|
|
New: OSSE Releases SY25-26 School Calendar Guidance and Waivers: Submit by Tuesday, June 24
School Year 2025-26 OSSE Instructional Day and Distance Learning Guidance is now available online. A few reminders:
-
Calendars must be in eSchoolPLUS no later than Tuesday, June 24. All regular K-12 SY25-26 instructional day calendars are required to have at least 180 instructional days that are at least six hours in length.
-
If schools wish to have any instructional days less than six hours in length counted toward their 180 day count, LEAs must submit a half-day waiver request in the OSSE Support Tool by Tuesday, June 24.
-
For the first time, OSSE will be conducting a formal calendar review process that will require LEAs to affirm that their calendars are “Ready for Review.” The affirmation must be submitted by Tuesday, July 1. We will share the portal once it is live next week.
New: 2024-25 Educator Workforce and Educator Preparation Provider Data Files Release
OSSE’s Educator Workforce Data Files provide an in-depth look at staffing trends across DC’s 71 local education agencies (LEAs). OSSE worked closely with our LEA partners during the faculty and staff data collection process to collect data on more than 20,000 staff members and 98,000 students, providing a vivid picture of educator demographics, supply and demand, retention, preparation, and performance data at the state, LEA, and school levels. OSSE is also releasing our comprehensive Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) Data Files, providing a comprehensive view into DC’s educator pipeline with demographics, Praxis pass rates, credentialing, and employment outcomes of over 4,000 EPP participants from all 13 state-approved local EPPs.
The 2024-25 data files are available to the public here. Please reach out to Fadhal Moore, Educator Policy and Equity Specialist, at Fadhal.Moore@dc.gov if you have any questions.
OSSE Parent Portal for Transporation Now Available (Reminder)
OSSE is making a change to the process of submitting transportation requests for eligible students. The OSSE Parent Portal is now live. 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: K-5 Summer Literacy Leader Training Opportunity, July 8 & 10
This dynamic two-day professional development experience, facilitated by WayFinder, is designed for school leadership teams committed to elevating literacy instruction through developing a suite of professional learning resources. Participants will deeply engage with OSSE’s suite of literacy resources, including the Structured Literacy Walkthrough Tool to build a shared understanding of high-impact instructional practices aligned to the science of reading.
By the end of this two-day session, school leadership teams will be able to:
- Explain the purpose and structure of the OSSE Literacy Walkthrough Tool and use it to identify and support growth in high-impact instructional practices in K–5 literacy instruction.
- Develop literacy goals that are specific, measurable, and directly connected to high-impact instructional practices outlined in the walkthrough tool.
- Create a tailored plan for ongoing professional learning, coaching, and instructional support that embed the walkthrough tool into the school’s leadership routines and foster a collaborative culture of continuous improvement in literacy.
Intended Audience: K-5 Principals, Assistant Principals, Literacy Coaches and Teacher Leaders
When: Tuesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 10 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Sessions will be held at OSSE, 1050 First NE, Washington, DC, 20002
Interested participants, please complete this form to register.
If you would like more information or for questions, please contact OSSE’s Literacy Manager, Vaani Gupta at Vaani.Gupta@dc.gov.
New: Special Education Professional Learning Community
Attention, all new early career special education teachers, join the New to Special Education Professional Learning Community (PLC) to engage in a year-long professional learning community. Participating educators will gain foundational knowledge of the special education process and engage in hands-on learning about individualized education program (IEP) development, meeting facilitation, and implementation. More information to come.
Apply via this link by Friday, Aug. 1. For more information, please contact Byul Yim at Byul.Yim@dc.gov.
New: Application Now Open for 2025-26 Superintendent’s Advisory Councils
OSSE is seeking teachers, school leaders and family members to participate in the 2025-26 Superintendent’s Advisory Councils (SACs). The councils meet regularly with OSSE leadership and staff to provide insights and ask questions about OSSE programs and policies.
We are seeking a diverse group from across the city who reflect the demographics of the District’s students. Members of the 2025-26 SACs will serve a term of one school year, beginning in October 2025 and ending in June 2026. The first meeting for all three advisory councils will be held in person at OSSE (1050 First St. NE, Washington, DC) in October 2025.
All applications for the 2025-26 Superintendent’s Advisory Councils will close on Friday, August 8, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.:
For more information about the 2025-26 SACs, visit the OSSE website: bit.ly/OSSESuperintendentsAdvisoryCouncils.
For questions, please contact Megan Dumond, Special Assistant for Teaching and Learning, at Megan.Dumond@dc.gov or Vonique Jones, Executive Assistant for Teaching and Learning, at Vonique.Jones@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.
Celebrating Berries & Greens Day (Reminder)
Last week, schools across the District promoted healthy eating and locally grown foods by celebrating Berries & Greens Day. This day provides students an opportunity to enjoy fresh, local berries and greens as part of the school lunch and/or breakfast program.
Since 2011, schools across the District of Columbia have participated in Berries & Greens Day as a way to showcase locally grown produce in school meals. The event educated students about the health and environmental benefits of eating locally grown fruits and vegetables, and how healthy eating leads to healthy educational outcomes.
To share any photos or videos from your Berries & Greens Day celebrations, send them to osse.nutritionprogram@dc.gov for a chance to be featured on social media and upcoming communications!
|
New: Updated List of Grant Program Contacts
The Division of Strategic Funding for School Quality (FSQ) has created an updated contact list for the grant programs under FSQ’s purview. These grant specialists are here to support you with any questions you may have regarding the grants awarded to your LEA or community-based organization (CBO).
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), Benjamin Scott, Benjamin.Scott@dc.gov
- Charter Schools Program (CSP), Stacy Kirk, Stacy.Kirk@dc.gov
- Community Schools Incentive Initiative, Delia Davis, Delia.Davis1@dc.gov
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Titles I-A to IV-A, Crystal Brumfield, Crystal.Brumfield@dc.gov
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Kristen Thompson, Kristen.Thompson@dc.gov
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance (MKV), Danielle Rollins, Danielle.Rollins@dc.gov
- Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR) Educator Pipeline, Cynthia Davis, Cynthia.Davis@dc.gov
- SOAR Facilities, Marie Hutchins, Marie.Hutchins@dc.gov
- SOAR Formula Consolidated: Academic Quality & Early Childhood, Multiple Contacts, Grant Specialist by LEA
- SOAR Third Party, Cynthia Davis, Cynthia.Davis@dc.gov
- Show Up, Stand Out (SUSO), Rudy Arellano, Rudy.Arellano@dc.gov
- Stronger Connections, Rudy Arellano, Rudy.Arellano@dc.gov
FY26 ESEA Title Preliminary Allocations Update (Reminder)
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. OSSE will calculate and publish preliminary allocations for these grants for local education agencies (LEAs) after the District of Columbia receives these state allocations.
Per the standard annual timeline, LEAs should still submit their FY26 ESEA Consolidated Application (ConApp) Phase I application in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by 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.
Local education agencies (LEAs) are required to submit these Phase I assurances for the FY26 ConApp and FY26 IDEA grants by June 30 at 3 p.m. EST. 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.
|
June 2025
|
