2020-21 Start of School Training Videos On-Demand
OSSE has released a new section of its Start of School website devoted to the 2020-21 Start of School training series. Organized by priority area, this central hub provides LEA points of contact (POCs) with a one-stop shop for accessing the video recordings and materials for each Start of School training opportunity held this summer. Training series is specifically available for: 1) LEA Data Managers, 2) English Learner Coordinators, 3) Enrollment Audit POCs, 4) Special Education POCs, and 5) Transportation POCs.
The objective of these trainings is to ensure 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 brand new POCs, as well as deep dive content sessions for all levels of POCs.
For questions regarding these trainings, please contact Annette Thacker-Bartlett at Annette.Thacker@dc.gov.
Start of School Checklists for LEA Leaders and LEA-Level Points of Contact Now Available (reminder)
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.
New Special Education Resource Hub for Families of Students with Disabilities
OSSE has launched a new online Special Education Resource Hub to provide students and families with answers to common questions around what to expect this school year and information on how parents and family members can best support their students. We have partnered with parents, organizations across DC and national special education experts to make this as useful and accessible as possible for families (including translation into multiple languages). Please help to spread the word about this new resource, which can be found at bit.ly/SPEDResourceHub!
School Health and Safety Reopening Guidance Technical Assistance
OSSE's Health and Wellness Division is offering the following technical assistance:
Office hours to provide one-on-one support and answer schools’ questions about OSSE's Health and Safety Re-Opening Guidance for Schools. Register for a time slot. An OSSE team member will contact you at your chosen time to answer your questions directly.
Weekly technical assistance calls led by OSSE and in partnership with DC Health, PCSB, DCPS, and the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Education. The online calls provide support regarding the implementation of health and safety guidance during the reopening period. These Monday calls take place from 1-2 p.m. and will resume on Monday, Sept. 14. [Register] The Monday, Sept. 14 call will include a deep dive on mental and behavioral health. The audience for these calls includes LEA leaders, principals and other administrators, and school health points of contact.
Question submission form which schools and LEAs may use to submit questions to OSSE regarding health and safety re-opening guidance. Submit a question via the Google Form.
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and Alt ACCESS Results Released in SLED and Qlik
As you know, LEAs received ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs LEA online data files in WIDA AMS on Friday, Aug. 7 for the first round of reporting.
LEA Test Coordinators have access to the LEA level data files.
Test Administrators do NOT have access to data files.
To access the ISRs in the WIDA AMS system, log into WIDA AMS, then select All Applications> Report Delivery> Test Results> Show Results.
The second round of data files and online student reports will be made available to LEAs in WIDA AMS on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Individual results for students who took ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS are now available in SLED and Qlik for LEAs that returned their secure materials to DRC by July 2. For each student, the following results are available online and in a downloadable spreadsheet (in Qlik): Overall Proficiency Level; Listening Proficiency Level; Speaking Proficiency Level; Reading Proficiency Level; Writing Proficiency Level; Comprehension Proficiency Level; Oral Proficiency Level; and Literacy Proficiency Level. The 2020-21 EL and EL-Monitored Statuses have also been updated in the Early Access to English Learner Data Qlik application. Further updates will be made in September for materials returned by Aug. 17.
For questions about ACCESS scores in SLED and Qlik or gaining access to either site, please complete an OSSE Support Tool ticket.
2020-21 State Title III Advisory Committee Recruitment
OSSE is requesting applications from candidates interested in serving on the 2020-21 State ESEA Title III Advisory Committee. Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) provides funding to ensure that English learners attain English proficiency and achieve at high academic levels and can meet the same challenging state academic standards that all children meet. Title III requires that each state education agency in developing its Title III state plan consult with LEAs, teachers, administrators of Title III programs, parents of English learners, and other relevant stakeholders. In addition to providing consultation on the state plan, the State Title III Advisory Committee serves as an advisory body to support OSSE in carrying out its responsibilities under Title III of the ESEA for the District of Columbia. To ensure that a range of stakeholders are represented, OSSE is seeking applications from:
School and LEA administrators
Educators from institutions of higher education
Other members of community organizations
Previous committee members are eligible to participate again. Please apply by Friday, Sept. 18, 2020 by completing this online application.For more information, please contact Jennifer Norton, manager for English learner supports, at Jennifer.Norton@dc.gov.
