Q: Why is Yu Ying expanding?

A: For nearly 10 years, Yu Ying has pursued its growth dreams in response to:

• Huge family demand, as evidenced by some of the largest lottery waitlists in the city

• A commitment to equity, which includes making more spaces of our high quality education model available to children in all eight wards and to increase the number of seats we can offer through the Equitable Access lottery preference 

• Recognition that our current campus facilities at 220 Taylor Street are maxed out

• Growth provides opportunities for new, innovative programming for students, staff and families 

To accommodate our current student population, we had to repurpose some office spaces and amenities at Taylor Street into classrooms. A second campus will enable students, faculty, and administrative staff to better achieve our educational potential.

Since 2017, the Board of Trustees committed to implementing an inclusive, strategic growth plan. Working closely with school leaders, the Board has methodically moved the school, faculty, and caregiver community through multiple expansion requirements, including green-lighting criteria, and ultimately taking action by pairing with Washington Latin to purchase the Kirov campus.  

Of course, any expansion requires additional funding. As a public charter school, Yu Ying relies heavily on per-pupil revenues from the city. So, additional students bring additional funding. And, a new facility will enable us to offer Yu Ying’s unique educational  model, with both English and Chinese instruction, to more students. 

For more details and explanation of the Why Grow story, please see the recording of the November 30 Admin Coffee / Parent Town Hall.

Q: How many new students do we expect in Fall 2024?

A: March 28 update: In consideration of the construction schedule and programmatic considerations, the school submitted plans to MySchool DC to add 61 new learners in SY24-25, for a total student body of 691. 

This is a current reduction from the previous plan, which projected a total of 719 students for the upcoming school year.  The lower student enrollment allows us to continue to honor our growth plans, serve more students and build a strong ECE foundation while accounting for more restrictions on space.

Q: Why not delay opening the new facility until the 2025 school year? 

• We are committed to welcoming new students to Yu Ying next year in alignment with our growth plans.  It is important to give new families the best shot at accessing our unique, high performing model next year to the fullest extent possible.  

• While we are planning for contingency in the event of construction delays, current timelines offer opportunities to occupy the new space within Fall 2024.  To delay the opening of the new facility until SY25-26 would mean 80% of the 24-25 school year would elapse without students being able to enjoy the benefits of the new campus or the additional space at 220 Taylor.

• Currently, all contingency options allow for existing and new students to realize the benefits of the campus expansion for the majority of the SY24-25, protect Yu Ying’s finances, and fulfill the Yu Ying community’s commitment to equitable access and high quality academics.

• Additionally, our financing and grant plans are also built with student enrollment minimums.  All students enrolled at Yu Ying next year and beyond benefit from access to these beautiful spaces in the upcoming school year.  

Q: What is the current best estimate of when the second campus will be finished?

A: As a team, we have been working towards an August 2024 opening date as an aggressive option requiring many things to go smoothly.  Since that decision, some things have clicked into place while others, including a two month delay to access the site, permitting and weather have not.  

The latest schedule from our construction partner, Gilbane, still has a completion date in late August, but does not yet reflect milestones missed in Jan and Feb. We are currently about four weeks behind schedule. We are actively preparing contingency swing space for 4-15 weeks of delay, and will closely monitor construction progress through April to make a final determination of swing space timing and need in May.

March 1 Update: The permit has been secured, foundation work is almost complete; the first slab was poured on 2/9. Long lead time items are tracking on scheduling, which is good news for avoiding downstream delays.

March 28 Update: 

• Elevator and stairwell towers are near completion, with steel erection in progress. 

• Construction is fully two months behind milestone schedule. 

• We anticipate and have planned for a 4 week contingency option.  

• Finalist options were vetted and discussed by the Board’s Growth Committee in February and March. 

• The Board’s approved finalist option, as approved by vote at the March 12th meeting, provides contingency space through December 2024. 

Q: What is the current best estimate regarding the need for the use of a temporary space?

A: The construction schedule was ambitious from the beginning. There was a delayed start due to site access and permitting delays. In addition, we’ve had some snow accumulation and possibly more unpredictable weather this winter. As a result, there is a high likelihood of delay to completing the project. 

Yu Ying continues to prioritize 1) securing high-quality contingency swing spaces for as long they may be needed and 2) safely completing the construction as quickly as possible to minimize swing space use.

Q: How will students in the new campus be kept safe with construction of Washington Latin’s campus underway during SY 24-25?

A: The building contractor and project management teams have extensive work experience in school settings. Construction schedules will be coordinated to put the noisiest periods outside of school hours, and a variety of safety barriers (like fencing and site access controls) will be put in place to keep students and others away from any construction hazards.  We will also work in close coordination with MCN’s site leader and Latin’s administration to complete daily safety checks and walkthroughs.  

For examples and more discussion of this point, please see the November 2023 Board meeting minutes/slides. 

Q: What is the current planned contingency measure?

Following extensive due diligence research, negotiations, risk assessments, costing analysis, and community engagement of several options from July 2023 to March 2024, the Board of Trustees approved a recommendation from the Board’s Growth Committee at the March 12, 2024 Board of Trustees meeting to utilize a contingency plan for Fall 2024 by:

• Converting two existing trailers currently being used as staff offices on campus into classroom spaces

• Temporarily moving two sections of 5th grade students into the existing trailers for the duration of the delay, returning the students back to the main building when the swing space is no longer needed.

