(Washington, DC) — On Wednesday, Mayor Bowser announced her Fiscal Year 2024 proposed budget, which included over $2.4 billion in funding for DC Public Schools (DCPS) within the District’s FY24-29 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP outlines funds to design and construct modernized school buildings for DCPS, as well as improve school facilities through small capital construction projects.
“We support and applaud Mayor Bowser’s FY24-29 CIP investments as she continues to prioritize modernizing our district’s school infrastructure and improving schools across the entire district,” said DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee. “Our students are deserving of these state-of-the-art facilities that spark their intellectual curiosity and provide a joyful learning experience.”
DC Public Schools modernizes schools in all eight wards to ensure that every school community has updated buildings. In alignment with the Planning Actively for Comprehensive Education Facilities Amendment Act (PACE), DCPS added three new modernization projects in the FY24-29 CIP: Beers Elementary School in Ward 7, Excel Academy in Ward 8, and Bruce-Monroe at Parkview Elementary School in Ward 1.
In addition, DCPS will utilize proposed funds for construction and infrastructure projects that will have a transformative effect on our ability to provide a high-quality education to all our students, such as:
- Renovations to build a new cafeteria at Plummer Elementary School (Ward 7) and at Hardy Middle School (Ward 2) to provide adequate dining for all students.
- Upgrading DCPS technology infrastructure within schools, including prioritizing installation of smart boards to enhance classroom instruction across the district in FY24.
- Investing $6 million in upgrades and enhancements to school lockdown hardware, including interior keys.
- Replacement of the multipurpose bubble at Kenilworth swing space (Ward 7) to support dining and physical education for schools utilizing the swing space.
- Investing $30 million in the development and support of swing spaces district wide.
This school year, DCPS celebrated the opening of CIP-funded projects across the district such as the new location of Bard High School Early College DC (Ward 8), School-Within-School at Goding (Ward 6), Randle Highlands Early Learning Center (Ward 7), and Smothers Elementary (Ward 7).
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