Start of School Checklists for LEA Leaders and LEA-Level Points of Contact Now Available
To ensure that LEAs are fully prepared to welcome students for the 2020-21 school year, OSSE has created checklists that outline some of the most critical tasks for LEA leaders and their LEA-level points of contact (POCs) to complete.
Additional information about the 2020-21 Start of School Campaign, including full details and resources for each priority area, registration for summer trainings, and a comprehensive list of dates and deadlines for getting start-of-school-ready should visit OSSE's website.
2020-21 Start of School Training Series Resources Now Live
To support the development opportunities being offered this summer, OSSE has released a new section of the Start of School website devoted to the 2020-21 Start of School training series. Organized by priority area, this central hub provides LEA POCs with a one-stop shop for accessing the dates and objectives of each training opportunity, registration links, presentation materials, and webinar recordings.
Planned to make certain that each LEA has a team of skilled POCs who can leverage student-level data from multiple systems to meet state and federal requirements and effectively serve students on the first day of school, the training series includes orientation sessions for:
LEA Data Managers,
English Learner Coordinators,
Enrollment Audit POCs,
Special Education POCs, and
Transportation POCs.
As a reminder, if your LEA has hired any staff within the last two years in one or more of the aforementioned roles, those staff members are strongly encouraged to view the recording of the “New LEA POC Orientation Training” associated with their role(s). In addition, OSSE has facilitated regular touchpoints throughout the summer for all start-of-school LEA roles, and additional deep-dive training topics for specific roles pertaining to serving special populations.
For questions regarding these trainings, please contact Annette Thacker-Bartlett at Annette.Thacker@dc.gov.
2020-21 School Year LEA Continuous Education & School Recovery Plan Application Due Aug. 7, 2020
The District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued use of social distance measures to protect public health will require schools to prepare for both in-person and distance learning for the 2020-21 school year. While we need to keep students and staff safe, ensuring that students continue to learn and grow is critical now more than ever. In response to this need, OSSE developed a set of guiding principles to provide LEAs and families with clear and consistent expectations for the continuous education that should take place during the 2020-21 school year. We solicited feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders on a draft of these guiding principles and are now publishing the final guiding principles along with a collection of resources to support the effective implementation of these principles.
In order to grant LEAs the calendar flexibility that will be needed for the 2020-21 school year, OSSE and the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) will require LEAs to develop Continuous Education and School Recovery Plans for 2020-21. OSSE and DC PCSB are sharing this LEA Continuous Education and School Recovery Plan jointly to streamline operations and reduce burden for LEAs so each entity may fulfill its lawful functions. The application is aligned to OSSE’s Continuous Education Guiding Principles and the questions can be found on OSSE's website. The application is due today, Aug. 7.
These applications should be submitted through QuickBase. LEA Heads of Schools and data managers have been given access to the QuickBase application for completing plans. To support submission, please refer to the recorded webinar.
DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) 2020-21 Deadline Extended
OSSE is extending the deadline for applicants to complete the DCTAG application and submit all supporting documentation from Monday, Sept. 7,2020 to Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. View official notice 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’s 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 the 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 Friday, Nov. 13, 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. Also, DCTAG has been allowed to make an exception to accept non certified D-40 taxes for the 2020-21 school year only. For students who are planning to apply for DCTAG for the 2021-22 school year, the certified 2019 D-40 and the certified 2020 D-40 will be required.
For more information, please visit the DCTAG website.
2020-21 School Year DCPS Technology Survey
DC Public Schools (DCPS) is committed to ensuring a strong reopening for the 2020-21 school year. To help plan for the start of school, DCPS is asking all families to submit this brief technology survey to help inform preparation.
This survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete and is voluntary. Your feedback through this survey will help DCPS evaluate device needs for all incoming students and develop a plan that meets the needs of our community.
Important: Please submit a separate form for each of your DCPS students.
Homeschooling Informational Guides Available
OSSE has released two new informational guides on homeschooling in the District of Columbia. Homeschool Information for District of Columbia Families provides parents and legal guardians with information on the requirements to homeschool, including notification to OSSE. Homeschooling in the District of Columbia: An Informational Guide for LEAs provides LEAs and schools with information about homeschooling, including the steps a school must take to withdraw a student due to homeschooling.
Parents/legal guardians who elect to administer a homeschooling program in the District of Columbia must complete a Notification of Intent to Homeschool at least 15 business days prior to the first day of home instruction. Additionally, for any year the parent/legal guardian chooses to continue a homeschooling program, they must complete a Notification of Homeschool Continuation by Aug. 15. Parents/legal guardians may choose to discontinue a homeschooling program at any time and, to do so, must complete a Notification to Discontinue Homeschooling and email it to OSSE.Homeschool@dc.gov at least 15 business days prior to discontinuation.