• Temporarily converting the freed space on campus to accommodate new sections of early childhood students, moving the students to the new campus when construction is completed and the swing space is no longer needed.

• Renting space at the Kirov building or other nearby options to allow for staff offices. 

Q: What was considered during the decision making process for this contingency measure? 

• Cost: What are the up-front and carrying costs of this swing space option? Is this affordable for Yu Ying? How do costs change based on the length of need?

• Impact on Students: How will students be affected by this option? Is the swing space safe? Will the space and associated logistics (e.g. long commute from main campus) and amenities (e.g. performance space) enhance or detract from academic program quality?

• Impact on Families: How will families be affected by this option? Will schedules, pick-up and drop-off routines, and REEF options change, particularly for families with students in multiple grades?

• Impact on Staff: How will staff be affected by this option? Will staff need to make significant adjustments to commutes, working space, or collaboration time?

• Compliance: How significant are the compliance hurdles associated with this option? Are there many approvals needed from PCSB, OSSE or other entities? Is there a significant risk of failing to get a needed approval?

• Staff Time Required to Implement: How much time and effort will Yu Ying leadership and staff need to expend to pull this off? Does the team have capacity to execute?

• Impact on Growth Plans: Will this option allow Yu Ying to keep pace with growth plans, and remain in good standing with our lender and other foundation/community funding partners?

Based on this criteria, the Growth Committee considered, but ruled out the following options in favor of the on-campus trailers:

• Delaying growth to Fall 2025

• Virtual or delayed start to the school year

• Locations offsite, including other schools, retail or trailer locations

For more details on the analysis, please refer to the March Board of Trustees Materials.

Q: What grade levels will be affected? 

At present, this contingency plan will impact two sections of fifth graders, who will move into the trailers temporarily for the duration of the delay only.

Q: Are you considering virtual learning? 

March 28 Update: In light of the above contingency plan, virtual learning will not be used for the SY24-25 school year. 

Q: Are you considering a delayed first day of school?

March 28 Update: In light of the above contingency plan, a delayed start will not be used for the SY24-25 school year.

FAQS are moved from the above sections when they been supplanted by new information. THE INFORMATION BELOW IS OUTDATED AND KEPT FOR REFERENCE ONLY. 

Q: How many new students do we expect in Fall 2024? (ARCHIVE)

A: The original growth plan projected adding 85 new learners in SY24-25. However, depending on construction and contingency planning, this may change. The school will make a final determination regarding possible new students in line with My School DC deadlines this spring.

Q: When will you make a decision on contingency space options? (ARCHIVE)

The Board will review the recommended contingency space options and narrow the list to 2-3 finalists in February. A preferred option will be selected in March. However, it will be important to monitor how the construction schedule progresses throughout the spring. 

In May, the Board plans to determine whether a swing space is needed and for what length of time; if the Board determines the space is required, a contract will be initiated.

Decision-making timeline: 

• July 2023: Growth Committee began initial outreach and landscape analysis on swing options 

• November 2023: Bolstered research with potential swing space options and generated a list of viable locations.

• February 2024: Narrow options to 2-3 finalists and conduct an in-depth review of each.

• March 2024 : In consultation with the Board of Trustees, select the best swing space option from the finalists and continue logistical planning in full detail. 

• May 2024: Based on construction progress and anticipated swing space needs, initiate contracting/leasing.

March 1st update: Finalist options under negotiation are 1) Trailers on site at Taylor Street, 2) Existing Kirov Building 3) Full Floor of an Academic Hall at Catholic University. 

Q: What are the contingency options being considered? (ARCHIVE)

We have researched a wide range of swing space options in the immediate vicinity of the Taylor Street campus, including using existing or new trailers on-site. In reviewing space options, we are evaluating: 

• Academic program quality

• Student safety

• Family convenience/comfort, including proximity to campus and logistics for pick-up and drop-off

• Impact on staff

• Costs

• Regulatory steps with government partners and agencies 

Finalist swing spaces are all less than 1 mile from campus. At this time, we anticipate impacted students will maintain a Taylor Street drop-off to minimize any disruption to commutes or sibling convenience. 

We are currently exploring the possibility of swing space options at Catholic University, the existing Kirov Ballet Academy building and use of trailers at Taylor Street.  Details and terms with swing candidates will be shared in a limited fashion given the deliberative nature of each negotiation.  Further information will be provided to the community when feasible and appropriate, with our commitment remaining to provide the most information to those impacted the most.  We share information in a specified order to ensure the Board, staff and those most impacted get the information in a timely and more detailed way. 

Q: How may different grades be affected? (ARCHIVE)

Older students (grades 3-5) could be shifted with less impact to their academic programs and fewer space modification requirements, so we anticipate moving an older grade into contingency/swing space, if necessary. 

We do not anticipate moving any early childhood students into swing space. 

It is likely that one older grade will be moved to swing space for the temporary period, with their classrooms being used to house younger students, and then that grade will move back into 220 Taylor when the PK3, PK4, and K students are able to transition into the new campus building.  

Q: How can I share a suggestion for an alternate / swing space? (ARCHIVE)

At this time, we have high confidence and negotiations underway with 3 leading contender swing spaces. We do not anticipate pursuing additional options at this time.  

Q: If the start date changes, would it be the same for all grades? (ARCHIVE)

As stated above, a delayed school start date is unlikely to be needed as swing options are a more likely/viable option.  If we need to change the date for the first day of school, we would change it for all grades.  We will confirm the school calendar in the spring following our usual process, keeping families updated.