Friday, December 12, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET 
Check-in and coffee at 9:30 a.m. ET 

 
Urban Institute   
500 L'Enfant Plaza SW   
Washington, DC 20024 

REGISTER HERE 

Join the DC Education Research Collaborative—in partnership with District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and researchers from the Urban Institute, D.C. Policy Center, and Georgetown University—to hear key findings from the first year of the Career Development Opportunities in DC Public Schools study. The work looks at the entire landscape of opportunities available to more than 20,000 middle and high school students in DCPS, from career academies’ structured programs of study, to work-based learning, to informal programming like career counseling, job fairs, and career and technical student organizations.  
 
The convening features presentations from researchers, a guided data walk, and an expert panel discussion that will explore various career development opportunities and how they fit together to meet students’ needs and interests. 

Welcome 

• Dara Zeehandelaar Shaw, Director, DC Education Research Collaborative, Urban Institute  

Opening Remarks 

• Glenn Starnes II, Senior Deputy Chief for Social, Emotional and Academic Development Strategy, DC Public Schools 
• Mashonda Smith, Dean of Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning, University of the District of Columbia  

Presentation of Findings  

• Chelsea Coffin, Deputy Director, D.C. Policy Center 
• Rebecca A. Johnson, Assistant Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University  

Panel Discussion: Career Development for All: Building a Comprehensive Landscape of Opportunities for DC Public Schools Students  

• Candice Mott, CTE Performance Accountability Coordinator, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education  
• Jennie Niles, President and CEO, CityWorks DC  
• Glenn Starnes II, Senior Deputy Chief for Social, Emotional and Academic Development Strategy, DC Public Schools  
• Marian Wilkins, Principal, John Hayden Johnson Middle School, District of Columbia Public Schools  

• Jennifer L. Steele, Professor, School of Education, American University (moderator) 

Guided Data Walk 

Closing 

This event is available for in-person participation only. We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email events@urban.org if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event.  
 
The research reported here is supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, US Department of Education, through Grant R305N240059 to the Urban Institute. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Urban Institute or the US Department of Education. 
 
For more on Urban’s funding policies, go to urban.org/about/organizational-principles. Coffee is being provided by the DC Education Research Collaborative.