Back-to-School & What’s Ahead

Written By Allister Chang

Dear Neighbor,

As we start a new school year, I’m focused on making sure every Ward 2 student has what they need to succeed… starting with strong literacy skills. That means looking honestly at what’s working, what’s not, and making sure we’re bringing proven, research-based approaches into every classroom.

Lifting Literacy with the Comprehensive Science of Reading
Natalie Wexler’s recent piece, Why Do Some People Say There’s No Reading Crisis?, makes the case for aligning classroom practice with the full science of reading—not just parts of it—and for not letting data misinterpretations mask real literacy gaps. I agree, as I wrote with Natalie in The 74, D.C. Needs More than Phonics to Lift Its Students’ Reading Scores. 

Back-to-School Events – Ward 2 Schools
Back-to-school season is a great time to meet teachers, connect with other families, and set the tone for the year ahead. Here are some upcoming events:

  • BASIS DC PCS – Thu 8/14, 1:00–6:00 PM, Back to School Night

  • Stevens Early Learning Center – Wed 8/20, 10:00 AM, Playground Play Date

  • Garrison Elementary School – Fri 8/22, 3:30–5:00 PM, Back to School BBQ

  • Girls Global Academy PCS – Fri 8/22, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, Orientation & Block Party

  • Hyde-Addison Elementary School – Fri 8/22, 2:00 PM, Sneak Peek for Families

  • Garrison Elementary School – Fri 8/29, 8:15–9:15 AM, Coffee Chat

  • Girls Global Academy PCS – Mon 8/25, 7:30–9:30 AM, Back to School

  • Hyde-Addison Elementary School – Thu 9/4, 5:30 PM, Back to School Night

  • Banneker High School – Thu 9/11, 5:30–7:30 PM, Back to School Night

  • Hardy Middle School – Thu 9/11, 6:00–8:00 PM, Back to School Night

  • Stevens Early Learning Center – Wed 9/17, Back to School Night (time TBD)

  • Girls Global Academy PCS – Fri 9/19, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM, Family Engagement Day

If you know of other Ward 2 back-to-school events, please send them my way so I can share them in future updates.

Community Engagement
I recently caught up with some of our newest graduates as they get ready for college. Zoe, a School Without Walls graduate, is headed to UC Berkeley, and Ryan, a BASIS DC graduate, is headed to Harvard. Their advice and reflections, along with those from many other Ward 2 graduates, have been invaluable in shaping my work on the Board.

Tonight I’ll be with ANC2B & I’m looking forward to seeing more of you at school events, ANC meetings, and around the neighborhood.

DCSBOE Update
On the State Board, our biggest project this year is revising graduation requirements. In the committee I chair, I’m leading work on how we can better support first-year teachers. From the panel we hosted last month, it’s clear early-career educators do best when they have strong mentorship, clear curriculum guidance, and regular opportunities to collaborate with peers.

Exploring AI in Education
I’ve been spending time at Station DC, a nonprofit tech hub in Union Market, to explore how we might teach AI literacy in our schools and use AI tools to improve outcomes and lower costs. I’d like to hear your thoughts on how AI could serve students and educators here in DC.

Allister

Allister Chang
Next

A Big Step Toward Literacy Reform in DC!