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Building Hope, through its financing and technical support, now serves public charter schools in the District of Columbia that are educating more than 18,000 students, well over half of the 33,000 children who are receiving their K-12 education in DC Public Charter Schools. The announcement was made by S. Joseph Bruno, president, Building Hope.

A non-profit organization founded in Washington, DC in 2003, Building Hope has made a major impact on the District’s charter school landscape. The more than 18,000 DC public charter school students now attending facilities made possible through the financing and technical support of Building Hope reflect its investment of more than $50 million in loans and guarantees, supporting more than $400 million in total project costs for DC public charter school facilities.

In addition to providing ongoing financing and technical support services to public charter schools across Washington, DC, the organization is currently involved in managing new construction incubator projects through the Charter School Incubator Initiative (CSII), as part of its public-private partnership with the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education. These projects are at three former DC public school buildings – Birney, Benning and Draper – and at three commercial facilities – on S Street, NW; at the “Michigan Park campus” on Taylor Street, NE; and on 14^th Street, NW.

“Our mission at Building Hope is to support the growth of high-quality public charter schools,” said Mr. Bruno. “Our home base and original focus are in the District of Columbia, where the charter school market is maturing. We are pleased to be able to continue to support the growth of a model charter school community here in DC, in particular this academic year through CSII incubator projects.”

Four public charter schools in Washington, DC opened their doors for the current school year with successful construction incubator projects completed at former DC public school sites, each made possible through the financing and technical support of Building Hope. Those two sites, each with two schools, are:

• The former Birney School in Ward 8, which saw completion of the final phase of a multi-phase building project at a total cost of more than $10 million. The Birney building now houses Excel Academy, the only all-girls public charter school in Washington, DC; and Septima Clark, the District’s only all-boys public charter school; and
• The former Benning School in Ward 7, which now houses two public charter high schools – long-time tenant DC Prep and new tenant, Richard Wright, which benefited from a program-related grant to support the modernization of a media arts facility serving the school’s specialized curriculum.

In addition, the former Draper School in Ward 8, which now houses National Collegiate Prep and Achievement Prep Academy, is receiving Building Hope’s ongoing support in its efforts to put in place a master redevelopment plan.

Meanwhile, two other charter schools receiving Building Hope support through CSII began the new school year at commercial sites. They are:

• Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School near DuPont Circle, which just opened its doors to 125 students after receiving applications from nearly 500 families. Mundo Verde, the first green-focused public charter school in DC, is located in an S Street, NW facility. Serving students this year through kindergarten, Mundo Verde plans to offer its English-Spanish, dual-language curriculum to a higher grade each year; and
• Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School (LAMB), which opened an expansion site at the Michigan Park incubator campus to relieve a 500-student waiting list. LAMB is the only dual language Montessori public charter school in the District and one of very few nationwide. Currently offering its dual English-Spanish immersion program to students through 5^th grade, LAMB is a self-directed learning environment consistent with the precepts of the Montessori method.

DC Bilingual Public Charter School (DCBPCS), founded in 2004, also benefits from Building Hope support at its 14^th Street, NW facility near Columbia Road, where it serves more than 350 students from PreK-5^th grade. Drawing from the 25-year history of its founding organization, CentroNia, DCBPCS’s philosophy is rooted in respect for cultural and linguistic diversity.

“Since inception in 2003, Building Hope has provided financial support and/or technical assistance to nearly 40 public charter schools in Washington, DC, contributing to a 40% market share for charter schools overall,” said Thomas Porter, director of real estate operations for Building Hope. “We are proud to continue to serve students in Washington, DC, and we are especially pleased that the current academic year is off to a great start for the students who are benefiting from our work at these incubator facilities.”

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Technology is an integral part of modern education. "Find out how to create a plan to guide your school's technology, how to comply with CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act) and how to participate in the E-Rate program which can provide funding for your technology needs".

Building Hope and Partner, Dynamic Network Solutions presented this important topic at the Florida Charter School Conference in November. See how the audience rated the presentation:

Download evaluation results (pdf)

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Building Hope was able to use its experience in renovating buildings for public charter schools to help the builders and contractors complete the project on time. In particular, Pepco ensured the school's power was running smoothly by open day. Timely delivery occurred despite the late discovery of extensive mold in the walls that had to be removed. Cooperation and teamwork won the day, said S. Joseph Bruno, president of Building Hope.

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Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and his wife, Karen, joined members of the U.S. men's national soccer team and representatives from the D.C. Public Charter School Board and Building Hope, a nonprofit that provides technical and financial assistance for public charter schools, for a visit to D.C. Preparatory Academy Public Charter School in Northeast Washington.

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On the first day of school in 2008, tiny preschoolers in maroon shirts and khaki pants skipped through brightly colored corridors. The light-filled spaces were clean, newly-painted, and brimming with the personality that can only come from kiwi green and orange floor patterns and turquoise circles framing the library. Just three months before, the dark 70,000-square-foot building at 100 41st Street, NE, ended its life as a District of Columbia Public School. The roof leaked. Ancient lights hung over huge spaces in the former 'school-without-walls building,' where classrooms were divided by furniture rather than walls. Building Hope has partnered with the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education to provide facilities that can be leased to start-up charter schools on a revolving basis.

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