 *NEW* Info Session for Youth Mental Health Ambassador
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 3:30 p.m., Our Minds Matter (OMM) is hosting a virtual information session for interested staff to learn more about bringing a student-led club model to their high school campus. DC public charter high schools are encouraged to participate in the Youth Mental Health Ambassador program for the current 2024-25 school year. In partnership with OMM, the Youth Mental Health Ambassador program is a student-led club that focuses on promoting social connectedness, increasing prosocial skills, practicing self-care and healthy habits, and increasing help-seeking behaviors. Participating schools receive training, technical assistance, and consultation from OMM to recruit students, and implement and operate the club. All DC public charter high schools are eligible! More information can be found on OSSE’s Advancing the Recruitment and Retention of Our Workforce (ARROW) website.
SY 2024-25 School Health Profiles (SHP) – Data Collection in Progress (reminder - Feb 14 deadline for data submission)
For the 2024-25 school year, the School Health Profiles (SHP) will be administered from Wednesday, Jan. 15 through Friday, Feb. 14. All school-level users gained access to the SHP application on Jan. 15.
When accessing the application for the first time, users must first click “Sign up” to create a new user profile and password to log in. If additional individuals at your school need access to the application, please contact your LEA data manager(s) and request those individuals to be submitted to OSSE as “School Health Profile POCs” through the All Staff application. Once the LEA data manager has submitted user updates, new users should expect to receive access after one business day.
Please note: Google Chrome is the preferred browser. Users experiencing issues with loading the home page should first try clearing their cache/browser history. If the issue persists, please request your LEA data manager to submit a ticket via the OST.
Key Dates:
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Friday, Feb. 14 by 11:59 p.m.: SHP Data Submission Deadline for School-Level Users
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Tuesday, Feb. 18 by 5 p.m.: SHP Data Certification Deadline by LEA Heads of School
Visit the OSSE Healthy Schools Act webpage to find step-by-step instructions for completing the SHP, an FAQs document and a recording of the webinar for LEA-level users. If you have any other questions, please contact Norah Khalil at OSSE.SchoolHealth@dc.gov.
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*NEW* Discipline for Students in a Nonpublic Placement - Feb. 14 deadline
LEAs are required to submit disciplinary incidents that involve students in a nonpublic placement. Collection of these data was paused during the first discipline collection and validation window to update the integrated data submission (IDS) system. As of Jan. 27, IDS began accepting incidents involving students in nonpublic placements.
For students in a nonpublic placement who had a disciplinary incident in Collection 1 (July 8 – Nov. 22, 2024), LEAs should use the following procedure to add records to the collection:
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Download a new discipline template from the IDS tool.
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Complete the template using only the information for the student(s) in a nonpublic placement with a disciplinary incident.
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Upload the data via the IDS tool. There will likely be an anomaly message generated that says, “Disciplinary Incident Date: The student has a disciplinary incident date that did not occur in the current collection window.” You may ignore this anomaly, but please fix any other errors that are associated with the submission.
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Email Jenni Russell Ziarnik at Jennifer.RussellZiarnik@dc.gov to verify your submission.
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Please complete this process no later than Friday, Feb. 14.
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OSSE will add the data with no further action needed by the LEA. Note: it is not necessary to file an appeal to add this data.
For students in a nonpublic placement who had a disciplinary incident in Collection Window 2 and beyond (Nov. 25, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025), please include these incidents as a row in your regular discipline submission.
Course Catalog Data Collection – IDS Process Reopen for Data Errors (reminder)
All LEAs should have mapped their Student and Section Course Data Collection data in the LEA Data Mapping Tool as of Nov. 8, 2024
Unified Data Errors (UDEs) related to this data are now in the 2024-25 school year (SY2024-25) Unified Data Errors Qlik application. If there are UDEs that need to be resolved by resubmitting Course Catalog data, the Integrated Data Submission (IDS) process for the Course Catalog Collection data will be reopened for resubmission from Feb. 10 through Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Please note that the new submission will completely overwrite previous submissions, so the entire spreadsheet of Course Catalog data will need to be resubmitted, not just changes.
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The week of Feb. 10, the UDEs for course information for students who attend nonpublic schools, Average Number of Sessions per Week, and Average Minutes per Week will be released.
LEAs can also schedule a one-on-one meeting for assistance using this link. For additional information or questions, please email Whitney Meagher at Whitney.Meagher@dc.gov.
