CAPCS - Brief History

CAPCS was the culmination of years of effort by its founder Kent Amos to provide a means by which children could reach their full potential. A personal journey took Mr. Amos from the comfort of a corporate executive suite to urban housing projects and prisons where he came face to face with the environmental factors that short-circuit so many young lives. Along the way, he opened his home and his heart to some 87 children across the county, becoming a father figure who offered support, guidance, and hope.

Mr. Amos established the Urban Family Institute, a nonprofit, community-based organization, to connect families with programs and services that strengthened the family unit and helped family members to develop new skills. Chief among UFI's programs was Kids House, an after-school program established in neighborhoods across the country. Kids House offers an "extended family" for children. It provides a safe, caring, structured, educational environment in the after-school hours.

Direct and frequent contact with Kids Houses revealed gaps between children's daily experiences in school and the after-school care they received. There was little connection and adults were not able to establish meaningful or consistent relationships with the children's school that would have enabled them to address their academic and social needs more effectively.

When Congress passed the District of Columbia School Reform Act in 1995, UFI saw an opportunity to achieve its mission through a charter school. The model developed for CAPCS is designed to reverse the negative outcomes facing many urban children and their families by engaging them in powerful learning experiences based on world-class education methods and standards; a Kids House program for after-school care; strong community and parental involvement; and a highly qualified energetic staff.

Since opening its doors in September 1998, CAPCS has enjoyed strong and steady growth. Its initial enrollment of 289 students has swelled to nearly 1,000 across four campuses in grades Pre-school through 8th.

In addition to our four physical campuses, CAPCS offers a virtual campus with CAPCS Online (www.capcsonline.org), an option for parents with children for whom a traditional "bricks and mortar" school is not a good option. CAPCS partnered with K12, a pioneer in virtual education, to create a program which combines innovative instructional technology and a comprehensive curriculum. Students work at home using a computer and a set of multi-media instructional materials. They work with an experienced K12 teacher and must meet the same academic and testing standards as those in a traditional school.

CAPCS has purchased the historic Armstrong School at 1400 First Street, NW, and plans to open a new campus serving Pre-school through 12th beginning in the 2008-2009 school year.

CAPCS - Brief History