Here is an interactive map created by D.C. public and charter school students that shows where D.C.’s homeless kids are educated.
Sandra Moscoso, who runs the World Bank Finances Program, contributes to Greater Greater Education and has two children in D.C. Public Schools, explains how the students created the map.
A team of students from Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan EC (DCPS) and BASIS DC (PCS) were invited to share their DC Food Deserts project at the Tech Embassy as part of DC’s inaugural Funk Parade. While preparing for the Tech Embassy, they decided they wanted to address current issues in DC schools. Saddened by Relisha Rudd’s disappearance, they were surprised learn how many students in Relisha’s school are homeless. Wondering whether there were homeless students in all DC schools, they reached out to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to request data about number of DC students enrolled in schools.
OSSE shared the data (along with encouraging words e from State Superintendent himself, Jesus Aguirre, saying, “Thanks for focusing on such an important issue. We can’t wait to see what you build!”), and the students were able to create a map that shows homeless student enrollment by school (for DCPS and PCS).
The students call themselves Mini Hacker Civics and are clearly the hope for the future. Check out their map below.
