Office of the Secretary

1209.1 Schools are a powerful expression of a community's values and aspirations. In addition to supporting the academic needs of local students, they can reflect the social, educational, recreational, and personal needs of the broader community. Historically, the District's schools have been anchors for the community at large, serving as neighborhood gathering places.

1209.2 The District has a history of collaborative arrangements with its school facilities. For years, Washington, DC's schools have hosted recreational programs, public services, and even family services, such as health care. DCPS foresees many opportunities to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with District agencies and the nonprofit sector in the future to help sustain schools as community anchors. This principle was strongly supported by the 2013 DCPS MFP and is regarded as key to improving the emotional and physical health of neighborhoods. Schools can be leveraged as anchors and cultural assets for District neighborhoods—community hubs that can serve local needs beyond their core educational mission and use.

1209.3 DCPS accommodates wrap-around services at schools in low-income neighborhoods with the objective of enhancing their educational and community impact. Wrap-around services include family counseling and parenting programs, career education, behavioral health therapy, and after-school enrichment programs. Implementation of these services at key campuses holds great promise for the District's children and families.

1209.4 Policy EDU-2.1.1: Collaborative Arrangements with Community Service Providers Continue to create partnerships among DCPS, public charter schools, District government, nonprofits, and other institutions to promote schools as the central focus of community activities.

1209.5 Policy EDU-2.1.2: Wrap-Around Services Where space is available, continue to accommodate wrap-around health and human services programs within schools to address the non-academic needs of students and families. Include affordable child-care services wherever feasible.

1209.6 Policy EDU-2.1.3: Community Use Keep school space accessible and available for neighborhood meetings, community gatherings, and other events that promote resident engagement and public service, while maintaining the school's primary mission of educating the District's children.

1209.7 Policy EDU-2.1.4: Out-of-School Time Opportunities Encourage and promote programs across District agencies, including DCPS and the Department of Parks and Recreation, that can provide out-of-school opportunities for District children.1209.8 Policy EDU-2.1.5: Shared-Use of Public Parks and Recreation Space for Public Schools Continue to provide access to public recreational and athletic space for DCPS and public charter schools that lack such spaces.1209.9 Policy EDU-2.1.6: District Schools and Resilience As part of the educational facilities planning process, explore the potential role that schools can serve for sheltering, gathering, and service provision during disasters and emergencies.1209.10 Action EDU-2.1.A: Shared Maintenance Facilities Identify opportunities to share DCPS and District government operations, transportation, and maintenance facilities to reduce land and facility costs for both entities.

See also the Economic Development Element and the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Element for policies on joint-use agreements for public access to school recreation areas.

SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).