Weekly OSSE School Reopening Health and Safety Calls
OSSE, in partnership with DC Health, PCSB, DCPS and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education is hosting a series of technical assistance calls for LEAs and school leaders on the implementation of health and safety guidance during the reopening period.
These weekly Monday calls will take place from 1-2 p.m. The next meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 10. The discussion will include a deep dive on meal provision during virtual instruction. [Register] The audience for these calls includes LEA leaders, principals and other administrators and school health points of contact.
The Monday calls will include, but not be limited to:
Deep dives on topical areas within DC Health and OSSE’s health and safety guidance;
Discussion of resources from OSSE, DC Health, PCSB and DCPS to support implementation of the health and safety guidance;
Answers to live and previously submitted questions; and
Opportunity for attendees to share promising practices related to the implementation of health and safety guidance within their reopening plans.
Notice for IDEA Annual LEA Determinations
The Individual with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) requires OSSE to make annual determinations about each LEA’s implementation of Part B of the IDEA. In making local determinations, OSSE considers federally required elements, as well as other metrics relevant to the IDEA.
The Federal Fiscal Year 2018 IDEA Determinations will be issued in September through the IDEA Determinations Application. Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, OSSE provided each LEA their designated determinations assignment through a web-based application. This web-based application provided a more informative approach in ensuring LEAs were provided with the data and tools to understand their determination assignment.
The web-based application will provide underlying data, scores for each determination element, and the overall determination calculation and assignment (i.e., meets requirements, needs assistance, needs intervention, etc.). In addition, the appeals process will also be included in the web-based application with the capability for LEAs to submit evidence in the web-based application and review the status of OSSE’s review process in real-time.
The IDEA Determinations web-based application is similar to the report LEAs access in QuickBase for their risk assignment during the Coordinated Risk-Based Monitoring activities. Upon the release of determinations, OSSE will provide a webinar to walk through each section of the web-based application to ensure each LEA feels supported and knowledgeable about their determination assignment. For questions, please contact Megan Williams at Megan.Williams@dc.gov.
Notice of Final Rulemaking: Chapter 75 Alternative Program Designation
On June 14, 2019, OSSE released a Notice of Final Rulemaking proposing a new chapter titled “Alternative Program” to Subtitle A “Office of the State Superintendent of Education” of Title 5 “Education” in the DC Municipal Regulations. This chapter sets forth the eligibility criteria for a school or specialized program within a school to be designated as an alternative education program and establishes the application process.
For LEAs applying for alternative program designation for the 2020-21 school year, the application can be found on the OSSE website and will close on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020.
For more information, please contact Byra Cole at Byra.Cole@dc.gov.
Important Immunization Reminder and Requirements for In-Person Learning (reminder)
As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency, District physicians have recorded an extremely low rate of pediatric immunization administrations this year. According to DC Health, the rate of pediatric immunization administrations has dropped by 70 percent in the District as families have avoided or not had access to well-child care during the emergency period. Due to this, many children in the District are not fully immunized, creating a high risk for an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable infectious disease such as measles among our students. DC Health has advised that such an outbreak of another infectious disease could be as much, or even more, of a public health risk for school communities than COVID-19 itself, and would add another complex obstacle for school operations this year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of protecting children against contagious diseases. Now, more than ever, families should make appointments and receive their necessary immunizations and flu shots. DC Health is prepared to support schools and families by providing more information on the importance of immunizations and details on where to access immunizations in the District. A list of health providers and locations offering pediatric immunizations is available on the DC Health website. Health providers are prepared to continue accepting appointments for administering immunizations throughout the duration of the health emergency and are taking protective measures to ensure safety of patients.
Due to the dangerously low pediatric immunization compliance and in an effort to protect the health and safety of all students, DC Health and OSSE have advised that all schools are to adopt the Immunization Policy for In-Person Attendance beginning in the 2020-21 school year. This includes notifying and potentially removing non-compliant students from in-person instruction after a 20-school day period due to the public health risks of in-person congregation without up-to-date immunizations. We request your assistance with communicating immunization requirements to all families now to give them as much time as possible to make appointments with their health care providers before the start of school.
OSSE's website has resources, training and information available for schools and families to support meeting immunization requirements. For questions about the Immunization Policy for In-Person Attendance, please contact OSSE.SchoolHealth@dc.gov. For questions about immunization information, data, and locations where families can receive immunizations, schools can contact DC Health at SHS.Program@dc.gov or visit the DC Health Immunization Program webpage.
