Announcements

-Update from PCSB: met ASPIRE framework increase!

-We are no longer on the Financial Monitoring list as of yesterday!

Karen V-C: Reflection on return from sabbatical

Invited by teachers to attend Senior Shark Tank pitches

Trip to Brazil in October. Learning Brazilian Portuguese, interact with a different culture and share the work that Karen does at GGA.

Annual Report

Recap of ASPIRE

GGA met the first condition of the 5-year review through Pathway D. GGA improved its ASPIRE score from SY23-24 to SY 24-25 from 24.4 percentage points earned to 32.1 percentage points earned respectively.

Conditions prescribed by PCSB

-charter goals pathway

-Pathway D

-24-25 earned points on 17 measures; improved on 11 measures; didn't improve on 4

-GGA improved on ASPIRE framework for 24-25 school year = meets condition #1 from PCSB

New Goal: Earn level 3 or higher on ASPIRE framework for 25-26

Pathway B: improve score from prior year

5 key areas of focus as listed on presentation

-Chronic Absenteeism

-Re-enrollment

-College and career acceptance

-9th grade on track

-MAP growth

As we did last year, we have a simulation for this year to see where we are in terms of ASPIRE framework scores.

2 school-specific measures: Enrichment (Wednesday classes) and Family Engagement

Student portfolios, student-led conferences with families and teachers all lead into ASPIRE framework.

GGA adopted PMF when school opened, by April 1, 2026 GGA needs to decide if adopted ASPIRE framework or created individually-negotiated goals. We will decide this during the February Board Meeting. Because PMF is no longer used. 

DC CAPE is changing again: PCSB-granted grace and acclimation period.

Budget

-in process of working to maintain budget numbers with actuals

-200 students enrolled by count day in the fall

-No longer on monitoring list!

-Important to obtain new funding from DC Council for subsequent years: UPSFF

What's New

-GGA Board Dashboard: access information will be emailed out to the Board. (Also, on page 3 of ED Report.)

-https://data.empowerk12.org/accounts/login/?next=/reports/1142/ 

-Fund Diversification (more during FFC update)

-990 Questionnaire

-Budget timeline as listed in presentation

Staffing Status

-1 vacancy still

-Offer out for Biology position with February start time

Student Recruitment

-MySchool DC Lottery opened 12/15; deadline is 2/1

-Goal to get same number of applications as last year or more

-Goal to retain same number of students or more for next academic year

-Goal for next year is 200+ students enrolled

Admissions report

• Thank you to Julie and team for providing this data

Update on recruitment 

• Going well
• Monthly open houses
• Global engagement
• Middle schools coming through walk-throughs
• Report has list of schools where students are coming from (middle schools and high schools)

Upcoming Events

• Trailblazer Showcase Feb 4th
• Global Summit in March

If you haven't made a donation, please do! Our goal is 100% board giving.

Days of cash at year-end: 108 days

Project to have $2M on 6/30/26

Health of finances directly related to enrollment

Income $1.2M above budget because enrollment of 199 instead of budgeted 170

Additional expenses $976K

OSSE Loan

Due date 6/30/27

Balloon payment $1.5M

Working on getting an extension of the loan; 2-3 years, but hope for 5 years

Okay without extension, but much healthier financial with an extension

Discuss how to reflect forecasted cash position after loan due date

Credit Enhancement Warranty Letter from OSSE as requested by landlord: for $450,000 rent payments guaranteed

Lease re-negotiation plan and strategies

Going well. Altered account with the bank, so a bit more challenging to fund the cards since the bank account is now a sweep account. New proposal will be coming to FFC.

Academic overview from Dr. O'Neal

Taking on ASPIRE goals and school's charter goals -- coming to a vote in March.

Academic Updates

-Academic Highlight: 98 out of 198 earned honor roll

-Important Dates: DC CAPE benchmark testing end of February; Winter MAP Testing 3rd week of January

-Data and Analysis from Q1

What is the relationship between Reading Levels (MAP score) and Academic Performance?

Student Interventions

-Weekly Intervention Block on Wednesdays

-Georgetown Tutoring Tues and Thursdays push-in to classes

-Intervention block built into their schedules, every 6 days

Grade Reflections & Analysis, Goal Setting on a weekly basis

Adult Interventions

-Pop-in observations and feedback

-1:1 coaching

-Professional development: scaffolding and differentiation

-Workshops: using data to inform instruction

Leader Priorities: all have different priorities according to these roles

-SPED Coordinator

-Culture Coordinator

-College and Career Counselor

-Academic Program Coordinator

Question re teacher retention goal: teacher survey from the district, pulse surveys, pro devo teachers supporting each other

Question re leadership team same configuration as last year or have their been shifts? SPED Coordinator hasn't changed; Culture Coordinator has been here but the role is new this year; College and Career Readiness has changed.

Seeing the impact of the Culture Coordinator.

Not specifically covered in Dr. O'Neal's remarks

Not specifically covered in Dr. O'Neal's remarks; covered in ED's report in Section III above.

Homework: do the reading to be prepared for vote in February

Not done because discussed earlier meeting

Not done because discussed earlier meeting

Not done because discussed earlier meeting

Not done during meeting

Outreach to getting parent board members.

Global Showcase is next week!

Mark calendars for next month's board meeting

Optional board training on Wednesday, Feb 11th at noon