Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

Careers | Curriculum | Enrollment | Before and After School Program | Student Services

Careers

  • Mundo Verde requires that teachers possess one of the following: 

    • A DC teaching license/certification (or in the process of obtaining reciprocity)

    • A commitment to taking and passing PRAXIS (Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (10014) within the first year of teaching, or 

    • A degree in early childhood, elementary, or in the subject they are teaching (for Specials teachers).

  • At Mundo Verde we are committed to the education of our students by forming global stewards. Our teachers promote the academic and socio-emotional growth of our students through our pillars (bilingualism, sustainability and project-based learning) and our ESPICA habits (Empathy, Speak your truth, Perseverance, Inquiry, Collaboration, Appreciation). Our students are empowered in their daily learning by promoting curiosity and providing them with the differentiated support that each one needs to achieve the goals set in each class.

  • Mundo Verde’s biliteracy program begins in the early years for 3 to 5 year-olds as full immersion in Spanish language, in which general educators teach 100 percent of instruction in Spanish. From first to fifth grade, general education classes are dual immersion, with 50 percent of learning in English and 50 percent in Spanish, content across all subjects in each language is seamlessly woven throughout the students’ week.  Expeditions have a different focus in each language, and the overall theme is consistent across the grade and inclusive of both languages. Specials are taught in the language of the instructor (Spanish or English).

  • We teach our students to be stewards of their communities. Our expedition topics are all aligned to sustainability themes and standards developed by the Cloud Institute for Sustainability. We aim to reduce waste and reuse materials whenever possible. Most school communication is done electronically. Every classroom, office, and kitchens at both campuses actively recycle and compost our waste. Students and staff learn how to sort their waste. We have been able to dramatically reduce the amount of trash we are sending to the landfills, and we also have a community composting project. Our buildings have been renovated to be energy efficient, reducing our environmental impact. We also encourage healthy eating and physical activity. Students receive cooking & gardening specials. School lunches are served family style in the classroom, and use mainly local, organic, and seasonal food items. 

  • Each full workweek, teachers are provided a minimum of two hundred sixty (260) minutes per week of student-free planning time during the instructional day and one hundred (100) minutes during the morning block for conference and preparation/planning time. The use of this time is determined by grade-level teams. Teachers typically have meetings with their language or cohort partners, inclusion teacher, Response To Intervention (RTI) coordinator, or grade-level team.

  • Grade-level teams develop a plan for implementing curriculum across languages. Teachers regularly meet with their English and Spanish counterparts in order to discuss curriculum and work plans. Teachers within a cohort work together to establish norms and expectations.

  • Internal professional development sessions for instructional staff take place every Wednesday throughout the school year. These sessions engage staff with implementation priorities and content that drive equity and instructional work plan goals for the year while deepening our school-wide culture. Teachers are given access to external professional development opportunities relative to need, seniority, and capacity to share with others. Internally, teams may receive some professional development differentiated to the needs of grade-level teams. Additionally, instructional staff can engage with self-paced, competency-based digital forms of certification called microcredentials. The school also provides administrative leave to visit schools or other classrooms for the purpose of learning walks.

  • Teachers and students have access to iPads, projectors, document cameras and cameras as needed. Chromebooks for specialized materials are available to students in second grade and up. Assessments in grades Kinder and up are conducted using chromebooks. Mundo Verde has a technology policy that articulates the use of technology across the grades, favoring limited screen time for early learners, and intentional use of technology for authentic purposes in upper grades.

  • Mundo Verde has sponsored staff in the past, this can be a long and laborious process with no visa guarantee. We are not sponsoring visas at this time. 

Curriculum

  • Mundo Verde uses a variety of curricula connected to our pillars, mission, and vision. For PreK, we use the Creative Curriculum. For grades K-5, we use Eureka for math and a school-crafted curriculum for literacy and expedition. We supplement these with resources from Benchmark (Reading Workshop and Phonics Workshop) and Teacher's College (Reader's and Writer's Workshop)

  • In grades K-2 we use the workshop model, which consists of a mini-lesson, independent work time, and a closure. For grades 3-5 we use the 5E model, which consists of engagement, exploration time, explanation, elaboration time and finally an evaluation.