Coaching Teachers for the Virtual Space: Community Conversations
How can we provide effective virtual coaching to teachers in a virtual space? How can we set up systems for effective virtual coaching? As our education community begins an all-virtual start to the school year, join OSSE’s Division of Teaching and Learning on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, 9-10:30 a.m. for a community conversation focused on these critical questions. In this session, participants will hear from a panel with leaders from three organizations: DC Bilingual Public Charter School, IDEA Public Charter School, and EdConnective. Panelists will speak to the experience of their organizations in implementing virtual coaching cycles and systems, considering both opportunities and challenges unique to the all-virtual space. Participants will then have an opportunity for Q&A and discussion. This session is intended for leaders of instruction and talent in DC LEAs. We also welcome others who lead, manage, or implement coaching systems in a virtual space.
Register - this meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams. For questions, please contact Rose Goff at Rose.Goff@dc.gov.
Help Shape DC Education Policy – Join the Title I Committee of Practitioners: DCPS Teacher, Private School Representative and School Improvement Specialist Needed (reminder)
OSSE is requesting applications from current DCPS teachers, private school representatives and school improvement specialists interested in serving on the State Title I Committee of Practitioners. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires each state education agency to maintain a State Title I Committee of Practitioners. In DC, this committee serves as an advisory body that will support OSSE in carrying out its responsibilities under ESSA for the District of Columbia.
The membership of the State Title I Committee of Practitioners must meet certain federal requirements to ensure that different stakeholders are represented, such as principals, teachers and specialized instructional support personnel from both public and public charter schools.
There are vacancies for current DCPS teacher, private school representative and school improvement specialist who plan to remain in their positions through the 2020-21 school year. Please consider applying, or distributing this announcement to your networks and those who may be interested.
All application materials can be found on the OSSE website. To apply, please submit the completed application and a current résumé, to OSSE.CoP@dc.gov by today, Aug. 28, 2020. The first meeting for the incoming member will be on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, from 4-6:30 p.m.
For additional questions or would like more information, please contact Bonnie Bacon at Bonnie.Bacon@dc.gov.
IDEA Part B State Complaints Letter of Decision Proactive Disclosure Notification(reminder)
On July 1, 2020, OSSE began proactively disclosing IDEA Part B State Complaint Letter of Decision (LODs), available on OSSE’s website. OSSE will proactively disclose LODs through the agency website in order to promote transparency of information to stakeholders. Proactive LOD disclosure will be conducted according to the process described in the Proactive Disclosure Guidelines, including protection of all personally identifiable information of students and families. On a monthly basis, OSSE will upload and publish to the agency website all LODs that have been issued, redacted, and reviewed in the previous month.
For more information or questions, please contact Kirstin Hansen at Kirstin.Hansen@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.
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 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.
Fall 2020 PD Catalog
OSSE's Division of Teaching and Learning (TAL) is pleased to announce the release of their Fall 2020 PD Catalog, which includes a robust offering of professional learning opportunities that are now open for registration. All OSSE TAL PD trainings are listed within the OSSE Training Registration application. In addition to the catalog, educators can stay informed of PD opportunities by viewing the monthly TAL PD Bulletin. For questions, please contact the relevant member of the TAL PD Team.
LEA Special Education Points of Contact Webinar
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 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 each month’s webinar, and share any relevant content, updates, or announcements with LEA staff following the broadcast. If you are not already signed up for the webinar series, please register here.
