Latest Updates to OSSE’s School Health and Safety Guidance
OSSE has modified the coronavirus (COVID-19) Health and Safety Guidance for Schools in accordance with the reopening guidance for schools issued by DC Health on Dec. 8, 2020, as well as recent updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. OSSE’s updated guidance document can be found on OSSE's website. This guidance supersedes any previously released guidance by OSSE on the topic.
Updates include, but are not limited to:
Additional considerations related to ventilation and building operations;
Guidance on the use of partitions to allow more than one group to occupy a room;
Revisions to the list of high-risk conditions;
Revisions to the exclusion and return-to-school criteria, including the duration of quarantine after exposure to an individual with COVID-19;
Protocols to report to DC Health when an individual tests positive for COVID-19;
Guidance on the use of Personal Protective Equipment in higher-risk situations; and
Information on COVID-19 testing.
To learn more about these updates, LEAs should attend OSSE’s next weekly call on Monday, Dec. 21, from 1-2 p.m. The discussion will provide an explanation of these DC Health and OSSE Health and Safety Guidance updates. [Register] The audience for these calls includes LEA leaders, principals and other administrators, and school health points of contact.
For any LEA leaders unable to attend the upcoming call, feel free to submit questions using this Google Form or contact David Esquith, director of policy, planning and strategic initiatives, at OSSE.HealthandSafety@dc.gov.
Cancellation of DC Science, Dynamic Learning Maps, and Health and Physical Education Assessment and STAR Framework Scores for the 2020-21 School Year
Due to the challenges presented by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, OSSE is canceling the administration of the following assessments for the 2020-21 school year:
DC Science Assessment in grades 5 and 8, and high school biology;
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Science Assessment in grades 5 and 8, and high school biology;
Health and Physical Education Assessment (HPEA) in grades 5 and 8, and high school (only high school students enrolled in a health class during the school year).
Please note that the PARCC and MSAA ELA and math assessments and the ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS assessments are scheduled to take place in spring 2021. OSSE is planning for both in-person and distance-learning administration options for the PARCC ELA and math assessments. Administration of the MSAA ELA and math assessments and the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and Alternate ACCESS assessments will be administered in-person only.
Due to the impacts these changes have on the data used for statewide accountability calculations in the STAR Framework, and the absence of many data components from the 2019-20 school year OSSE is not able to implement the STAR Framework as specified in our ESSA plan. As such, OSSE will be using the flexibilities provided by the US Department of Education (USED) to:
Submit an Addendum to the ESSA Plan related flexibilities in Accountability provisions provided by USED
Request a waiver from the annual designation of Targeted Support schools (TS1) which is based upon the student group performance within the STAR Framework and to waive the administration of DC Science for the 2020-21 school year.
We will be following up with the designated contacts within your LEA with details about these cancellations and revisions. For questions about HPEA, please contact Rebecca Harnik at Rebecca.Harnik@dc.gov. For questions about DC Science or DLM, please contact Daniel Alcazar-Roman at Daniel.Alcazar-Roman@dc.gov.For questions about Accountability, please contact Donna Johnson at DonnaR.Johnson@dc.gov.
OSSE Updates IDEA, Part B Provision of FAPE: Guidance Related to Remote and Blended Learning
On Dec. 15, 2020, OSSE issued updated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B Provision of FAPE: Guidance Related to Remote and Blended Learning, available on OSSE’s website. This guidebook contains information on LEA responsibilities under Part B of IDEA relating to the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in instances where LEAs are required to close their doors or limit access to buildings because of a local or national emergency, and transition to distance or hybrid learning models. Previously issued IDEA Part B guidance related to the provision of IDEA Part B is consolidated throughout and organized consistent with special education process. This document also provides newly issued IDEA Part B guidance on procedures related to IDEA Part B, specifically with regard to the following considerations:
Beginning in-person activities during periods of distance and hybrid learning;
Completing initial evaluations and re-evaluations;
LEA Child Find obligations;
Documenting distance learning service provision;
Enrollment requirements related to truancy;
Student discipline during remote learning;
The use of LEA-provided technology and devices for Medicaid-reimbursable medical services;
Parent notification of continued availability for LEA-provided technology.
LEAs are encouraged to review this guidance to support their delivery of special education to student with disabilities during the 2020-21 school year. For additional information or support, please contact OSSE's special education policy team at OSSE.DSEpolicy@dc.gov.
Help Revise the DC Social Studies State Standards! Application Now Open for the Technical Writing Committee(reminder)
OSSE invites K-12 educators and stakeholders to apply for the DC Social Studies Standards Technical Writing Committee whose members will review and revise the existing standards. The application for the Technical Writing Committee is now open and will close on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. Please view the online application to learn more about the responsibilities and time commitment required for this committee. For questions about the Technical Writing Committee application, please contact Annette Thacker-Bartlett at Annette.Thacker@dc.gov.
Additional background: The DC State Board of Education (SBOE) and OSSE are leading a revision of the current DC social studies standards, which were last revised in 2006. This revision process presents an opportunity for the standards to be culturally responsive, anti-racist, to impart important social studies content in the early grades, strengthen student knowledge of democratic principles and values, and promote civic engagement. Visit the SBOE website to learn more about the revision process.
2021 Green Ribbon Schools Application Released(reminder)
District of Columbia schools, LEAs and postsecondary institutions are encouraged to apply for the US Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools Award. This award recognizes schools, LEAs and colleges and universities that save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement. It is also a great tool to identify ways to involve the school community in “going green." OSSE is responsible for supporting schools, LEAs, and postsecondary institutions in applying for this award, as well as nominating up to four schools, one LEA, and one postsecondary institution to the US Department of Education.
