Help Connect College-Bound Students Experiencing Homelessness with OSSE College Starter Kits
Meet the Higher Education Licensure Commission’s First Student Advisory Committee Members (reminder)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates in the District DC Schools Family Survey: Mayor Bowser deeply values partnership with the District’s public school families and community stakeholders. To support smart and safe decision-making around how to reopen our schools in the fall, the Bowser Administration is launching the DC Schools Family Engagement Survey to collect feedback from our community. This survey is meant to better understand family preferences for how students will engage in learning during the 2020-21 school year.
The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and your responses will be anonymous. The survey will be available until Monday, June 8, 2020, at 10 p.m.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B Provision of FAPE Frequently Asked Questions: On May 29, 2020, OSSE issued Guidance Related to coronavirus (COVID-19): IDEA, Part B Provision of FAPE Frequently Asked Questions, available on OSSE’s website. The guidance answers questions regarding IDEA Part B procedures, application of the DC Health Administrative Order No. 2020-02 on waiver of licensure requirements for healthcare providers, LEA recovery planning and compensatory education, and enrollment of students with disabilities in DC LEAs. LEAs are encouraged to review this guidance to support their delivery of special education to students with disabilities during the District’s health emergency. For questions, please contact the Division of Systems and Supports, K-12 policy team at OSSE.DSEpolicy@dc.gov.
Remote Home Visitation to Verify Residency Guidance: On June 2, 2020, OSSE issued guidance to LEAs regarding remote home visitation when verifying residency. In circumstances where home visitation is required, OSSE has issued guidance on ways to verify residency while maintaining social distancing requirements and public health advisements. Additionally, proof of payment no longer needs to match the amount stipulated in the lease when accompanied by a letter of explanation from the property owner or leasing agency.For questions relating to these policies please contact OSSE’s Director of Enrollment and Residency, Aaron Parrott at Aaron.Parrott@dc.gov.
DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) 2020-21 Deadline Extended (reminder): OSSE is extending the deadline for applicants to complete the DCTAG application and submit all supporting documentation from Tuesday, June 30, 2020 to Thursday, July 23,2020. View guidance on OSSE's website.
The DCTAG application opened Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 for the 2020-21 academic year, which includes the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. Applicants must submit certain supporting documentation to prove domicile in the District of Columbia. A prior year Certified D-40 Tax Return from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) is a commonly used document to demonstrate domicile.
In response to coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Bowser and OTR extended the District of Columbia’s tax filing deadline from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020. OSSE’s extension of the DCTAG application deadline to Thursday, July 23, 2020 will allow families taking advantage of the extended tax filing deadline to use the Certified D-40 Tax Return to demonstrate domicile for DCTAG. For more information, please visit the DCTAG website.
Nationwide Waiver of Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessments in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs(reminder): The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service is establishing a nationwide waiver to support LEAs unable to complete a local wellness policy (LWP) triennial assessment by Tuesday, June 30, 2020 as a result of closures due to coronavirus (COVID-19). OSSE recognizes the impact COVID-19 school closures have had on District LEAs’ ability to complete a LWP triennial assessment and has elected to use this waiver.
LEAs that are required to complete a LWP triennial assessment by Tuesday, June 30, 2020 may elect to receive a one-year waiver with a new deadline of Wednesday, June 30, 2021.
LEAs wishing to accept a new deadline must inform OSSE on or before Tuesday, June 30, 2020 by emailing OSSE.SchoolHealth@dc.gov citing “LWP waiver extension” in the subject line. OSSE will acknowledge receipt of the message.
OSSE must receive notice from LEAs wishing to utilize the one-year waiver by Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
LEAs are not required to utilize the one-year waiver and may choose to complete their local wellness policy triennial assessment by Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Completed triennial assessments and updates to LWPs may be sent to OSSE at OSSE.SchoolHealth@dc.gov. OSSE stands ready to provide support and assistance to LEAs regarding local wellness policies. OSSE plans to release a guide in the coming months to support the development of high-quality LWPs, including specific sections updated to reflect new considerations in light of coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you are not sure if your LEA local wellness policy triennial assessment is due or if you have questions, please email OSSE.SchoolHealth@dc.gov, citing “LWP waiver extension” in the subject line.
