Briya 10-Year Review

Briya shines during 10-year charter review

Briya is looking forward to the future after earning exceptional charter review results and having its charter renewed.

The DC Public Charter School Board is required to conduct reviews of charter schools every five years to ensure they are meeting academic, legal and fiscal standards. Briya received outstanding results on its 10-year review, and the DC PCSB board voted to renew the charter for the standard five years.

One aspect of the review was an evaluation of the school’s goal achievement, which relates to student success in preK, adult family literacy, and workforce development programs.

Briya has met all of its goals for the past ten years, which Dan Soifer, DC PCSB board vice chair, said is exceptional.

“Nothing about [Briya’s] goals strikes me as easy to achieve,” Soifer said. “Your work is unique in the city, your role is unique, and your record of accomplishment I think speaks for itself.”

The review also included qualitative analysis. Observers made 18 unannounced visits to Briya classrooms in a two-week period. Briya earned a high rating and many positive comments from reviewers.

“The teachers had high expectations for students and the students were committed to doing excellent work throughout all of the classroom observations,” the PCSB report states. “The teachers conveyed a passion for their students and for their content.”

Observers also said that preK students’ social-emotional development was well supported and that computer, job, employability, and life skills were well integrated into adult family literacy classes, among other comments.

Briya staff anticipates many future years of empowering DC families.

“The last ten years have been an amazing opportunity to work with such caring, dedicated staff to provide high-quality integrated education for children, women and whole families,” said Christie McKay, Briya’s executive director. “In the next five years I hope to continue to refine our model and impact lives.”