LEA Financial Reporting Application Released – Submissions due March 14 (reminder)
The LEA financial reporting application for the annual collection of financial expenditure data is now live.
Please click here to view OSSE’s Common Financial Reporting Standards landing page, where you can access the financial reporting Quickbase application, virtual training materials, & LEA financial reporting requirements and guidelines.
All LEAs are required to submit 2023-24 school year financial data to OSSE by Friday, March 14, 2025. The DC School Report Card website will then be updated to include the per-pupil financial expenditure data that you submit for each school and LEA.
Additionally, OSSE will hold optional office hours for LEA staff that have questions or need assistance. Please open the hyperlinks attached to the times and dates below to register to attend.
LEA staff with the following roles in the All Staff Qlik currently have access to the LEA financial reporting application.
- Head of School;
- LEA Data Manager;
- Chief Financial Officer; and
- LEA Finance/Grants Manager.
If you have any questions related to the LEA financial reporting application, please contact Gabriel Montague, OSSE Administrative Officer, at Gabriel.Montague@dc.gov or (202) 394-8977.
Scholarship Opportunity for DC High School Seniors (reminder)
Ivy Vine Charities, Incorporated is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 school year. Please share the below information with your high school students.
Student Criteria
The applicant must:
- Be a resident of Washington, DC, Montgomery County, Maryland, or Prince George’s County, Maryland
- Be a high school senior
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or above on a 4.0 scale documented on an official transcript
- Plan to attend a four-year university or college, or a community college
- Construct a written essay on the designated topic
- Provide evidence of participation in school and community activities
Learn more and apply here. Applications must be submitted by Saturday, March 1, 2025.
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*NEW* Focus Group for Chronic Absenteeism Qlik App
Do you have ideas for improving the Chronic Absenteeism Qlik App? If so, OSSE is inviting you to share those ideas in focus groups aimed at improving the Chronic Absenteeism Qlik App’s functionality and impact. The focus groups will begin in mid-February and will be held virtually. Please complete this sign-up sheet by noon on Feb. 14 to let us know your interest and availability! If you have any questions, you can contact Theo.Pippins@dc.gov.
*NEW* OSSE Secondary Transition Compliance Webinar
In collaboration with WestEd, OSSE will host the 2024-25 school year secondary transition compliance webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. During this webinar, OSSE will provide guidance for both new and seasoned secondary transition specialists and LEA special education points of contact (LEA SPED POCs) on strategies to achieve 100 percent secondary transition compliance. This training will also provide an overview of how secondary transition professionals can prepare for upcoming secondary transition monitoring, as well as best practices to support high-quality, compliant secondary transition planning year-over-year.
While this event is optional for secondary transition specialists and LEA SPED POCs, participation is strongly encouraged. Please register for the webinar here.
If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact LaShonda Wilson Carter at LaShonda.Wilson@dc.gov.
ARROW GO! Award Program (reminder)
The Advancing the Recruitment and Retention of Our Workforce (ARROW) GO! Award Program provides funding for eligible District of Columbia school-based behavioral health providers to participate in national in-person learning opportunities. Current opportunities are available for school social workers to attend the 2025 National School Social Work Conference in Atlanta, GA on April 9–12, 2025. The application window is Monday, Feb 3 to Friday, Feb. 21 and can be accessed HERE.
Eligible applicants will receive $2,250 to attend the 2025 National School Social Work Conference, and must be a licensed social worker (LICSW or LGSW) employed by:
- a DC public or public charter school serving pre-K 3 through grade 12,
- a community-based organization (CBO) that participates in the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) School-Based Behavioral Health Expansion, or
- DBH’s School-Based Mental Health Program.
Future opportunities for the ARROW Go! Award Program include the Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health and the National Association of School Psychologists 2025 Annual Convention (pending funding approval), with more information to come. Selected applicants may attend only one opportunity between April 2025 and February 2026.
For more information about the ARROW GO! Award Program and eligibility requirements, click here. For questions about the ARROW GO! Award Program, please contact OSSE.HYDT@dc.gov.
'SELebrating' Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Day at the REACH-Kennedy Center (reminder)
To celebrate SEL Day and launch SEL week, DC educators are invited to an exclusive training at the REACH, located at the Kennedy Center! Hosted by OSSE in partnership with Dramatic Solutions, Inc., this professional development session will showcase how to implement the 3 Signature Practices of SEL in the classroom to align with DC’s SEL standards. These evidence-based strategies, proven to be effective with grades K-12, are revolutionizing how we teach and learn. The interactive activities will equip educators with strategies to integrate SEL into their core curriculum, making lessons both engaging and impactful. Participants will also hear success stories from fellow DC educators and leaders about how they incorporate SEL in their schools.
