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D.C.’s career prep program offers a solution to its attendance problem

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D.C.’s career prep program offers a solution to its attendance problem


With just about 200 students, D.C.’s career and technical high school is not usually a bustling place. But on a recent school day, as a busload of students arrived for their afternoon classes, the small Northeast Washington campus livened up — music blared from a speaker in the common room and teens chatted excitedly over trail mix.

The Advanced Technical Center, now in its second year, is not like most high schools in the District — or even the country. Teens practice taking vitals on medical dummies and coding in computer labs. Its entire curriculum is designed to provide a training ground for students pursuing high-demand careers in cybersecurity and nursing.

But the school also offers a possible solution to D.C.’s attendance crisis: students who took classes at the ATC last year attended nearly 13 more days of school than their peers who did not, according to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. The teens — who split their time between the ATC and their primary high schools — said they appreciate the school’s climate, their relationships with teachers and staff, and the chance to study their interests.

Those factors are not only motivating students to show up for their career prep classes, but also the courses at their regular high schools, the data suggests. The ATC has advisers who closely monitor each student’s attendance, as well.

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Officials noted the analysis isn’t perfect — enrollment at the ATC is small and teens elect on their own to attend. But it remains a promising sign for officials desperate for ways to get students to come to school. Chronic absenteeism, which hit a high during the pandemic, has inched downward in recent years. But it remains particularly concerning at the high school level; 60 percent of D.C. teens missed at least 18 days of school last year.

D.C. faces an attendance crisis. Its leaders are struggling to solve it.

“It’s really clear for them why they’re here. And when they start to lose sight of the ‘why,’ we have our support systems here to help bring them back on track,” said Andrea Zimmermann, the school’s administrator. Students said they see an obvious benefit to investing the extra time and work, including industry credentials, paid internships and scholarships. They earn college credits that are aligned with the cybersecurity program at the University of the District of Columbia or nursing track at Trinity Washington University.

Those perks are what drew Charlie Irizarry, a ninth grader who is studying nursing.

“It’s a privilege and an honor to be able to work here with all these incredible students and get to learn about something I’m passionate about before going on to pursue it, to get a little bit of a head start and some background knowledge to help me out when I do get to college and maybe some help with scholarships,” she said. Students who finish the program and then attend Trinity after graduation can receive $15,000 each year in scholarships.

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Just like at a normal high school, the teens are expected to show up every day. Students spend part of the school day at the ATC — sessions are offered in the morning, midmorning and afternoon — and spend the rest of the day at their primary high schools. The ATC provides taxi or bus transportation during the day.

There are few entrance requirements so that more students are encouraged to apply, Zimmermann said. They mainly need to be on track for graduation and have space in their schedules. Most of the students come from Bell, Dunbar and Eastern high schools, and Friendship Collegiate Academy, Paul and Sojourner Truth public charter schools.

Students said they come to school because they like environment at the ATC, which feels more supportive than the average high school. Teachers and students treat each other with respect.

“School is supposed to be a safe space and a lot of these kids do not feel like school is a safe space at all,” said Christa Cummings, an eleventh grader on the cybersecurity track. “The way that they treat you here … feels like a family. It feels way more intentional and personal with everything that they do. I feel like, if we had more administrators that cared like how they do at ATC, a lot more kids would be more involved in the things that happen in the school, in their school environments.”

Chris Nelson, also a junior studying cybersecurity, said he likes the challenge the ATC offers.

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“When you come here, it puts you in a mind-set of setting high expectations for yourself and just like becoming the best version of yourself,” said Nelson, also a student at Paul Public Charter School. “This is what I want to do. This is what I want to be. This is going to help me become the person that I want to be in the future. This is going to help me provide for my family.”

Two in five D.C. students were chronically absent last year, data show

The ATC is part of a larger effort by the city to improve high schools and offer students more opportunities to explore their interests before college. Officials have poured $30 million in pandemic recovery dollars into internship, dual-enrollment and career training programs. Many leaders hope such investments will pay off in improved attendance.

Forty-three percent of students across D.C. were chronically absent from classrooms last school year, down from 48 percent during the 2021-22 school year. There are myriad reasons students are missing chunks of school, but teachers have noticed more students — particularly older ones — just don’t think being there is important.

Schools, as a result, are under growing pressure to make classrooms places where students want to be.

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“It is our job to ensure that schools are welcoming and are engaging for kids,” Paul Kihn, D.C.’s deputy mayor for education, said in a December interview about attendance. “We’ve just got to make sure schools are the best possible environments for them to be in, so where they’re actively choosing, they choose to be in rather than out.”

