DC Special Education Cooperative June 2025 Newsletter

June 2025

Another school year is in the books. We are so grateful for all of the member schools, partners, and students who give our work meaning. We hope to see some of you at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools' conference later this month. Please stop by our session: Zero Barriers: Improving Academic Outcomes for Students with Disabilities.

Have a wonderful, restful, and fun summer everyone! See you in September!

When Every Child Belongs: Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education

Across the United States, the number of students with disabilities has skyrocketed in recent years. Here in DC, many of the Co-op’s member schools report experiencing this increase most acutely in their preschool programs, with rising numbers of students entering PreK - many with high needs in multiple areas, including communication, behavior, and pre-academic skills.

Read on

From Compliance to Confidence: The Power of Coaching in Special Education

In the ever-shifting landscape of Special Education, the quote “Change is inevitable, growth is optional” often feels more like a warning than an encouragement. For some Special Education Leaders, constant change and uncertainty can make progress feel out of reach. But for some leaders - like those in the Co-op’s ELEVATED Leadership cohort - growth isn’t just possible: it’s essential.

Read On

Reimagining Professional Development: Centering Equity, Voice, and Impact

Let’s reimagine professional development as a driver of equity and impact. In 2023, the DC Special Education Cooperative’s ALL IN summit brought together educators, families, students, and community partners from 27 charter networks. United by a shared goal to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, participants identified systemic barriers, shared promising solutions, and committed to collective action. The Co-op has since grounded its work in those findings, using them to shape a bold new approach to professional development that centers those most impacted. Read on

Work-based Learning Makes a Lasting Impact on Students with Disabilities

Thank you to all of our partners who welcomed students and created positive, lasting impressions about their possibilities!

Amazon AWS

DC Central Kitchen

DC FEMS Fire House Engine 18

DC Office of Unified Communications

DC Streetcar (DDOT)

National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Washington Commanders

Washington Wizards

Join Us in Building a More Just and Inclusive Future for Students with Disabilities

Across the country, students with disabilities are at the center of urgent conversations about equity, access, and justice. In Washington, DC, the Co-op is leading bold efforts to transform how charter schools serve more than 5,000 students with disabilities across every ward.

Every day, we build systems that empower students to succeed - but we can't do it without you.

Support Our Work: Your gift powers programs that create inclusive, equitable learning environments for students who have been historically marginalized. Click here to support our work.

Get Involved: Through our DC3C program, which provides secondary transition skills to over 500 students annually, you can open doors for students exploring college, careers, and community life. Host a workplace tour, volunteer, or share your expertise! Learn More About DC3C.

Together, we can ensure that students with disabilities are not only heard, but are leading the way in reimagining what’s possible.

Questions or want to get involved? Contact us at info@specialedcoop.org.

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http://specialedcoop.org