TO DEVELOP EDUCATION CHAMPIONS
First-of-its-kind Fellowship Will Build a Network of Equity-Oriented Elected Officials to Transform Public Education in Washington, D.C.
DATE: November 19, 2025
CONTACT: Jessica Giles
(202) 599-0089 | jessica@strongschoolsnow.org
Washington, D.C. – The Washington, D.C. state office of the Center for Strong Public Schools (CSPS) launched a first-of-its-kind fellowship targeting current and aspiring elected officials in D.C. Over the course of seven weeks, the Strong Schools Policy Fellowship will equip selected D.C. leaders with the policy knowledge and network needed to transform public education. Commenting on the need for this new leadership effort, CSPS D.C. Executive Director Jessica Giles noted:
“D.C. is home to more than 90,000 public school students, each of whom deserves to attend a high-performing school, a school that is accountable, that is equitably funded, and that innovates to support its students. However, on D.C.’s 2025 assessments, only 37.6% of students met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts (ELA) and 26.4% in Math. Beyond those outcomes, we also face persistent educational inequities for far too many students. Simply put, this existing system is not working well enough for the vast majority of D.C.’s kids.
“It’s time to shift the culture around school quality here in Washington, D.C.—and a fundamental component of that work is building a network of equity-oriented election officials who lead transformational change in public education.”
Speaking about the new program’s national significance, CSPS Co-Founder and Chief Executive Director Alisha Thomas Searcy described it as a model for other states. “We are elated about this fellowship,” she explained. “At CSPS, we are on a mission to ensure we develop a pipeline of leaders who are laser-focused on protecting and transforming public education, especially for our students most in need. They deserve leaders who are well prepared, understand the challenges facing public education, and are equipped with the tools to create change. What better place to launch this critical program than in our nation’s capital? I am positive that what we create in Washington, D.C. will become the blueprint for our state offices across the country.”
The Strong Schools Policy Fellowship will run from mid-January to early March in 2026. Applications close Dec. 12, 2025.
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ABOUT:
The Center for Strong Public Schools is a home for courageous elected officials who are passionate about transforming public education. We are a powerful voice for strengthening public education, ensuring every child in America—especially those from Black, Brown, and low-income communities—has access to high-quality educational opportunities. Learn about the Center for Strong Public Schools at StrongSchoolsNow.org.