Too few D.C. students finish college. This program aims to change that.

That is part of the formula at the ATC, according to Clifton Martin, state director of career and technical education at the superintendent’s office. The student body is small, so adults in the building know every child’s name. Teachers, administrators and staff frequently check in on students and ask them how they are doing.

“I think a lot of students feel like they get lost and they don’t have someone who’s going to keep an eye on them, so they can miss five days in a row,” he said.

Zimmermann added that if a student starts to miss classes, ATC staff are in touch with the child’s primary high school and family — not only to get the student back, but also to understand why they aren’t getting there. After she learned some students lived more than an hour on public transit from the ATC, officials set up a morning pickup service so they could get to school on time. Rides are provided in the afternoon, as well. “So there’s interventions in place, kind of speed bumps to catch kids and get them back on course, support them.”

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Martin added that understanding what students want in school is also an important driver of attendance.

“Student voice is important. So, all schools can’t have a cybersecurity program, they all can’t have a nursing program,” he said. “But there are things that they can do inside the school, you know, talking to the students, figuring out what they want in the building that will bring them in there.”



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Talks intensify in Washington to end DHS shutdown as airport delays mount nationwide | CNN Politics

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Talks intensify in Washington to end DHS shutdown as airport delays mount nationwide | CNN Politics


After weeks of stalemate — and mounting airport delays nationwide — leaders in both parties are scrambling to work out a deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, though it remains unclear if a compromise is in reach.

A Friday night meeting on Capitol Hill — which marks the second straight day of talks — is the latest sign that Republicans and the White House are seeking a swift way out of the growing political crisis. Democrats remained tight lipped as they emerged from the talks, though a key GOP leader said she expected the group to meet again in the coming days.

Multiple Republicans said leaving the meeting that the GOP had bolstered its latest offer to Democrats, though they declined to specify how the White House was proposing to address the Democrats’ demands on new limits for immigration enforcement.

Frustrations have been steadily growing on both sides of the aisle over how to defuse a weeks-long standoff over the shutdown as Democrats have so far dismissed GOP efforts to negotiate over ICE tactics as inadequate.

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But lawmakers are eager to reach a deal in the next week before Congress leaves town for a lengthy spring recess, faced with hourly reports of long lines at airports and a shrinking pot of FEMA money.

A meeting with White House border czar Tom Homan and bipartisan Senate appropriators Friday evening was brief, with Democrats leaving without speaking to reporters less than an hour after it began.

Republicans at the meeting said that Democrats were not upset when they left, and Homan said, “Discussions are continuing, we need to get the government back open.”

A Democratic source familiar with the talks said, “It was a productive meeting, but there’s a ways to go to secure the significant reforms that Democrats have laid out for weeks and that are necessary to earn the support of the Democratic caucus.”

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins told reporters, “The White House has added to its offer,” describing the latest version as a “very fair, reasonable offer,” without outlining specifics. Collins added, “yes,” they are now waiting for Democrats to counter.

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Asked if the group would meet again Saturday, Collins replied, “I certainly hope so,” but noted that depends on Democrats. She added, “I thought the meeting could have gone longer.”

GOP Sen. Katie Britt called the conversation, “productive,” adding “we built off of the conversations yesterday, which is positive.”

“I think we need to work through the weekend to achieve a result or figure out a pathway forward,” she said.

So far Democrats have remained defiant in their position that they will not fund DHS without concrete changes to federal law preventing the kind of violence seen in Minneapolis earlier this year. They argue the White House is refusing to make any real concessions.

Sen. Jacky Rosen, a centrist Democrat, was adamant earlier on Friday that she will not alter her position until the White House gets serious in its proposals – a sign that the Democratic party is not shrinking from its demands.

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“You’ve seen the offers they sent back. ‘We’ll be glad to uphold the current law.’ Well, that’s great. That’s no negotiation. ‘We’ll be glad to follow the Fourth Amendment where we think we should.’ Oh, you suddenly realize we have a bill of rights? Thank you for saying that you’ll enforce it through the executive branch. That’s not a negotiation,” she told CNN ahead of the Friday night meeting.

Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock — who represents the massive Atlanta airport that’s experienced some of the worst delays in the shutdown – also made clear he was not backing down from Democratic demands over ICE.

“I don’t know why the Republicans insist on holding federal workers hostage, holding TSA workers hostage so they can have an unaccountable paramilitary force on our streets. It’s unconscionable,” Warnock said.

Asked if he would support a short-term funding bill amid ongoing ICE negotiations, Warnock said he would not vote to “continue the status quo.”