  • Mundo Verde’s biliteracy program begins in the early years for 3 to 5 year olds withfull immersion in the Spanish language, in which general educators teach 100 percent of instruction in Spanish. From 1st to 5th grade, general education classes are dual immersion, with 50 percent of learning in English and 50 percent in Spanish. Content across all subjects in each language is seamlessly woven throughout the students’ week. In 1st and 2nd grade, students are taught all day and all contents by one teacher in Spanish and English on alternating days. For students in 3rd through 5th grade, they have three core instructional blocks daily: Spanish Humanities and Expedition, English Humanities and Expedition, and Math and Expedition. 

    Grade level teams develop a plan for implementing curriculum across languages. In some instances, the curriculum is integrated, with both languages alternating lessons within a given unit of study. For other grades, the curriculum is designed to divide content within a unit, with each language assuming responsibility for different standards in the content area.

  • Expeditions are interdisciplinary and taught across languages, with grade-level teachers strategically planning how to split the content. Expeditions have a different focus in each language, and the overall theme is consistent across the grade and inclusive of both languages.

  • All expeditions involve between one and three fieldworks per year. Fieldwork provides students with the opportunity to explore topics more deeply, work with experts, ask questions, and discover new ways to gain knowledge of the world around us. Fieldwork is directly related to the curriculum and the community in general.

  • The curriculum includes expeditions that consist of one to three field studies. Mundo Verde students engage in fieldwork, which involves taking on the role of active researchers and utilizing professional research tools, inquiry techniques, and standards, differentiating it from traditional field trips.

  • With the curricular update, standardized assessments were incorporated to evaluate the Common Core standards and the literacy skills required for the MAP, CAPE and STAMP.

Enrollment

  • 8:30am - 3:30pm / Wed - 8:30am - 1:00pm

  • Before school: 7:30 - 8:30am / After school: 3:30 - 6:00pm

  • For 2025-26, full-time after-school (3:30-6:00, and Wed 1:00-6:00), full price was $485/mo; reduced meal price $194/mo, free meal price $97/mo.

  • Yes, families are required to sign up.

  • SY25-26 Rates - $120 per month, covering daytime lunch ($100) and daytime snacks ($20). (No cost if you qualify for FARM)

  • Mundo Verde T-shirt: $10 short sleeve / $12 long sleeve. Free or reduced meal price: $3 short sleeve and $8 long sleeve.

  • 2025-26 Total Enrollment: 1,214 

    J.F. Cook Campus Enrollment: 605 

    Calle Ocho Enrollment: 609

  • We actively recruit more with organizations and communities that are underrepresented at our school.

  • PreK-3 and PreK-4: 100% of the week is Spanish immersion.

    Kinder: 90% of the week is Spanish immersion. The specials -physical education, cooking & gardening, movement, music, and art- are conducted mostly in English.

    1st - 5th grade: 50% Spanish and 50% English

    • Both Languages experienced daily

    • Reading and writing in both languages integrated into all projects and subjects

    • Students develop a love of reading and writing through exposure to the wonders and pleasures of literature and positive, authentic experiences as readers and writers

    • Currently, physical education, cooking & gardening, movement, music and art are conducted mostly in English

  • In PreK-3 and PreK-4 there is a lead teacher, a fellow teacher, and an associate.

    In Kinder through 2nd grade there is a lead teacher, and a fellow teacher.

    In 3rd through 5th grades there is a lead teacher.

    Special education teachers support classrooms across all grade levels through a co-teaching model.

  • The class size varies between 23 and 25 students per class.

  • We offer specials in visual arts, music, movement, cooking, and gardening; all specials are held in English. Special classes are held daily for kindergarten through 5th grade students; they have two different specials per trimester. During the after school program, we offer: chess, soccer, basketball, garden market, double dutch, theater, drumming, etc.

  • Yes, the classes are a mix of PreK-3 and PreK-4 students.

  • 60 min+

  • No, students are not required to be potty trained for acceptance. However, please note that our staff is not certified to change diapers. To ensure students' comfort, we encourage families to make every effort to have their children practice using the bathroom before coming to school.

  • No. As a public school, we do not enroll students based on their language background or achievement.

  • Each student learns differently. Having said that, research suggests that language acquisition becomes easier with each additional language learned.

