This week, Mayor Fenty and DCPS Chancellor Rhee selected Ludlow Taylor ES, Tyler ES and Payne ES to become three of 13 theme-based Catalyst Schools.  Ludlow Taylor and Tyler will develop the Arts Integration theme, while Payne will focus on World Cultures. 
 
The Catalyst status was awarded as a result of heavy competition among DCPS schools across the District.  Tyler Elementary principal Terry Dade attributed their success to an already strong commitment to arts integration.  “[We've] already partnered with DC Arts and Humanities Council and Turning the Page and several of our teachers had taken the initiative to be trained in arts integration,” said Dade, noting the school's goal to build academic achievement through the arts. 

Payne Elementary School will designate a culture to study each year, developing community projects with local embassies and museums.  “We have a partnership with Step Africa for the first year,” said Payne principal Vielka Scott. “We’ll be teaching about whole cultures, not just a language. We’ll enable students to become productive members of a ‘global society.’”

The three neighborhood schools will not require a special admission process and will base their new programs on an active learning approach.

DCPS describes the themes as:

Arts Integration
Arts Integration is an approach to teaching where the visual and performing arts are woven into the classroom as tools for teaching core subject content. 

•    Schools will incorporate movement, dance, visual arts, music, and other forms of expression into instruction for all subjects
•    Instruction will be designed to engage students mentally, physically, and socially --sparking their creativity and imagination

World Cultures
The World Cultures theme will focus on integrating the core curriculum with exposure to international regions, various cultures, and global issues.  Additionally, communication skills will be developed in dedicated foreign language classes.

•    Instruction will focus on exploring the ever-increasing diversity and globalization of society from the classroom to the workplace
•    The study of world languages and cultures will provide students with knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are indispensable to becoming a world citizen
•    The ultimate goal is for all students to graduate with communicative and intercultural competence in a language other than English

The schools will be given a year for planning and design using funds from the DC Public Education Fund through the support of The Philip L. Graham Fund, the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation and the CityBridge Foundation for professional development for teachers through collaboration, leadership training, and co-planning across grades and disciplines.