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2021 DC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Results Now Available
The 2021 DC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Report is now available on the OSSE website. As in previous DC YRBS reports, the 2021 report is organized by risk behavior categories, which coincide with the categories of OSSE’s Health Education Standards:
- Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
- Mental and Emotional Health
- Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Disease Prevention / Sexual Health
- Safety and Violence
The 2021 DC YRBS report outlines the findings from census survey data collected during the fall of 2021 from 11,567 high school students at 38 DC public and public charter high schools and 11,783 middle school students at 70 DC public and public charter middle schools. Read the report to learn more.
For more information, please contact Tasneem Islam at Tasneem.Islam@dc.gov.
Secondary Transition Resource Hub is here! (reminder)
Introducing the enhanced Secondary Transition Resource Hub! Explore comprehensive information on the secondary transition process and discover valuable resources within the hub.
We extend an invitation to all schools in the District to acquire secondary transition posters designed to promote secondary transition across the District. Secure a poster for your school by completing this interest form. Please note that each school is limited to a maximum of four large posters and four small posters.
Pick-up dates and times, RSVP here.
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Nov. 16 and 17, 3-4:30 p.m.
- Nov. 20, 8-10 a.m. and 3-4:30 p.m.
For questions about poster pick-up, please contact Kalecia Baity at Kalecia.Baity1@dc.gov.
Please Participate in the Nationwide Farm to School Census (reminder)
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently conducting its fourth Farm to School Census to assess the scale and impact of farm to school activities in schools across the nation. The 2019 census showed that 83 percent of LEAs in the District of Columbia, and 65 percent in the US participated in farm to school activities. It also showed lower rates of school food waste and program cost and increased participation in school meals.
Each School Food Authority (SFA) lead should have received the census survey via email from DIR Associates, which included detailed instructions on how to complete the census. Please complete the survey regardless of whether your LEA participates in farm to school activities. If you have any questions about the census, please contact DIR Associates’ survey team at Farm2SchoolCensus@dir-online.com or at (866) 986-2230. Census responses will be accepted through December 2023.
D.L. v. District of Columbia at a Glance (reminder)
The D.L. v. District of Columbia lawsuit continues to impact OSSE’s special education policy, compliance monitoring and reporting. The D.L. v. District of Columbia at a Glance document includes background, relevant terms and contact information to provide context for LEAs.
The document is available on OSSE’s website. Please contact Sarah Peisch at Sarah.Peisch1@dc.gov with any questions.
New Resource: LEA Special Education Point of Contact Role Description (reminder)
OSSE published the LEA Special Education Point of Contact Role Description guidance, a resource intended to support LEAs in identifying appropriate staff to carry out special education organizational operations, liaise with OSSE and ensure implementation of all facets of special education. For questions about the LEA Special Education Role Description, please contact Christie Weaver-Harris at Christie.Weaver-Harris@dc.gov.
OSSE Seeks Nominations for the 2023-24 School Year US Presidential Scholars Program! (reminder)
Established in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson, the US Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors outstanding high school seniors for achieving educational excellence. As the official nominating body, OSSE would like your assistance in identifying these exceptional seniors.
Nominees must be US citizens or legal permanent residents, graduate from high school by August 2024 and preferably have the following:
- Strong involvement and service to the school or community;
- Strong leadership or character; and
- High academic achievement.
Nominate your outstanding 12th grade students for this prestigious award! Nomination materials and parent/guardian consent forms must be submitted via Box. Nominations are due by 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 20.
For more information, please contact Greg Palmer at Gregory.Palmer@dc.gov.
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November LEA Special Education Points of Contact Webinar
On Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 10-11 a.m., OSSE will host the November monthly webinar training for all LEA SPED POCs. During this training, OSSE will provide important information relevant to your role as the LEA SPED POC. The agenda will include the following:
- Policy reminders and updates;
- IDEA monitoring reminders and updates;
- Teaching and Learning reminders and updates;
- Special programs reminders and updates;
- Transportation updates; and
- Reminders and announcements.
All LEA SPED POCs should plan to participate in each month’s webinar, as well as share the content, updates and announcements with relevant staff within your LEA. If you have not already signed up for the 2023-24 webinar series, please register here.
If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact LaShonda Wilson at LaShonda.Wilson@dc.gov.
Peace of Mind’s Building Blocks of Conflict Resolution Cohort Coaching Series (reminder)
Have you ever taught a conflict resolution lesson that seemed to go beautifully in class, only to have your students get into a fight at recess? Or wondered why students can’t remember their conflict resolution skills when they’re needed most? The Peace of Mind program can help. Peace of Mind’s coaching series, The Building Blocks of Effective Conflict Resolution, will prepare educators to equip students with the skills to resolve conflicts peacefully and independently. Through monthly in-person and virtual gatherings during the 2023-24 school year, we will address the critical components of conflict resolution as taught in the Peace of Mind Curriculum.
All coaching cohort participants will receive free copies of the Peace of Mind Curriculum Guide(s) for their grade level(s). By teachers for teachers, Peace of Mind is easy to use and effective and is currently used throughout many DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools. Participation in this series is limited to three DCPS/public charter elementary school cohorts, grades pre-K through 5. Cohorts may include up to eight classroom teachers, specials teachers, school counselors, restorative justice coordinators and/or social workers at each school. Participants will receive one professional learning unit (PLU) for each session attended.
For more information, please fill out this short form by Nov. 15. For more information, please email Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov.
Invitation to Apply for 2024-25 Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre (reminder)
OSSE is recruiting elementary teachers/educator leaders from schools across the District that serve pre-K 3 through grade 5 to participate in the Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre.
