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Start of School Priority Highlight: School Safety/Emergency Response Plans and Student Transportation Reminders
 The safety of DC students and staff is always our top priority. Timely submission of school emergency response plans is essential to ensuring the operational safety of schools in the event of an emergency on campus and complies with new regulations for child development facilities.
Important Deadlines:
- LEAs must request access to Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency's (HSEMA’s) CORE DC System no later than Aug 1, 2024.
- All DC schools must submit their 2024-25 school year emergency response plans (ERPs) for signature to HSEMA’s CORE DC system no later than Oct. 31, 2024.
To learn more, please visit our Start of School Hub. For questions, please contact Joseph Hood at Joseph.Hood@dc.gov.
Student Transportation Reminders for Start of School
OSSE's Division of Student Transportation (DOT) provides safe, reliable and efficient transportation services that positively support learning opportunities for eligible students from the District of Columbia. LEAs are required to submit a series of transportation to initiate transportation services for eligible students. These submissions are critical for OSSE to properly prepare for the school year and meet the transportation needs of students.
Top Things to Know
- OSSE DOT’s Transportation Request Form (TRF) status website provides an overview of the status of each LEA and its TRF submissions for eligible students for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. This website provides transparency for LEAs and their leaders to monitor the TRF submissions of the students that are eligible for transportation services.
- If your LEA has less than 85 percent of anticipated TRFs submitted on Aug. 2, OSSE will reach out to schedule a meeting with your leadership to discuss an action plan to ensure your students requiring transportation can be served at the start of school.
- LEAs should cancel the need for transportation when a student will not utilize the services.
- OSSE DOT will soon open up a new enrollment period for the 2024-25 school year Monthly Parent Stipend Program. Learn more about the program here.
Questions regarding Student Transportation? Contact Jason Campbell at Jason.Campbell@dc.gov.
2023 DC Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results Released
This May, OSSE received results from the 2023 DC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We are currently analyzing the data and writing the 2023 DC YRBS report, which you can expect in late-fall 2024. In the meantime, in an effort to provide timely, actionable data to local education agencies and community partners working to improve youth health and wellness, we are releasing these initial CDC summary files to the public.
You can find and download these files here. The files contain tabulations, graphs, and technical documentation to understand the survey results, create new materials, and conduct secondary data analyses. Please contact Norah.Khalil@dc.gov with any questions.
New Special Education Transportation Guidance
OSSE is pleased to provide new guidance to support LEAs and individualized education program (IEP) teams in making decisions regarding special education transportation services:
The documents are available on OSSE’s Special Education Guidance page. For questions about the content of the guidance, please contact Christie Weaver-Harris at Christie.Weaver-Harris@dc.gov.
FY24 Special Education Performance Report Release
Next week, OSSE will issue each LEA its fiscal year 2024 (FY24) Special Education Performance Report (SEPR) in the SEPR Quickbase Application. Additionally, OSSE will email directions to all LEA leaders and special education points of contact for how to do the following:
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Instructions for navigating the SEPR application in Quickbase;
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Dates and times your LEA can attend optional office hours to review your SEPR with OSSE representatives;
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Options and timelines to appeal your LEA’s SEPR results; and
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Timelines for the public posting of all SEPRs.
Metric Calculation Confirmation (MCC) is Underway
Every year, OSSE leads an MCC process to work with LEA Data Managers to certify the accuracy of all data, information and metrics on the DC School Report Card. MCC is divided into four phases; Phase I is focused on statewide assessment participation. The deadline for OSSE Support Tool (OST) tickets for Phase I is Monday, July 29. Heads of School will certify the accuracy of these data on Friday, Aug. 2.
To support LEAs in this work, we created the following resources:
The MCC Data Dictionary is new this year; we hope you find it helpful! We encourage LEA Data Managers to reach out to your OSSE Liaison if you have questions or concerns about your data. If you have any policy questions about the process overall, please email DCSchoolReportCard@dc.gov.
Underscoring the Importance of Meal Access through Survey Data
When school is out for summer, kids lose access to school meals, putting them at higher risk of hunger and making it harder to get the nutrition they need to learn and grow. But there are flexible strategies for providing children with food and nutrition support in the summertime:
- The DC Youth Meals Program, provides reimbursement for no-cost nutritious meals and snacks served to children 18 and younger.
- SUN Bucks, also known as Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), helps families with students buy food during the summer. Each eligible student will receive $120 for the summer, and funds will come pre-loaded on a card.
Learn more about these programs and the impact of meal access on student achievement according to findings from the 2021 DC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Nutritional Fact Sheet.
2024-25 School Year Course Catalog Collection Process Launched (reminder)
The Integrated Data System (IDS) platform is now open for LEAs to submit their Course Catalog Collection data. LEAs should download the template in IDS, fill in the 2024-25 school year data, and resubmit through IDS. Course Catalog Collection data is due Aug. 23, and LEA Heads of School will certify the data on Sept. 6.
If your LEA offers dual enrollment or career and technical education (CTE) courses, including participating in the Advanced Technical Center (ATC), please also visit the Course Data Collection Guidance for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) website to access the crosswalks that have been created to assist LEAs in mapping these courses to OSSE’s Course Catalog.