  • Math is integrated into different parts of the day through different activities (morning meeting, read-aloud, closing circle). It is more intentionally included in the centers, where some centers are specifically tied to math skills.

  • The curriculum and benchmarks for PreK follow the Teaching Strategies GOLD objectives. Teachers differentiate for students along this ability continuum knowing that students may be below, on level, or above level has given the developmental variance in grades PreK-3 through Kinder.

  • Students at Mundo Verde do fieldwork. Fieldwork is different from field trips because students take a role as active investigators, engaging to apply research tools, techniques of inquiry, and standards of presentation used by professionals in the field. All expeditions involve between one and three fieldwork twice a year. Fieldwork gives students the opportunity to explore subjects more deeply, work with experts, ask questions, and explore new ways to gain knowledge from the world around us all. Fieldwork is directly connected to the curriculum.

  • We adopt a restorative justice approach to student conflicts, guided by our commitment to ESPICA values (empathy, speaking your truth, perseverance, inquiry, collaboration, and appreciation), while also seeking to understand individual student needs and collaborating with families to support positive behaviors.

  • The student’s preference will be revoked and the student will be placed on the waiting list according to their original lottery number. This applies when an applicant is matched to Mundo Verde with sibling preference and their enrolled sibling withdraws from Mundo Verde prior to the OSSE enrollment certification date (October 5), and when an applicant is matched to Mundo Verde with children of staff preference and their parent/guardian leaves Mundo Verde prior to the OSSE enrollment certification date (October 5). If the student has already started attending school, the family may petition the Executive Director to remain enrolled.

  • Mundo Verde grants campus preference to current students from one Mundo Verde campus to another. If they have completed a full academic year with Mundo Verde. You must complete a lottery application through My School DC, and if we have space available at your preferred campus, we will let you know when the lottery results are in.

  • Please visit the FAQ section of the My School DC website.

Before and After School Program

  • The programs are conducted primarily in Spanish. It is in-house and thoughtfully structured to support student learning and development beyond day-time school hours. The program aims to strengthen knowledge and skills while helping students learn through diverse perspectives about the community in which we live. The After School Program offers enrichment workshops on a rotation cycle across the units of study throughout the school calendar.

  • We are committed to meeting 100% of the demand for the before and after school program and have successfully done so over the past three years. At the beginning of the school year, there may be a short wait due to staffing while we finalize hiring; however, we work quickly to accommodate all students as soon as possible.

  • Mundo Verde offers sliding scale fees to help caregivers access the Extended Day Program (Before and After School) regardless of economic constraints. Caregivers behind on a monthly payment due to an unforeseen circumstance, can establish a payment plan. Caregivers may also seek hardship support for reduced pricing when they do not meet FARM qualifications.

  • Students registered in the After School Program can be picked up during designated pick-up times only. These designated pick up times allow for a full experience of the specialties imparted in the program.

  • Designated pick-up times allow students to fully experience the specialties imparted in the program. Parents are asked to report to the front desk of their respective campuses, demonstrate their IDs, and their child/ren will be called and brought to the front desk.

    M, T, Th, F 
    3:30-6:00pm

    Pick-up times
    5:15-5:30 pm
    5:45-6:00 pm


    Wednesday
    3:30-6:00 pm

    Pick-up times
    4:15-4:30pm
    5:15-5:30pm
    5:45-6:00pm

  • Late-pick-ups are not permissible. The program closes at 6:00pm and children must be picked up at that time. Students picked up after 6:00pm will be billed a late fee.

  • Students who will be absent in after school for any particular day must email to extendedday@mundoverdepcs.org by 10:00am the day of the absence. Communicating this in advance will ensure your child is not transitioned to the after-school program at the end of the school day.

Student Services

  • Our school is dedicated to promptly identifying and meeting each student's unique needs through a thorough and efficient referral, evaluation, and eligibility process. You can also contact the Director of Student Services if you suspect that your child may require additional support.

  • With the support of a highly skilled professional team and in partnership with external organizations we offer: Individualized Education Programs (IEP) co-designed with families, development of section 504 Accommodation Plans, response to intervention, special education, behavioral health services and a crisis team as needed, students experiencing homelessness, truancy, acute needs, and school nurses.