|
|
New: OSSE Parent Portal for Transporation Launches Monday, June 9
OSSE is making a change to the process of submitting transportation requests for eligible students. OSSE is excited to launch the OSSE Parent Portal on Monday, June 9. This new, user-friendly online platform is for families of students with active individualized education programs (IEPs) that include transportation services so that parents can directly submit their transportation preferences for the 2025–26 school year.
This direct parent submission of transportation preferences will replace the submission of transportation request forms (TRFs) by LEAs. Once parents indicate their transportation preference in the portal, then LEAs will receive notification in the Integrated Data Submission (IDS) Tool to provide supporting information to provide the necessary transportation services and accommodation by completing the request.
Why This Change?
In past years, transportation service for students with special needs has been impacted by incomplete or outdated information on transportation request forms. The OSSE Parent Portal puts families in the driver’s seat and allows them to confirm or update their transportation details, such as addresses and service preferences.
LEAs Remain Critical Partners in Student Transportation
The portal will rely on primary guardian contact information from LEA Student Information Systems (SIS). Please update and maintain SIS records to ensure families can access the portal without delay.
Take Action After Families Submit Preferences
LEAs will need to review and take action for any parent who selects OSSE-DOT transportation to ensure alignment with the student’s IEP.
Promote OSSE’s Parent Support Resources
OSSE will provide in-person technical support to families from June 10–28 and July 14-26:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays | 4–7 p.m.
- Saturdays | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Location: OSSE, 1050 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 (Note: Closed June 19 for Juneteenth). Training videos will also be available within the portal.
We ask LEAs to advertise these resources through your school communications (newsletters, texts, robocalls, etc.).
OSSE will provide additional resources and engagement details for LEAs to support the launch of the portal, as well as ongoing support throughout the summer.
Please email osse.parentportal@dc.gov if you have any questions.
|
New: Celebrating Berries & Greens Day
Schools across DC promoted healthy eating and locally grown foods this week by celebrating Berries & Greens Day on Thursday, June 5. This annual celebration provides students an opportunity to enjoy fresh, local berries and greens as part of the school lunch and/or breakfast program and learn healthy eating habits.
We want to see how your schools celebrated. Please share any photos or videos from your Berries & Greens Day by emailing them to osse.nutritionprogram@dc.gov, images may be featured in upcoming communications.
Outdoor Learning Gathering, Connecting Students with Natural Process in the School Garden (Reminder)
Join OSSE’s Division of Health and Wellness for an outdoor learning gathering to discover how time spent in green spaces can be used as a tool for academic learning, social and emotional learning, and strengthening sense of place.
This gathering will consist of two sessions:
-
Session 1: Participants will practice writing their own eco-poetry and creating nature bracelets.
-
Session 2: Participants will learn the basics of composting with worms; starting from how to set up and maintain worm bins, to exploring what types of worms even eat food scraps!
When: Wednesday, June 11, 4:30-6 p.m.
Where: Mundo Verde PCS, 30 P St. NW, Washington, DC
Register here: bit.ly/OutdoorLearningDC.
For more information, contact Sam Ullery at Sam.Ullery@dc.gov.
Dually Identified Students: Culturally Sustaining High-Leverage Practices (Reminder)
Explore the intersectionality of multilingual learners with disabilities, also known as dually identified students, to implement culturally sustaining, high-leverage instructional practices. Each 2-hour session will deepen participants’ understanding of how to support students who are both multilingual learners and have disabilities through equitable and inclusive approaches.
This series is designed for educators across roles, such as special education coordinators and teachers, multilingual learner coordinators and teachers, and general educators. School teams are encouraged to attend together.
Upcoming Dates
All sessions will take place from 1-3 p.m.
-
Wednesday, June 30: Intersectionality of Dually Identified Learners
-
Friday, Aug. 1: Culturally Sustaining Collaborative Practices
-
Monday, Aug. 11: High-Leverage Practices for Dually Identified Students
-
Friday, Aug. 15: Culturally Sustaining Instructional Planning
Click here to register.
Attendees will receive up to 8 Professional Learning Units (PLUs).
For more information, contact Byul Yim at Byul.Yim@dc.gov or Francesca Smith at Francesca.Smith@dc.gov.
|
New: FY26 ESEA Title Preliminary Allocations Update
The US Department of Education has not yet released preliminary fiscal year 2026 (FY26) allocations for all Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title grants. However, LEAs should still submit their FY26 ESEA Consolidated Application (ConApp) Phase I application in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by Monday, June 30. This ensures that your LEA’s award period for FY26 ESEA Title grants will begin on July 1 even if preliminary allocations are not yet released.
For questions or additional information on ESEA Title allocations, please reach out to Linda Sun, at Linda.Sun1@dc.gov.
FY26 ESEA Titles I-IV and IDEA Phase I Applications Now Available (Reminder)
The annual application process for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Titles I-IV grants and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants begins with agreeing to assurances by submitting a Phase I application in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS). Both the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) ESEA Title Consolidated (ConApp) Phase I application and the FY26 IDEA Phase I application are now available in EGMS.
Details about grant programs within the ConApp are available on OSSE’s website here and for IDEA here. Preliminary allocations are forthcoming and will be announced via this newsletter.
LEAs are required to submit these Phase I assurances for the FY26 ConApp and FY26 IDEA grants by Monday, June 30 at 3 p.m. Once Phase I assurances are approved, your LEA will be required to complete Phase II applications, which will include program and budget details.
For questions or additional information about the ESEA ConApp, please contact Crystal Brumfield at Crystal.Brumfield@dc.gov. For questions or additional information about the IDEA grants, please contact Kristen Thompson at Kristen.Thompson@dc.gov.
FY24 ESEA Carryover Funds Now Available in EGMS (Reminder)
Local education agencies (LEAs) can now access their fiscal year 2024 (FY24) carryover funds on Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Titles I-A, II-A, III-A and IV-A grants via their FY25 ESEA Consolidated Applications (ConApps) in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS).
All LEAs that had FY24 carryover funds awarded on one or more of the four Title grants should review their carryover amounts by clicking on the “Funding Distribution” tab in their FY25 ConApp in EGMS.
LEAs must submit budget amendments on their FY25 ConApp to reflect carryover funds by July 11, 2025. Resources to support your grant application and grant program are available on OSSE’s ESEA Website.
For questions or additional information about ESEA, please contact Crystal Brumfield at Crystal.Brumfield@dc.gov.
|
June 2025
|
