- Early Childhood Education
Early childhood education for children six weeks through five years old.
- Adult Education
Basic through advanced English classes for parents, the National External Diploma Program, and workforce development programs. - Family Integration
Family integration, consisting of child development lessons and co-education times for parents and their young children
A High-Quality Accredited Program
Briya is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The school was most recently re-accredited in 2026 for the standard seven-year period, running through 2032. As part of the accreditation process, Briya created and is implementing a strategic plan to guide continuous school improvement efforts, utilizing the Excellence by Design protocol.
Who We Serve
Today, Briya serves over 900 adult and early childhood students at four school locations. Students and staff come from over 50 countries.
Mission
Briya’s mission is to strengthen families through culturally responsive two-generation education.
Our two-generation approach to education recognizes that parents are children’s first and most important teachers. As parents’ literacy and educational levels increase, so does their children’s academic success.
History of Briya Public Charter School
Research proves that as parents’ literacy and educational levels increase, so does their children’s academic success. At Briya, families are not merely participants in the school; they are the architects of it. Briya’s growth over the past 30 years has been in response to the needs and wishes of the families it serves.
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- Founded as Even Start, a US Department of Education demonstration project offering two-generation education
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- Forms strategic partnership with Mary’s Center and establishes a shared Social Change Model
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- Named a model education site by the US Department of Education
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- Becomes a D.C. Public Charter School
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- Launches the Child Development Associate Program
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- Offers a high school diploma pathway through the National External Diploma Program
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- First accreditation by Middle States Association
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- Opens third school site in Petworth/Georgia Avenue
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- Launches the Medical Assistant Program
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- Named a Bright Spot in Hispanic Education by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics*
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- Opens fourth school site in Fort Totten, sharing a building with Mary’s Center and Bridges PCS
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- In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Briya launches a PreK outdoor learning program and virtual learning for adults
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- Named a Literacy Awards Best Practice Honoree by the Library of Congress
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- Opens a new school site in the Petworth neighborhood of DC, upon outgrowing previous shared space
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- Named a finalist in the US Department of Health & Human Services Resilience Challenge
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- Received the Advancing Workforce Development Award from the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) for the Child Development Associate Program