Sen. Chris Murphy told CNN ahead of Friday’s meeting that the major sticking point is that the GOP is still unwilling to budge.

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“The Republicans aren’t producing any real, meaningful offers. We’ve given them reasonable priorities, and we have not seen anything meaningful from them yet,” Murphy said.

Murphy and other Democrats have pushed an alternate funding proposal that would restore federal dollars for TSA, FEMA and other agencies – but not immigration enforcement.

Republicans, however, have rejected the idea. Multiple GOP senators told CNN they would only support a bill that fully funds DHS – not simply funding agencies in a piecemeal fashion.

“No, no, I’m not defunding the police. I’m not defunding ICE,” Sen. Rick Scott of Florida told CNN when asked if he’d support a bill to fund TSA but not the full department. “I’m not going to do that.”

Democrats argue that immigration agencies – specifically ICE and Customs and Border Protection – don’t need the cash right now. Republicans have already given them enough money to last years through their massive domestic policy bill last year, they say.

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“ICE got $75 billion in the one big ugly bill. They’re not suffering from any lack of funding,” Warnock said. “We ought to fund TSA now.”

GOP Sen. John Kennedy said he would only support that Democratic proposal if the very next day, Republicans all agreed to use their special budgetary powers, known as reconciliation, to override the Democrats and muscle through their own ICE funding bill.

“I think we ought to do it and then the very next day after we do it, we ought to do a reconciliation bill that does everything we want to do with respect to ICE,” Kennedy said.



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Navy Yard added back to DC’s juvenile curfew zones this weekend

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Navy Yard added back to DC’s juvenile curfew zones this weekend


Navy Yard is back on the list of D.C.’s juvenile curfew zones for the weekend, a week after a large gathering of teens turned violent in a nearby park.

D.C. Police announced three curfew zones beginning Friday night: Navy Yard, Chinatown and the U Street Corridor. Under the emergency juvenile curfew law, anyone under 18 is prohibited from gathering in groups of nine or more within the designated zones from 8 to 11 p.m. through Sunday unless accompanied by an adult.

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Navy Yard added back to DC’s juvenile curfew zones this weekend

Navy Yard was not included as a curfew zone last weekend, when police say roughly 200 teens gathered in the area. Videos posted to social media showed several teens assaulting another. Police, with assistance from the National Guard and Secret Service, arrested two teens. One was accused of firing a gun into the air, the other accused of trying to discard a gun in a rideshare vehicle. At least two victims were forcibly robbed.

City leaders enacted the temporary curfew law in response to a rise in teen takeovers across the District. But the measure is set to expire April 15, and Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who chairs the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, said this week there are not enough votes to extend it again.

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READ MORE: DC curfew zones: 18 juveniles stopped first night

Emergency Curfew Legislation | DC Police

The Juvenile Curfew Second Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 is in effect through April 15, 2026 

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What does the law say?

The Juvenile Curfew Second Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 states that all persons under the age of 18 cannot remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the District of Columbia during curfew hours, unless they are involved in certain exempted activities.

The law gives the Chief of Police the authority to establish Extended Juvenile Curfew Zones and allows the Mayor of the District of Columbia to authorize an Emergency Juvenile Curfew. 

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What are the curfew hours?

Citywide curfew hours are 11:00 pm to 6:00 am, seven days a week. 

Juvenile Curfew Zones 

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In Juvenile Curfew Zones, any person under the age of 18 gathering in a group of nine (9) or more youths in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the perimeter of an extended juvenile curfew zone must leave the area unless engaged in certain exempted activities. The Chief of Police will designate the curfew hours within these zones and communicate them to the public, but they will not begin before 8:00 pm or end after 6 am. 

A list of declared Juvenile Curfew Zones is available in a link at the bottom of this page. That list includes zones declared in July and August 2025 under the first Juvenile Curfew Amendment Act of 2025, and in November 2025 under Mayor’s Order 2025-115. 

Juvenile Curfew Zone Petition 

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Pursuant to the emergency law, an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC), business improvement district (BID), or Main Street organization may petition the Chief of Police to establish a Juvenile Curfew Zone with extended juvenile curfew hours in an area covered by, or adjacent to the area covered by, the organization. 
The petition must be approved by a formal vote of the members of the ANC, or the members of the BID or Main Street board of directors.

For more information on submitting a petition, please visit this form. 

Does the curfew law apply to non-District residents?

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Yes. The curfew law applies to all persons under the age of 18 who are in the District of Columbia during curfew hours. This includes both District residents as well as young people who reside elsewhere.

What are the penalties for violating the law?