The application, past awardees, and supporting documents can be found on OSSE's website.
Applications are due Monday, Jan. 25, 2021; however, schools have the option to complete the application with support from OSSE and other District agencies. If schools wish to receive support, they must notify OSSE via email by Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. For more information or questions, please contact Grace Manubay at Grace.Manubay@dc.gov.
National Assessment of Educational Progress Postponed Until 2022(reminder)
Due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19), the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) has decided to postpone the 2021 administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment (see post from the NCES Commissioner). These assessments are now rescheduled to take place in January - March 2022. The national assessment is administered by NCES every two years to a sample of students in grades 4 and 8 in mathematics and reading.
More than 90 schools in DC were selected to participate in this year’s NAEP administration. Although the assessment will not occur, NAEP may collect additional information from teachers and administrators of those schools about student learning experiences during the pandemic.
OSSE remains committed to collecting information on student progress to inform our planning to best serve students. We are continuing to plan for the spring 2021 administration of other statewide assessments. OSSE’s priority is the health and safety of students and educators and we will continue to monitor the feasibility of those plans as we approach the administration windows. Some plans may change depending upon public health conditions and guidance from officials in the District and LEAs will be notified of any changes. For questions, please contact Swea Hart at Swea.Hart@dc.gov.
Important Immunization Reminder and Requirements for In-Person Learning (reminder)
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. A list of health providers and locations offering pediatric immunizations is available on the DC Health website.
To protect the health and safety of all students, DC Health and OSSE have advised that all schools adopt the Immunization Policy for In-Person Attendance for 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. Parents/guardians should be notified immediately by the school if their student is not up-to-date on their immunizations, regardless of whether the student is participating in distance or in-person instruction. Students who have been in the distance learning posture this school year must be up-to-date on their immunizations before returning for in-person instruction.
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 DOH.Immunization@dc.gov or visit the DC Health Immunization Program webpage.
Special Education Transportation Reminders in Preparation for Return to Service(reminder)
OSSE's Division of Student Transportation (OSSE DOT) is providing transportation services for the 2020-21 school year, for schools offering “hybrid” (combination of distance and in-person) or “in-person” learning. While we recognize and appreciate the updates we have received for school calendars to reflect a model that includes in-person services, we wanted to remind you of our timeline for submitting your school calendars, to include the day you will begin in-person learning and the associated Transportation Request Forms (TRFs) for your eligible students who will use transportation services.
According to our Special Education Transportation Policy, OSSE DOT has 10 business days to process transportation requests. However, given the higher volume of requests at the start of the school year along with the need for data verification, staff notifications, and various other preparation activities, DOT requests that all calendar updates and TRFs be submitted no less than 20 business days (four weeks) prior to your first day of in-person learning for the applicable student group to ensure transportation services are provided. Once services begin, requests will be processed on a rolling basis according to our policy.
OSSE DOT has made several changes based on federal and local health guidance to ensure the protection, safety and well-being of our students, staff, and the school communities we serve. As a part of our reopening plan, we will provide families with information regarding the internal measures OSSE DOT will be taking to create a safe transportation environment with student-specific routing information prior to the first day of service. LEAs and schools can access this information on OSSE's website and are welcome to share it with families as well. Additionally, all school buses are now named, “District of Columbia Student Transportation,” to be more inclusive of all educational programs supported by transportation services.
It is our goal to make the transition to school-based learning as safe and seamless as possible for the families and schools we serve. For additional questions or concerns, please contact our TOTE Support Line at (202) 576-5520 or DOT.Data@dc.gov.
2021 Winter/Spring PD Catalog: Virtual Professional Learning for DC Educators
The OSSE Division of Teaching and Learning (TAL) is pleased to announce the release of its 2021 Winter/Spring PD Catalog.OSSE TAL has several professional learning opportunities now open for registration, including asynchronous sessions that can be done over the winter break, as well as new professional learning series beginning in January or February 2021. To see which sessions are already open for registration, view the December 2020 TAL PD Bulletin or browse the OSSE Training Registration application. For questions, please contact the relevant member of the TAL PD Team.
Become an Ally Partner for DC Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness for the 2020-21 School Year
OSSE's Homeless Education Program established the Ally Partner Program to support youth experiencing homelessness in the District of Columbia. Ally Partners are school-based employees who students experiencing homelessness can access for support without worrying about stigma or embarrassment. These partners collaborate with LEA- and school-based homeless liaisons to protect the privacy of the student’s residency status and to adhere to McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act guidelines.
To qualify to serve as an Ally Partner, one must:
Be an LEA/school-based homeless liaison from a charter or public school in the District who is passionate about the success of children and youth experiencing homelessness;
Be willing to commit to serving for the 2020-21 school year (ending July 31, 2021);
Request and complete a commitment letter from OSSE’s Homeless Education Program via email to Tasheen Stallings at Tasheen.Stallings@dc.gov.
Be willing to display sticker/signs/posters to identify as an Ally Partner where students experiencing homelessness can confide and seek out resources; and
Complete two OSSE Homeless Education Program’s Ally Partner Trainings:
Note: Completing one of the live webinars will result in receipt of a certificate of attendance. Please submit a copy of your certificate of attendance to Tasheen Stallings at Tasheen.Stallings@dc.gov.
After completing the OSSE Ally Partner Training and NCHE webinar, you will receive an Ally Partner Program Certificate from OSSE’s Homeless Education Program to certify that you have completed the requirements to be recognized as an Ally Partner for 2020-21 school year. For any additional questions, please contact Tasheen Stallings at Tasheen.Stallings@dc.gov or visit the Ally Partner Program webpage.
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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