The Students’ Right to Home and Hospital Instruction Act (reminder) TheStudents’ Right to Home and Hospital Instruction Act of 2020 requires every LEA in the District of Columbia to adopt and implement a home and hospital instruction program beginning in the 2022-23 school year. The program will allow students to continue academic instruction in core subjects while they are unable to be present at school. In the coming weeks, OSSE will issue guidance and offer webinar training sessions to support LEAs as they design, adopt and implement a home and hospital instruction program. Announcements about guidance and events will be shared in the LEA Look Forward.
For questions about the Students’ Right to Home and Hospital Instruction Act of 2020, contact Dr. Ebonee Mayo-Mitchell atEbonee.Mayo-Mitchell@dc.gov.
OSSE Clinical Supports for Schools: Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) – Upcoming Webinar
OSSE will conduct a webinar for LEA leaders and LEA and school-based points of contact (POC)on Thursday, Aug. 4 from 1-2 p.m. During this webinar, OSSE will provide the following information:
The roles and responsibilities of the PCTs and RNs; and
The roles and responsibilities of LEAs and schools and school-based POC.
To register for the webinar on Thursday, Aug. 4 from 1-2 p.m., click on this link. Please forward this invitation to the appropriate members of your team.
COVID-19 Vaccination Fully Approved for Students Ages 12-15 (reminder)
On July 8, 2022, the FDA fully approved the COVID-19 vaccine, commonly known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for individuals 12 to 15 years old. The Act gives students 70 calendar days from FDA full approval to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine, which for students 12-15 years old, is Sept. 16, 2022.
The approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for individuals 12 to 15 means that, unless exempted, any student 12 to 15 years old at the start of the 2022-23 school year must have received the primary COVID-19 vaccine series or have started receiving the shot by Sept. 16, 2022.
Unless exempted, any student 16 or older at the start of the 2022-23 school year must have received the primary COVID-19 vaccination series or be proceeding with their series by the start of the 2022-23 school year.
To continue preparing schools and families for the 2022-23 immunization attendance policy requirements, OSSE is encouraging school leaders to continue engaging with families around well-child visits and immunization requirements using the resources available here and to continue working with school staff now to identify and notify students who are non-compliant with the immunization requirements.
Expanded Vaccine Access Opportunities (reminder)
The best place for DC families to access immunizations is at their primary medical provider as part of their comprehensive well-child care. If a family does not have a health care provider for their child or they have difficulty securing an appointment before the first day of school, they can select one from a list of pediatric clinic locations, located in every ward. In addition, DC Health will expand access to vaccination services which include:
School-Based Health Centers – Families with students age 4 and older can visit any School-Based Health Center regardless of where the student is enrolled for a vaccination-only appointment. Families should call the School-Based Health Center directly to schedule an appointment.
District Mobile Medical Units – DC Health has placed mobile units at schools, and additional sites at recreation centers, COVID centers and other community locations in all eight wards will be added in August. DC Health will support this effort by calling families at the school sites to inform them of the mobile units. Schools can also support this effort by communicating with families and sharing the registration link for the mobile medical units.
Vaccine Exchange – Schools can use the Vaccine Exchange to request and coordinate on-site vaccination clinics with health providers.
Updated COVID Reporting Process for Schools - Upcoming Training
Charter schools should continue to report cases to the OSSE Positive Case Response Team through July 30, 2022.
After July 30, 2022, all schools will begin to report positive COVID-19 cases directly to DC Health via the newly launched SalesForce application.
DC Health will conduct another SalesForce training on Aug. 4, 2022 at 12 p.m.
Effective immediately, and in accordance with the updated DC Health Guidance for Educational Facilities, schools are now required to report if a school has 25 or more positive cases tied to one single event.
School Health and Safety Guidance Technical Assistance (reminder)
OSSE's Health and Wellness Division offers the following technical assistance:
The next School Health and Safety Community of Practice call is at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2 and will include a discussion on KIPP DC’s lessons learned from enforcing immunization requirements. Join the call here. Advance registration is not required. The audience for these calls includes LEA leaders, principals and other administrators, and school health points of contact.
The subsequent School Health and Safety Community of Practice call will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16 and will include LEAs sharing their plans to enforce immunization requirements at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
LEA leaders who cannot attend the upcoming calls or who wish to have questions addressed on the call, can email the Division of Health and Wellness at OSSE.HealthandSafety@dc.gov.
Survey Reminder: On-Site PCTs and RNs (reminder) Summer 2022 OSSE-hired PCTs and RNs (Option A) will continue at participating schools this summer.