OSSE Guidance: For access to all COVID-19-related published guidance from OSSE, please visit OSSE's website.
For resources and information about the District of Columbia Government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) response and recovery efforts, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.
Significant Disproportionality Methodology Update – Utilization of Multi-Year Flexibility
Each year, OSSE examines its LEAs for racial and ethnic disparities in special education using its methodology for significant disproportionality. As a result, OSSE identifies LEAs that exceed its risk ratio threshold for significant disproportionality on an annual basis. Moving forward, OSSE will implement the multi-year flexibility to identify LEAs as having significant disproportionality. Under this flexibility, OSSE will continue to examine LEAs for significant disproportionality annually, but will only identify LEAs that exceed the risk ratio thresholds in the same analysis category for up to three years.
To gradually implement this change, for the 2019-20 school year, OSSE will identify LEAs that were identified as having a significant disproportionality last school year (2018-19) and for this school year (2019-20). Beginning in the 2020-21 school year and in following years, OSSE will only identify LEAs that exceed the risk ratio threshold for three consecutive years.
Additional information on this update will be provided during the monthly OSSE Special Education Point of Contact Webinar (date TBD) and annual trainings on LEA required activities related to significant disproportionality (dates TBD). For more information on significant disproportionality, including the revised methodology, please visit OSSE's Significant Disproportionality website.
Register Today! Summer 2020 Virtual PD Sessions for DC Educators
OSSE's Division of Teaching and Learning (TAL) is excited to announce its Summer 2020 PD Series, all of which will be hosted through virtual platforms. Our summer series includes a diverse range of content topics, but a common theme of preparing educators to meet the needs of students this fall, whether that be inside the walls of a classroom, through distance learning, or a blended learning model.
Who Can Attend? Sessions are open to all educators serving in public and public charters schools in the District. Most courses will provide OSSE professional learning units (PLUs). Please reference the individual course descriptions for more details on PLU requirements, target audience, and session objectives.
OSSE School-Based Professional Learning Partnership Application
Research shows that ongoing job-embedded professional learning has the greatest impact on improving student outcomes. In order to support the District’s school communities in building professional learning systems, OSSE's TAL Division invites school-based leaders to apply for a year-long professional learning experience of up to five full days on a particular focal area. In this partnership:
School-based leaders apply for a professional learning series for their staff in a particular focal area.
The professional learning series will be scheduled to occur throughout the year, for up to five full days.
Sessions will take place in person at the school or virtually, as needed.
If selected, school-based leaders will:
Work with TAL to schedule sessions for the year;
Ensure staff participate in each session and complete survey evaluations;
Help collect observational data on implementation of learning objectives; and
Oversee staff applying new practices between professional learning sessions, with support from TAL.
LEA or school leadership approval is required to participate in the program. If a large number of applications is received, selections will be based on school need and TAL capacity. Apply by Friday, June 19, 2020. For questions, please contact Jenye Fletcher at Jenye.Fletcher@dc.gov.
Friday Math Series: Digital Tools for Teaching Math Remotely(reminder)
Interested in learning how other teachers in the District of Columbia are teaching math remotely? Join OSSE and your fellow K-12 educators each Friday in June where we will highlight a digital tool and share how teachers in the District are using the tool to improve distance learning. At the end of each session, math teachers will be encouraged to ask questions, share challenges and brainstorm solutions together. Different tools will be shared each week:
Friday, June 5, 2020, 2-2:45 p.m. Facilitating Small Group Math Instruction with Microsoft Teams
Friday, June 12, 2020, 11-11:45 a.m. Supporting Independent Math Practice with Explain Everything
Friday, June 19, 2020, 2-2:45 p.m. Creating Instructional Math Videos with Screencastify
Friday, June 26, 2020, 11-11:45 a.m. Math Assessments with Edulastic
Participants are encouraged, but not required, to attend all four sessions. Participants who attend at least two sessions are eligible to receive OSSE professional learning units (PLUs). All registration links are found in the OSSE Training Registration app—search for each session by date and title, then scroll right to select “Add Registration.” For questions, contact Tanaga Rodgers at Tanaga.Rodgers@dc.gov.