A parent or legal guardian of a juvenile under the age of 18 commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, or by insufficient control allows, a minor to violate the curfew law. Any adult who violates the Juvenile Curfew Act is subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or community service. A minor who violates curfew may be ordered to perform up to 25 hours of community service.

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Persons under the age of 18 are exempt from curfew if they:

  • Accompany a parent or guardian
  • Complete an errand at the direction of a parent or guardian, without detour or stop
  • Ride in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel
  • Work or return home from a job, without detour or stop
  • Become involved in an emergency
  • Stand on a sidewalk that joins their residence or the residence of a next-door neighbor, if the neighbor did not complain to police
  • Attend an official school, religious, or other recreational activity sponsored by the District of Columbia, a civic organization, or other similar group that takes responsibility for the juvenile (this includes traveling to and from the activity)
  • Exercise their First Amendment rights protected by the US Constitution, including the free exercise of speech, religion, and right of assembly

Is a Curfew Law Constitutional?

Passed in 1995, The Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995 (DC Code 2-1541 et. seq.) was set up to protect the health and safety of young people and our communities. After the law was challenged in court, MPD stopped enforcement until the court decided whether the law was constitutional. In June 1999, the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found the law to be constitutional. The District began enforcing the law again in the fall of 1999. MORE ONLINE

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Metropolitan Police Department and previous FOX 5 reporting. 

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Road closures, parking restrictions for DC’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon – WTOP News

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Road closures, parking restrictions for DC’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon – WTOP News


Saturday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5k will have thousands of runners rocking through D.C. But drivers will want the party to end as fast as possible.

This year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5K run will have thousands of runners rocking through D.C. on Saturday. But drivers will want the party to end as fast as possible, as the race will bring a slew of road closures and parking restrictions to the District.

The 5K begins at 7:30 a.m. and the half marathon starts at 8 a.m. The finisher concert wraps up at 1:30 p.m. The routes for both races are below:

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The following streets will be closed from 3 a.m. to noon Saturday.

  • Constitution Avenue from 9th Street to 15th Street NW

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon.

  • Constitution Avenue from 15th Street 23rd Street NW
  • 10th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • 12th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • 14th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • Virginia Avenue from 18th Street to 19th Street NW
  • 18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street NW
  • 1800 block of C Street NW
  • E Street from 18th Street to 19th Street NW
  • 19th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue NW
  • 27th Street from Virginia Avenue to Whitehurst Freeway NW
  • I Street from 27th Street to Virginia Avenue NW
  • Calvert Street from 24th Street to Columbia Road NW
  • Adams Mill Road from 18th Street to Calvert Street NW
  • Columbia Road from 18th Street to 16th Street NW
  • Harvard Street from 16th Street to 5th Street NW
  • 5th Street from Harvard Street to Bryant Street NW
  • Bryant Street from 4th Street to North Capitol Street NW
  • North Capitol Street from Bryant Street to K Street NW
  • K Street from North Capitol Street to 5th Street NW
  • 4th Street from K Street to E Street NW
  • E Street from 4th Street to 6th Street NW
  • 6th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Parking will be restricted on the following streets from noon Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday.

  • Constitution Avenue from 6th Street to 7th Street NW
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 4th Street NW
  • 6th Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue NW
  • Madison Drive from 3rd Street to 4th Street

Parking will be restricted on the following streets from 4 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday.

  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 4th Street to 7th Street NW
  • Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 6th Street NW
  • 3rd Street from Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue SW
  • 4th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Parking will be restricted on the following streets Saturday from midnight to 2 p.m.

  • Constitution Avenue from 7th Street to 23rd Street NW
  • 10th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • 12th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • 14th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  • Virginia Avenue from 18th Street to 19th Street NW
  • 18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street NW
  • 1800 block of C Street NW
  • 1800 block of Virginia Avenue NW
  • E Street from 18th Street to 19th Street NW
  • 19th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue NW
  • 27th Street from Virginia Avenue to Whitehurst Freeway NW
  • I Street from 27th Street to Virginia Avenue NW
  • Calvert Street from 24th Street to Columbia Road NW
  • Adams Mill Road from 18th Street to Calvert Street NW
  • Columbia Road from 18th Street to 16th Street NW
  • Harvard Street from 16th Street to 5th Street NW
  • 5th Street from Harvard Street to Bryant Street NW
  • Bryant Street from 4th Street to North Capitol Street NW
  • North Capitol Street from Bryant Street to K Street NW
  • K Street from North Capitol Street to 5th Street NW
  • 4th Street from K Street to E Street NW
  • E Street from 4th Street to 6th Street NW
  • 6th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW

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