LEAs that have received a subgrant from OSSE to hire their own clinical support staff (Option B LEAs) have been granted a no-cost extension through Sept. 30, 2022. All reimbursement requests are due by Dec. 1, 2022. If you require an application amendment to adjust your planned spending, please submit it in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by Dec. 1, 2022.
2022-23 School Year OSSE-hired PCTs and floating RNs will be available for ALL charter schools beginning this summer and continuing through the 2022-23 school year. One PCT per school and floating RN supervisor will support COVID-19 tasks as well as No Shots, No School vaccination efforts.
[ACTION REQUIRED] If you have not already done so, LEAs must complete this survey by Aug. 1, 2022, to indicate your interest in receiving OSSE-hired clinical supports (i.e., one PCT per school with floating supervisory RNs) to support activities in your school(s) related to COVID-19 and the Immunization Attendance Policy for summer 2022 and/or the 2022-23 school year.
COVID-19 Testing in Schools Update (reminder) Test to Return
DC Health and OSSE will ship test kits to all LEAs in mid-August in preparation for Test to Return to school based on enrollment numbers available as of Aug. 1, 2022. No action is required by LEAs to receive these kits.
State Board Approves OSSE’s ESSA State Plan Amendment
On July 20, 2022, the State Board of Education approved OSSE’s revisions to the ESSA State Plan, which governs accountability measurements for DC public and public charter schools. OSSE will now submit the Amendment to the US Department of Education for approval. The amended plan will, among other changes, remove the STAR rating system and increase measures and weights for student growth. Please click here to read the entire plan, here to review a slide presentation on the amendments, or hereto review a short brochure summarizing the major changes.
Free and Reduced-Priced Meal (FARM) Application Update
The 2022-23 FARM application, household letters and the most recent version of the eligibility manual in English and Spanish can be found here. While translations into other languages are pending, feel free to reference DCPS translations in Amharic, Chinese, French and Vietnamese on the DCPS website.
Have questions about special education? The DC Special Education Hub is here to help! (reminder)
The DC Special Education Hub is a new resource that helps families demystify special education in the District of Columbia. The knowledgeable team connects families with the information and support needed to make informed decisions to guide their child’s learning. The DC Special Education Hub serves families of all DC children in public schools, public charter schools and non-public placements.
Fiscal Year 2023 Safe Passage Safe Blocks Request for Applications (reminder)
The Out of School Time Office (OST), the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) and the Bowser Administration invite nonprofits with strong relationships within the community and expertise in providing youth programs to apply for the Fiscal Year 2023 Safe Passage Safe Blocks (SPSB) request for applications. The SPSB programs will provide students safe routes to and from school and provide an afterschool program offering mediation and conflict resolution skill-building. The OST Office anticipates awarding up to $3.4 million in total awards for the Fiscal Year 2023 SPSB grants. The maximum grant award amount is $1,000,000 dollars. The deadline to apply is Monday, Aug. 8, 2022 at 5 p.m.
View the complete RFA here. Applications must be submitted here. For more information and/or questions, please email Vonia.Bowie1@dc.gov.
The CLSD Subgrant Application is available on EGMS and is due on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022 at 3 p.m.Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
For questions regarding the subgrant, please email OSSE at OSSE.CLSD@dc.gov.
OSSE Invites LEAs to Focus Group on Virtual Courses (reminder)
As part of our efforts to build upon the lessons learned from distance learning during the pandemic, OSSE is exploring the potential need and opportunities for expanding access to virtual courses for students in grades 9-12 across the District. The perspectives of LEA leaders are critical in this work.
We invite you to participate in an hour-long focus group to share your thoughts about needs and opportunities you see to expand virtual course offerings across LEAs, conditions for success, the student populations who would benefit, course topic interests, what content could best be delivered in this format and any concerns you have or are aware of.
The next focus group will be held on Thursday, Aug. 4 at 1-2 p.m.
The focus group will be conducted in partnership with The Learning Accelerator (TLA), which is supporting OSSE in this work. If you are interested in joining the conversation, please use this link to register. To ensure that participants are able to meaningfully participate, we ask that you limit your registration to one member of your leadership team who is best positioned to discuss virtual course access.
The Mandt System - Physical Restraint Training and Certification (reminder)
The new Chapter 30 special education regulations, effective July 1, 2022, require LEA personnel using physical restraints to be trained and certified in the appropriate use of specific, evidence-based techniques. To support LEAs in ensuring appropriate staff training in the use of physical restraints, OSSE is hosting in-person trainings for certification in the Mandt System. The Mandt System is a comprehensive, integrated approach to preventing, de-escalating and if necessary, intervening when the behavior of an individual poses a threat of harm to themselves and/or others.