Children’s National Hospital Brings Digital Mental Wellness Course to Middle and High School Students in DC (reminder) Children’s National announcedits partnership with EverFI, Inc., a leading education technology innovator to launch a free interactive mental wellness digital course for middle and high school students enrolled in DC public and public charter schools. The course, titled Mental Wellness Basics, offers educators proven and effective learning tools to promote meaningful conversations that can lead to lifelong health and wellness. The course is designed to equip students in grades 8-10 with the knowledge and necessary skills to build, maintain and promote positive mental health in themselves and in their peers. DC public and public charter schools interested in offering this free resource can contact Teagan Seeley, senior schools manager at EverFI, at Tseeley@everfi.com.
ESEA and IDEA Fiscal Year 2021 Phase I Assurances Released
LEA leaders and grant managers should have received email notification(s) on Monday, June 1, that the Phase I Assurances for ESEA and IDEA Part B applications have been released in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS). The Phase I applications for both grants are due by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
For questions questions regarding ESEA, please email Con.App@dc.gov. For questions regarding IDEA, please contact Kieran Bowen at Kieran.Bowen@dc.gov.
Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Competition(reminder)
OSSE is now accepting applications for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant competition. Applications must be submitted in OSSE’s Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by 3 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2020 in order to be eligible for review.
Eligible agencies include LEAs, community-based organizations, other public or private entities, or consortia of two or more of such agencies or organizations. Organizations that initially received awards in fiscal year 2019 (FY19) or FY20 and are scheduled to receive a 21st CCLC continuation grant award in FY21 are ineligible to apply at this time. Organizations that initially received awards in FY18 and may be applying for a no-cost extension are eligible to apply.
The total funding available for 21st CCLC awards is $8.55 million. The 21st CCLC grant award period will begin July 1, 2020. Successful applicants will be funded for two additional years (FY22 and FY23) subject to funding availability. Applicants will need to create an EGMS username and password to access the 21st CCLC application. The 21st CCLC Request for Applications and application submission guidance are available on OSSE’s webpage. For questions, please contact OSSE at 21stcclc.Info@dc.gov or (202) 442-3255.
Help Connect College-Bound Students Experiencing Homelessness with OSSE College Starter Kits
Over the past few years, OSSE has purchased items to create college care packages for DC Charter and Public School students experiencing homelessness who were accepted and enrolled into college classes for their fall & spring academic year. Recipients received travel luggage, a laptop with Microsoft programs, school supplies, a backpack, towel sets, personal hygiene products, and other essential items to support their transition as a college student. This opportunity is available for 2019-20 school year high school graduates while supplies last. We know this is an uncertain time for all of our students, and we want to equip them with the supplies they may need at some point in the future. For more information and to apply, please visit OSSE's website. Students also have the option of completing and submitting their application along with the required documents online via SurveyMonkey. All submissions are due by Tuesday, June 30, 2020. For additional information or questions, please contact Tasheen Stallings at Tasheen.Stallings@dc.gov.
Meet the Higher Education Licensure Commission’s First Student Advisory Committee Members(reminder)
The Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC) is pleased to introduce the volunteers selected to serve on its first student advisory committee. The purpose of the student advisory committee is to provide feedback to the HELC on issues and policies pertinent to the student experience in career programs and degree-granting institutions operating in the District of Columbia. The four volunteer member’s appointments are for one year.
If you have an interest in serving on the Higher Education Licensure Commission Student Advisory Committee, please contact at OSSE.ELCmail.dc.gov. For more information, please visit OSSE's website.
OSSE will continue to update and redistribute these resources quarterly. If you have a question not addressed in these resources, please contact OSSE Communications at OSSE.Communications@dc.gov.
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To subscribe to OSSE's LEA Look Forward, please contact OSSE Communications at OSSE.Communications@dc.gov and provide your first name, last name, and email address.