This training event will take place on Monday, March 3, from 12 – 3 p.m. at the Reach (Board Room), Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC 20566.
Seats are limited so register soon! Note, DC educators will get first priority and should register within OSSE’s Learning Management System (LMS) platform here. All other attendees can RSVP here. Detailed directions to the location will be provided via email. For questions, please email Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov.
Introduction to the Peace of Mind Curriculum - Feb. 14 Training (reminder)
Looking for an effective, evidence-based mindfulness curriculum to help you meet DC’s newly adopted SEL Standards? Join us for an in-person, fun, interactive “Getting Started with Peace of Mind” training for elementary and middle school educators. This training will include a curriculum overview and immediately helpful information about the key pillars of the curriculum: mindfulness, brain science, kindness, gratitude, conflict resolution, and social justice. We’ll explore how the Peace of Mind curriculum aligns with the SEL standards in the areas of self-awareness, self-management, social and cultural awareness, relationship skills, and decision-making and agency. In the process, we’ll enjoy personal mindfulness practices and other experiential activities as well as the chance to connect with other educators.
This training will take place on Friday, Feb. 14 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at OSSE, 1050 First St. NE, Room 108. This session is for pre-K though grade 8. DC educators who are using or thinking about using the Peace of Mind curriculum. For more information, please contact Jessica Dulay, School Climate Specialist, at Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov. Register here.
Dual Language Research, Policy, and Practice Series - Feb. 21 session (reminder)
Dual language leaders: Join us for a virtual learning series focused on building connections across schools and sectors in the Washington, DC dual language community. This series will feature presentations from local research, policy, and practice leaders focused on fostering equitable and high-quality dual language education.
The first session’s guest will be Dr. Conor P. Williams, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, who will present on equitable access to dual language immersion schools, both from a national and local perspective.
A variety of dual language leaders are welcome to attend, including LEA leaders, principals, assistant principals, instructional leaders, and operations leaders. The session will take place virtually on Friday, Feb. 21, from 12-1 p.m. Register here.
For more information, contact Francesca Smith, Multilingual Specialist, at Francesca.Smith@dc.gov.
Supporting Oral Language Development in the Spanish Immersion Pre-K Classroom - Feb. 19 session (reminder)
This is the second session of a professional learning series exploring how oral language development lays the foundation for strong literacy skills in dual language learners. In this session, teachers will learn and discuss strategies for promoting more conversations in their classrooms and reflect on their alignment to the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS).
This session is open to pre-K teachers and paraprofessionals working in Spanish immersion classrooms in dual language schools and will be conducted in Spanish. Prior attendance in Session 1 is NOT required to participate in this session.
The session will take place virtually on Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. DC Public Schools (DCPS) educators will have the choice to attend the same session during the Feb. 14 District-wide professional development day. Attendees will receive 1 PLU for their participation. Register here.
For more information, contact Francesca Smith, Multilingual Specialist, at Francesca.Smith@dc.gov.
Inclusive Leadership Professional Learning Pathway (reminder)
OSSE is excited to offer a new professional learning pathway for District of Columbia educators. This pathway equips educators with the knowledge and skills to effectively serve all students, especially students with disabilities.
Program Overview: The Inclusion and Inclusive Leadership professional learning series is anchored in OSSE’s Vision of Excellence for Inclusion and Inclusive Leadership. The pathway includes a self-paced, asynchronous virtual course and an aligned Community of Practice (CoP), offering opportunities to earn PLUs. This initiative provides a rich, accessible learning experience through OSSE’s LMS.
Inclusive Leadership: Self-Paced Course
Description: Developed by DC leaders for DC leaders, this course provides practical tools, high-impact practices, and valuable resources to enhance inclusive education and leadership to support students with disabilities. Participants will explore real-life examples, evidence-based strategies, and actionable resources. The series includes six self-paced modules, each designed to support professional growth and includes a comprehensive learning project to apply the course content.
CoP participants will:
- Engage in 8-10 hours of coursework, including six self-paced modules and independent learning activities.
- Dig deeply into key topics and resources from the course such as setting goals for your team, building an inclusive adult culture, etc.
- Engage in structured collaboration and reflection with leaders from across the District.
- Participate in at least one visit to an exemplar school.
