Mayor Bowser to Welcome DCPS Educators Back to the New School Year

(Washington, DC) – On Wednesday, August 20 at 11 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser will join education leaders and educators from across the “Education Hill” Cluster (Phelps ACE High School, Browne Education Campus, and J.O. Wilson Elementary School) to celebrate the fast-approaching start to the 2025-26 School Year. 

The Mayor will attend a pep rally to speak with and encourage educators and staff during pre-service week, ahead of the new school year—which begins for DC Public Schools (DCPS) students in K-12 on Monday, August 25. During the event, the city’s education leaders will acknowledge the tireless efforts of DCPS educators and recognize the important role they play in supporting the District’s youth. 

Pre-service marks a week-long professional development series that provides educators with the core curricular, instructional, and procedural knowledge they need to ensure a strong start to School Year 2025-26. The support provided to educators during this week and throughout the school year plays a significant role in DCPS’s 94% retention rate of effective and highly effective teachers.

Over the past decade, the District’s investments in education have helped make DC schools the fastest-improving urban school district in the country, and the Mayor’s FY26 Budget, Grow DC, dedicates an additional $2.8 billion to support DCPS and DC public charter school students, $270 million to support pay raises for DCPS and charter teachers, and $2 billion for school modernizations.

For resources and information about immunization requirements, afterschool programs, tutoring support, and more, families are encouraged to consult the newly released 2025 Back to School Guide at backtoschool.dc.gov.

When: Wednesday, August 20 at 11 am    Who: Mayor Muriel Bowser Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, Chancellor, DC Public Schools Paul Kihn, Deputy Mayor for Education Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell, State Superintendent of Education Pamela Smith, Chief of Police, Metropolitan Police Department   Where: Phelps ACE High School 704 26th Street NE
*Closest Bus Routes: D20, C43, C57* *Closest Streetcar: Benning Rd & Oklahoma Ave NE* *Closest Bikeshare: Oklahoma Ave & Benning Rd NE*

Press interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP to press@dc.gov.

The DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment will provide a live feed of this event. To view the event, visit mayor.dc.gov/live, tune in on Channel 16 (DCN), or watch on Mayor Bowser’s Facebook or X.

Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser  
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser 
Mayor Bowser Bluesky: @MayorBowser 
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser 
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos 
Mayor Bowser LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mayorbowser