To prepare LEAs to complete this process in a timely and accurate way, OSSE will host a series of trainings and office hours:
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Course Catalog Collection Training (repeated session):
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Course Catalog Collection Office Hours
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New Literacy Coaching and Training Resources
OSSE is thrilled to announce the release of a new literacy coaching resource and literacy training resource.
Literacy Coaching Resource
Developed by OSSE's literacy team with valuable input from District teachers, coaches and leaders, the Structured Literacy Instructional Walkthrough Tool is a comprehensive, research-based addition to existing systems of continuous teacher support. The walkthrough tool will assist local education agencies (LEAs) in analyzing and providing targeted feedback on structured literacy instruction, helping all students develop as confident, skilled and enthusiastic readers. The walkthrough tool along with a guidance document on its optimal use, is available on OSSE's literacy website. Additional information on upcoming training and norming opportunities will be provided soon. Stay tuned for details!
Literacy Training Resource
Developed by OSSE's literacy team with valuable input and review from District teachers, coaches, and leaders, the Structured Literacy Recommended Training List provides local education agencies (LEAs) with a list of recommended, research-aligned structured literacy training. By ensuring all educators show competency in structured literacy instruction, students will receive evidence-based reading instruction needed to become confident, skilled, and enthusiastic readers. The structured literacy training list is available on OSSE's literacy website.
Discipline Data Collection Training Aug. 14 and Aug. 21 – Register Now!
OSSE is pleased to announce that the Division of Data, Assessment, and Research (DAR) will host two training sessions focused on our annual discipline collection for those who are new to the discipline collection or would just like a refresher. These sessions are ideal for new LEA Data Managers, school leaders, and discipline points of contact. However, anyone who works with the OSSE discipline collection is welcome to attend. The same content will be presented both in-person and virtually so you can choose the format that works best for you. Topics covered will include background information, key dates, collection requirements, data entry overview, and data review and certification. The following sessions will be offered:
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Wednesday, Aug. 14 | 10–11:30 a.m.
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Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 1–2:30 p.m.
Multilingual Institute 2024 (reminder)
OSSE is pleased to announce its Multilingual Learner Institute, “Advancing Literacy, Culture and Multilingualism,” to be held on Monday, Aug. 12, at the Kellogg Conference Center at Gallaudet University. This convening will bring together educators, researchers, and practitioners in the District of Columbia to support multilingual learners enrolled in both English language acquisition and dual language programs. Register here.
For questions, please reach out to Angela Awonaike at Angela.Awonaike@dc.gov or Lucia Cuomo at Lucia.Cuomo@dc.gov.
Special Education Institute 2024 (reminder)
OSSE is pleased to announce the Special Education Institute: Building Capacity for a Brighter Future, on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Kellogg Conference Center at Gallaudet University. The Special Education Institute is an unparalleled capacity-building opportunity for educators to enhance their knowledge and skills and improve special education outcomes. Register here.
For questions, please reach out to Steaven Hamlin at Steaven.Hamlin@dc.gov or Byul Yim at Byul.Yim@dc.gov.
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FY25 ESEA Titles I-IV-A Consolidated Application Open
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Consolidated Application (ConApp) for Titles I-A, II-A, III-A and IV-A will be available on July 26, 2024 in EGMS. Allocations for the ESEA Title grants are available here. The deadline for submission is Sept. 30, 2024 at 3 p.m. EST.
LEA grant managers responsible for the ESEA Title I-A, II-A, III-A, and IV-A grant applications in the ConApp should register to attend an FY25 ConApp Workshop. The workshops are a small-group training to provide LEA grant managers a deeper understanding of grant requirements, application expectations, and any updates to the ConApp in FY25. Below are the dates of that the workshop will be offered along with the corresponding registration links.
Resources to support LEAs with the design of their Title grant programs and the grant application process are available on the OSSE website here.
If you have any questions about completing the FY25 ConApp, please contact your ESEA grants specialist.
High-Impact Tutoring (HIT) LEA Grant - Request for Applications (RFA) Now Open (reminder)
OSSE has released a funding opportunity for approximately five to 15 grants to DC LEAs to launch, strengthen, and expand evidence-based tutoring programs in schools for DC students, with a focus on those who are designated as economically disadvantaged. The funding period will run from the date the grants are awarded, estimated to be in late October 2024 through Sept. 30, 2025. Please see OSSE’s HIT webpage or the 2024-25 grants forecast for more detailed information on the award opportunity and applicant eligibility.
The deadline to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply form, which can be found in the RFA, is Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, and the deadline to submit an application is Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 at 3 p.m. EST. Applications are accepted only through OSSE’s Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) at grants.osse.dc.gov.
Pre-application webinars were held for interested applicants; recordings and materials from the presentation can be found here.
If you have any questions about the grant, please email the HIT grants team at HIT.Grants@dc.gov
FY25 IDEA Part B Phase II Application (Reminder)
The fiscal year 2025 (FY25) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant application will now be available on July 26, 2024 in EGMS.
The application deadline for the grant is Sept. 30, 2024 by 3 p.m. EST. Resources to support your grant application and grant program are available on OSSE’s IDEA website. For questions or additional information about IDEA, please contact Megan Williams at Megan.Williams@dc.gov.
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August 2024
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