For questions about this webinar, please contact Tiffany Ingram at Tiffany.Ingram1@dc.gov.
2020-21 Community Schools Community of Practice
For the 2020-21 school year, OSSE will host a series of community of practices (CoPs) related to community schools. The CoPs will be offered on a bi-monthly basis through April 2021. The sessions are open to all District of Columbia schools that are interested in receiving training and technical assistance on creating and sustaining a community school model.
The first virtual session will occur Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. The session will focus on Introduction to Community Schools: A Results Framework and will introduce community schools with a focus on results that are essential for student success. Register
For more information or questions, please contact Melissa Harper-Butler at Melissa.Harper-Butler@dc.gov or (202) 478-2409.
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 OSSE's 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 DCPS or public charter school campus. For more information or questions, please contact DC CCC at OSSE.DCchildcareconnections@dc.gov.
CARES-ESSER: FY21 Application Release and FY20 Application Deadline Approaching (reminder)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund) final allocations are available on OSSE’s website and include updates based on new and expanding public charter schools.
The CARES-ESSER fiscal year 2021 (FY21) grant application is now available in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS). The FY21 CARES-ESSER application is for costs planned for Oct. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021 and will follow the same structure as the FY20 application. The FY21 CARES-ESSER application overview webinar will be held on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, at 10 a.m. [Register] Eligible LEA staff responsible for CARES-ESSER grant planning and submission are encouraged to attend. The webinar will also be posted on OSSE's CARES webpage shortly after Aug. 31.
The period of availability for CARES-ESSER grants is March 13, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2022, and LEAs have flexibility in how these funds are distributed across FY20, FY21 and FY22. The default allocation that will be loaded into your FY21 application is 40 percent of your LEA’s total allocation (unless you have already spent beyond this threshold or requested an update). However, this grant program is flexible and an LEA can request adjustments to allocations across FY20, FY21 and/or FY22, not to exceed the LEA’s total allocation. Changes in how funds are organized across fiscal years can be requested by completing this LEA Request Form: CARES-ESSER Allocation Adjustment.
LEAs that have not done so already may still submit applications for FY20 CARES-ESSER funds in EGMS through the application deadline of Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. The FY20 application budget is for eligible costs incurred between March 13, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2020. Any unspent funds budgeted for FY20 in EGMS will carry over into FY21 after FY20 closeout is complete. However, if you do not plan to spend down the default allocation by Sept. 30, please submit an allocation adjustment form by Friday, Sept. 11, 2020 to enable your desired FY21 allocation to be loaded and available for budgeting by Friday, Sept. 18, 2020.
Additional CARES and Recovery Funding updates are included in a letter issued to LEA leaders, federal grant managers, and fiscal points of contact sent earlier this week that is also available on OSSE's website. For questions on the CARES-ESSER grant program, please contact OSSE.Cares@dc.gov.
SOAR and Recovery Funding Update (reminder)
OSSE recognizes that the current situation is impacting all public schools, including those that do not receive Title I-A funds. In an effort to meet the needs of all schools, OSSE was recently approved by the US Department of Education (USED) to amend our Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR) grant program to provides CARES Equivalent allocations to LEAs not eligible for Title I-A funding, including adult and early childhood charter LEAs. The amendment impacts federal fiscal year 2020 (FFY20) that have not yet been released.
In anticipation of the new SOAR grant award from USED, and to support your budget planning for the upcoming school year, the planned federal fiscal year 2020 Academic Quality/Facilities, Early Childhood and CARES Equivalent allocations are located on OSSE's website. The application for these funds is expected to release in late October.
Additional CARES and Recovery Funding Updates are included in a letter issued to LEA leaders, federal grant managers, and fiscal points of contact earlier this week that is also available on OSSE's website. For questions or need technical assistance, please contact your grant managers or OSSE.Grants@dc.gov. For questions specific to the CARES Act, please contact OSSE.CARES@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.
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