Upcoming Virtual PD Sessions for DC Educators
OSSE's Division of Teaching and Learning (TAL) offers a robust PD Series, hosted through virtual platforms. Our series includes a diverse range of content topics, with 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.
LEA Special Education Points of Contact Webinar
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, from 10-11 a.m., OSSE will host its next monthly webinar training for all LEA Special Education Points of Contact (LEA SE POCs). During this training, OSSE will provide important information relevant to your role as the LEA SE POC, according to the following agenda:
Policy Updates
Monitoring Updates
Transportation Updates
SEDS Updates
Please Note: All LEA SE POCs are expected to participate in the monthly webinars, and share any relevant content, updates, or announcements with LEA staff following the broadcast. If you are not already signed up for the webinar, please register.
For questions about this webinar, please contact Tiffany Ingram at Tiffany.Ingram1@dc.gov.
Addressing Unfinished Teaching and Learning in Academic Content Areas: Understand, Diagnose and Take Action(reminder)
The Academic Content Team in OSSE's Division of Teaching and Learning is excited to host a three-part professional learning series for school teams to support unfinished teaching and learning as a result of COVID-19. In this series, school teams will have the opportunity to collaboratively engage in a foundational session to support their understanding of where students are in relation to grade-level content mastery. The teams will then have the opportunity to divide and conquer content area supports in order to diagnose through the lens of content specific needs and take action based on classroom level content needs.
Session 1: Understanding in Order to Diagnose & Take Action This Fall (prerequisite for Sessions 2 & 3)
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, 9:30-11 a.m. [Register] or Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, 3:30-5 p.m. [Register]
Session 2: Quick Checks for Understanding in Academic Content Areas
ELA: Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, 9:30-11 a.m. [Register]
Math: Tuesday, Aug 25, 2020, 9:30-11 a.m. [Register]
Science: Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, 9:30-11 a.m. [Register]
Session 3: Take Action! Strategies for Teaching Remotely in Academic Content Areas
Participants are encouraged to register as a school team to ensure the cycle of understanding, diagnosing and taking action (UDT cycle) can be implemented across all content areas. Full participants will have the additional opportunity to sign up for a content specific work group to further collaborate with colleagues and receive technical assistance. For more information, please contact Lauren Allen at Lauren.Allen@dc.gov, Tanaga Rodgers at Tanaga.Rodgers@dc.gov or Ashleigh Tillman at Ashleigh.Tillman@dc.gov.
Human Trafficking Awareness and Mandated Reporter Training (reminder)
OSSE’s Division of Systems and Supports, K-12, in collaboration with the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA), will host a combined virtual Human Trafficking Awareness and Mandated Reporter Training. Mandated reporters are professionals obligated by the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and DC law to report known or suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect. In DC, mandated reporters who should be trained include school officials, teachers, athletic coaches, counselors, social service workers and other direct care professionals. This training is for new mandated reporters, previously identified mandated reporters, as well as DC educators and school staff who interact with District students.
OSSE invites you to attend the virtual Human Trafficking Awareness and Mandated Reporter training on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, from 12-4 p.m. For additional details and to register, please visit OSSE's website. For more information or questions, contact OSSE Special Programs Unit at OSSE.SPU@dc.gov.
Implementing the DC Early Learning Standards Training-of-Trainers Session (reminder) DC Child Care Connections (DC CCC) is offering a training-of-trainers session unpacking the newly updated DC Early Learning Standards (DC ELS). This in-depth, interactive training will describe the purpose and procedures for effectively introducing the DC ELS. It will also offer techniques and resources to support educators in implementing the DC ELS in their classrooms.
This is a six-hour training conducted via webinar. Upon completion of this training and assessment results showing at least 80 percent mastery of the training content, participants will be certified to train on the DC ELS and will receive a certificate. If the participant is a certified trainer through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) Trainer Approval Program (TAP), the DC ELS certification will be added to their TAP records on file as well as added to their entry in the Professional Development Information System (PDIS) trainer list. Webinar dates are below:
Option One
Modules One and Two: Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Registration for this training is by invitation only and limited to one trainer per DC Public School or DC Public Charter School campus. For more information or questions, please contact DC CCC at OSSE.DCchildcareconnections@dc.gov.
Fiscal Year 2021 MOAAA African American Community Grant(reminder)
The Mayor’s Office on African American Affairs (MOAAA) is soliciting grant applications for its fiscal year 2021 (FY21) African American Affairs Community Grant from qualified community-based organizations (CBOs) providing direct services to the District’s African American community.
Funding priority areas identified for FY21 are aligned with Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration budget priorities:
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.
Subscribe to LEA Look Forward
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.