Established in February 2016, OSSE’s Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre is a group of individuals from elementary schools across the District who will be responsible for developing a plan to implement the Environmental Literacy Framework at their schools and coordinating its implementation. Participants will meet to (a) receive comprehensive professional development related to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), (b) develop and implement a school-based environmental literacy program using the Environmental Literacy Framework, (c) discuss existing supports and make recommendations regarding environmental literacy implementation in elementary schools and (d) disseminate information about environmental literacy to their community and garner feedback on the school-based environmental literacy program.
Visit OSSE’s website for more information. Interested educators should complete and submit an application online by Friday, Dec. 1.
For more information or questions, please contact Grace Manubay at (202) 654-6116.
Restorative Justice Fall 2023 Professional Development (reminder)
This fall, RestorativeDC is focusing on professional development and planning opportunities to help DC educators with restorative practices during this school year. Sessions will be conducted in person and coaching sessions offered virtually.
Please view this informational flyer for more information for the 2023-24 school year restorative justice professional development schedule. To register, please visit the RestorativeDC online calendar of events. For questions, please email Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov.
Attention all Special Education Points of Contact: Registration for Stepwell Training is Open! (New Registration Links)
In mid-November, Stepwell will replace the District of Columbia Correction Action and Tracking System (DCCATS). LEAs will now access special education findings of noncompliance and document corrective actions in Stepwell. LEA special education points of contact are required to attend a Stepwell training to support the transition to this new monitoring and tracking system. Trainings will be held on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, and both trainings will cover the same content. Please register for one of these training events by using the links provided below.
Nov. 14 | Stepwell LEA SPED POC Training, 9-10:30 a.m.
Register Here
Nov. 15 | Stepwell LEA SPED POC Training, 1-2:30 p.m.
Register Here
Please note that OSSE will no longer use DCCATS after Nov. 15. Therefore, it is essential that each LEA’s special education point of contact attend the live session. Upon completion of the training, participants will receive information for accessing the Stepwell system.
For questions or additional information, please contact LaShonda Wilson at LaShonda.Wilson@dc.gov.
Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities with OSSE’s Division of Teaching and Learning (reminder)
OSSE's Division of Teaching and Learning is pleased to offer many upcoming professional learning opportunities for DC educators, including teachers, staff, school leaders and service providers serving students in grades pre-K through 12 in DC public and public charter schools. All DC educators are encouraged to subscribe to the monthly TAL PD Bulletin to receive additional announcements about professional learning opportunities and resources for educators. View the most recent bulletin here.
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2023-24 School Year McKinney-Vento Monthly Webinars/TA Sessions
OSSE is offering a series of monthly virtual trainings for LEA and school-based homeless liaisons during the 2023-24 school year. The purpose of these trainings is to help ensure LEA and school-based homeless liaisons are prepared to support students and families experiencing homelessness during the school year.
McKinney-Vento (MKV) monthly webinar presentations are usually scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month, between December 2023 and May 2024, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Please view event topics and register to attend here.
Reminder - ARP-Homeless I and II FY23 Closeout Reporting and FY24 Application Submission Deadlines
Fiscal year 2023 (FY23) grant closeout reports for American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-Homeless I and II) grants are due in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by Jan. 15, 2024. For screen-by-screen instructions on how submit a closeout report in EGMS, please reference Closing Out Projects in EGMS. Once the ARP-Homeless I and II closeout reports are approved by OSSE, EGMS will automatically create FY24 ARP-Homeless I and II applications and pre-fill them with the same content that was in the approved FY23 applications.
FY24 ARP-Homeless I and II applications must be completed in EGMS by Jan. 31, 2024. As a reminder, this is the final year for all ARP-Homeless grants and funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2024 to be eligible for reimbursement. Please note that FY24 applications must be approved before reimbursement requests are submitted for the new fiscal year. While the FY24 application will pre-fill upon OSSE’s approval of FY23 closeout reports, the FY24 budget will not pre-fill. You will need to create a FY24 budget within EGMS by completing selected tabs within the Detailed Planned Expenditures tab. If additional modifications need to be made to the application to account for updated program plans, for example, conducting a needs assessment or expanding program services, these updates can be made in your application prior to submission.
For questions or to schedule one-on-one technical assistance for ARP-Homeless I and II grants, please contact Danielle Rollins at Danielle.Rollins@dc.gov or (202) 256-2229.
Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Healthy Schools Grant
OSSE released a Request for Applications (RFA) for the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) Healthy Schools Grant (HSG) competition on Friday, Nov. 3. The purpose of the HSG program is to increase the capacity of DC public and public charter schools to support the implementation of health education, physical education, physical activity, nutrition education, environmental education, garden-based education and farm to school programs. OSSE will accept applications from community-based organizations (CBOs) with demonstrated expertise and success working with DC public and public charter schools to implement healthy schools programming. CBOs must partner with a minimum of five DC public and public charter schools. The RFA can be found here. Applications are due in EGMS by Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. EST. For questions or additional information, please contact Rachel Sadlon at Rachel.Sadlon@dc.gov.
Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Pilot (1 B) Grant Program of the School-Based Behavioral Health Services Comprehensive Expansion (reminder)
The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) has released a Request for Applications (RFA) for Pilot (1B) of the School-Based Behavioral Health Services Comprehensive Expansion. As part of the phased expansion of school-based behavioral health services in the District’s public and public charter schools, DBH is implementing pilots in an effort to increase the number of school-based behavioral health clinicians in schools. One of the pilots provides an opportunity for eligible DC public charter schools to apply for funding to hire a School Behavioral Health clinician to provide prevention, early intervention and treatment services in the school. The RFA opened on Friday, Oct. 27.
The submission deadline is Monday, Nov. 13 by 12 p.m. EST. Details about Pilot 1B are available on DBH’s website.
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November 2023
December 2023
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