The Mandt System builds skill development through a system of gradual and graded alternatives for de-escalating and assisting students, using a combination of interpersonal communication skills, conflict resolution strategies and physical interaction techniques.
For more information on training dates and registration, please see OSSE’s website. Please contact the Division of Systems and Supports, K-12 Office of Special Education Policy Team with questions at OSSE.DSEpolicy@dc.gov.
Sign Up Your LEA for a Free Intervention Service to Reduce Absenteeism! (reminder)
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education is partnering with leading attendance experts EveryDay Labs to provide LEAs with a free, intervention-based service to reduce absenteeism. This partnership will provide students, families and school leaders with a seamless, evidence-based strategy for engaging families as partners in attendance improvement.
When students are at risk of becoming off track due to absenteeism, their families receive supportive messages by text and mail. The messages provide clear information about their student's attendance and help connect families to District supports aligned to their student's attendance barriers through a chatbot and live family support team. Families will receive continuous support throughout the year until they are no longer at-risk or chronically absent.
We hope you take advantage of this opportunity to support healthy attendance habits in your schools. For additional questions or to opt into using EveryDay Labs for the 2022-2023 school year, please contact Carlo Castillo at Carlo.Castillo@dc.gov.
Call for Education Preparation Provider (EPP) and EPP Subject-Area Program Reviewers (Reminder) Are you an experienced educator, subject-area expert or passionate leader in education? Consider serving as an Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) or subject-area program reviewer to support OSSE’s EPP and subject-area program state approval and review process.
By participating in this review process, you will:
Review documents submitted by an EPP or subject-area program, including narratives, a curriculum map and supporting materials described on thisOSSE webpage.
Provide OSSE with a recommendation regarding whether an EPP or subject-area program has met the required standards.
OSSE will host a training for all state program reviewers in August. The full review cycle may take up to 16 hours across multiple days, and current educators who complete at least one review are eligible to receive up to 16 professional learning units (PLUs) for their commitment and efforts. If you are interested in participating as an OSSE EPP or subject-area program reviewer, please email Sean.Elliott@dc.gov by Aug. 8, 2022. Please be sure to include your name, resume, and contact information in that communication.
2022 Health and Physical Education Assessment results: View Now in Qlik (reminder)
The 2021-22 school year Health and Physical Education Assessment (HPEA) administration window closed on Friday, June 24, 2022. Thank you for your collaboration in administering the assessment this year. All HPEA points of contact (POCs) and LEA Data Managers received an email from OSSE on July 6, 2022 sharing detailed images from Qlik and additional information on how to access the tool.
How can LEAs view results from HPEA?
Each LEA can access assessment results in Qlik. LEA Data Managers and HPEA POCs can view and download completion rate reports for your school or LEA. LEAs can also view and download assessment results at the LEA, school and student levels, filterable by school year. Please contact OSSE.SchoolHealth@dc.gov to request access for an additional user or to share any questions.
LEA Special Education Points of Contact Webinar
On Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, from 10-11:30 a.m., OSSE will host its next monthly webinar for all LEA Special Education Points of Contact (LEA SPED POCs). During this training, OSSE will provide important information relevant to your role as the LEA SPED POC, according to the following agenda:
Policy Updates;
Monitoring Updates;
Transportation Updates; and
Available Technical Assistance Opportunities
PLEASE NOTE: All LEA SPED POCs are expected to participate in the webinar each month, and share any relevant content, updates, or announcements with LEA staff following the webinar. If you have not already signed up for the webinar series, please register here.
If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact Karen Morgan-Donaldson at Karen.Morgan-Donaldson@dc.gov.
Start of School Orientation Trainings for New Special Education Points of
Contact (POCs)
On Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, OSSE will provide training for all new local education agency (LEA) Special Education POCs. During this training, OSSE will provide important information relevant to your role as your LEA’s new Special Education POC. Please share this information with colleagues and LEA leadership to ensure all newly appointed/newly hired POCs are aware of this opportunity:
The training will take place on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, 10-11:30 a.m.Register here.
For questions about this start of school training, please contact Karen Morgan-Donaldson at Karen.Morgan-Donaldson@dc.gov.
Math Workshop Structures and Practices for Student Learning (reminder) Part 1: What is Math Workshop? Experience a Task and Share Session Date: Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022 Time: 9 a.m-12 p.m.