- Learn from guest speakers with expertise in inclusive leadership.
- Have protected time to workshop implementation ideas and get feedback from peers.
Audience: This opportunity is open to LEA leaders (superintendents, principal supervisors, executive directors, heads of school, network/district instructional leaders, and special education leaders) and school leaders (principals, assistant principals, deans, instructional leaders, directors, and special education leaders) from DC public and public charter schools.
- Participants can earn 8 PLUs by completing all modules and participating CoPs.
To learn more about each opportunity, contact Steaven Hamlin with the OSSE Division of Teaching and Learning at Steaven.Hamlin@dc.gov. If you are interested in enrolling in the program, complete the Inclusive Leadership Interest Form.
Additional Resources:
Homeless Education Program: McKinney-Vento Monthly Webinar Sessions - Next session Feb. 12 (reminder)
OSSE’s Homeless Education Program has invited subject matter experts to present on a variety of topics that impact students and families experiencing homelessness. These 1-hour monthly webinars are available to LEA and school employees, homeless liaisons, and community partners. Presentations are scheduled each month through May 2025. The registration links for the February and March 2025 webinars are below.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Time: 10-11 a.m.
Presenters: OSSE’s Post-Secondary and Career Education/DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG)
Register: forms.office.com/g/NX6BFPvJYQ
Wednesday, March 12
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Presenters: Housing Up, Office of Tenants Advocates, and Housing Counseling Services
Register: forms.office.com/g/eHfV3gtLFZ
Early Childhood Special Education Community of Practice (reminder)
The Early Childhood Special Education Community of Practice is designed to create authentic opportunities for LEA pre-K special education points of contact and those who support this population to collaborate with others and improve learning outcomes for children ages 3-5 with disabilities who are enrolled in early childhood special education programs. Upcoming community of practice sessions will focus on the topics below. All sessions will take place from 10-11 a.m.
Please register for a community practice session(s) using the links above. For questions, contact Dawn Hilton, Supervisory Coordinator for Special Education (Part B-619), at Dawn.Hilton1@dc.gov.
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2025 Extended School Year (ESY) Certification (reminder)
The deadline for summer ESY certification is Monday, May 5. LEAs must submit required data consistent with the 2025 ESY Preparation Guide. LEAs are also encouraged to review OSSE’s Policy Bulletin: Extended School Year (ESY) Services (Updated August 2023) guidance regarding LEA responsibilities and documentation requirements for ESY eligibility determinations and service provision for eligible students with disabilities. For questions about ESY, required tasks, or data systems, please refer to the points of contact provided in the memorandum.
FY25 Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Competitive Grant Continuation Applications Due by Friday, Feb. 28 (reminder)
For LEAs that had carryover from an FY23 or FY24 SOAR competitive grant, continuation applications are now available in EGMS. Please review the continuation application guidance for detailed instructions on completing the application. Continuation applications must be submitted in EGMS by 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28.
The following SOAR grants are eligible for carryover of remaining grant funds into FY25:
- FY23 SOAR Facilities
- FY24 SOAR Facilities
- FY23 SOAR Third Party
- FY23 SOAR Teacher Pipeline
For questions on SOAR Facilities, please reach out to Marie Hutchins at Marie.Hutchins@dc.gov. For questions on SOAR Third Party or Teacher Pipeline, please reach out to Cynthia Davis at Cynthia.Davis@dc.gov.
New OSSE Direct Loan Interest Rate and Extension Fee Effective Feb. 24 (reminder)
At the start of the pandemic, the interest rate on the Direct Loan program was lowered to 1 percent to support schools with responding to the public health emergency. Effective Feb. 24, the interest rate on the Direct Loan program will be reset from 1 percent to 3.5 percent, and there will be a 1 percent transaction fee for approved loan extensions. This will affect new loan applications submitted on or after Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. These changes will support the replenishment of the direct loan fund by realigning the rate to the market and allow continued affordable financing and support of public charter school facilities in the District.
Since 2003, the Direct Loan and Credit Enhancement funds have provided financing to help public charter schools renovate, construct, acquire, or maintain their facilities. Public charter LEAs or nonprofits authorized to secure financing on their behalf may apply for a direct loan of up to $2 million and/or a credit enhancement of up to $1 million to support facilities projects.
For more information about OSSE’s facilities financing options for public charter schools, please visit this webpage. For questions, please reach out to Brianna Griffin at Brianna.Griffin@dc.gov.
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February 2025
March 2025
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