Standards and student needs drive mathematics instruction. This session highlights Math Workshop, a model for organizing instruction to support all learners of mathematics in flexible learning environments. You will participate in the Math Workshop model of instruction, Task and Share, and construct a plan for establishing a classroom environment to get students ready to engage in Math Workshop.
Part 2: Planning an Effective Learning Environment and Implementing Math Workshop Structures Session Date: Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022 Time: 9 a.m-12 p.m.
The Focus Lesson, Guided Math, and Learning Stations Math Workshop structure requires organizing math class for independent work, pairs, groups and whole-class instruction in a thoughtful and deliberate way. While experiencing this structure, participants consider the potential of Learning Stations for supporting an engaging and accessible mathematics classroom. In addition, participants evaluate tasks that promote reasoning and problem solving to make choices for student learning experiences that have the greatest impact for Math Workshop.
For more information about this course, please contact, Steaven Hamlin, program analyst, at Steaven.Hamlin@dc.gov or Celina Ketelsen, training administrator, at Celina.Ketelsen@dc.gov.
Making Sense of Fraction Computation: Addition & Subtraction Edition (reminder)
Rules, rules, rules! There’s so much more to fraction computation than just following procedures and rules. This course is all about making sense of fraction computation using our understanding of whole number operations. Grades 3-6 math teachers and special educators are invited to join OSSE, in partnership with Math Solutions, to uncover strategies that support and build students’ understanding of fraction addition and subtraction. In three sessions, participants will:
Articulate the progression of current state standards related to fraction operations
Apply properties of operations in fraction computation
Characterize teaching strategies for building fraction sense and distinguish the importance of each strategy
Implement instructional strategies that engage students in the Common Core Standards of Mathematical Practice
Use rich tasks, multiple models of representations and classroom discourse to support learning of mathematics
Session Dates:
Tuesday, Aug. 9
Wednesday, Aug. 10
Thursday, Aug. 11
Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all three sessions because the content in the series builds. Each session will be 2 hours, beginning at 10 a.m., and participants will receive two professional learning units for active participation in each training session. For more information about this course, please contact, Steaven Hamlin, program analyst, at Steaven.Hamlin@dc.gov or Celina Ketelsen, training administrator, at Celina.Ketelsen@dc.gov.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Professional Development Opportunity (reminder)
OSSE has partnered with LRP Publications to provide LEA staff with access to DirectSTEP eLearning courses. The courses explain best practices and legal requirements for behavior management, autism, IDEA eligibility, individualized education programs (IEPs) and other special education topics.
Through DirectSTEP, special education leaders may recommend courses to staff, who will then be able to self-register. The link to access the courses can be found here. Each course can be completed in 1 hour and is compatible with most electronic devices.
Training on this platform will be available to LEAs during the Special Education Point of Contact (SPED POC) August monthly webinar. To register for this monthly webinar series, please click here.
Upcoming Virtual Professional Learning for DC Educators
OSSE's Division of Teaching and Learning (TAL) offers a robust menu of virtual professional learning opportunities, including live virtual sessions, multi-session series and asynchronous modules. Find more details and registration links in the OSSE Training Registration application. For questions, please contact therelevant member of the TAL Professional Learning Team.
Professional Learning Survey for Charter LEAs – Input Requested by Friday, Aug. 26 OSSE received a five-year, $24.2 million Charter Schools Program (CSP) grant from the US Department of Education on Oct. 1, 2020. In addition to providing financial support to new, replicating and expanding charter LEAs, OSSE will also use funding from this grant to provide professional learning opportunities to all charter LEAs between October 2022 and September 2025.
OSSE is seeking input from charter LEA leaders via aCSP professional learning survey to help determine which professional learning topics to offer. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. OSSE recommends that each LEA submits one survey on behalf of their organization. The survey will be open until Friday, Aug. 26.
For questions about this survey or the CSP grant, please contactOPCSFS.Funding@dc.gov.
Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) ESEA Titles I-IV ConApp Phase II Application and Preliminary Allocations Released (reminder)
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides federal funding to ensure equal opportunity for all students. Under this program, OSSE issues Titles I-A, II-A, III-A and IV-A grants through its annual ESEA Consolidated Application (ConApp). The award period for the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) grants to local education agencies (LEAs) is July 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023.
LEAs' preliminary allocations for the FY23 ESEA Titles I-A, II-A, III-A and IV-A are available onOSSE’s website. The FY23 ESEA ConApp is available in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) and due on Sept. 30, 2022 at 3 p.m. Details about each grant program under the ConApp are available onOSSE’s website.
If you have questions or need technical assistance, please contact the ConApp team atCon.App@dc.gov.
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.
