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New: STOP THE BLEED® Kits and Training for Public Charter Schools
Would you like to strengthen your school’s emergency preparedness and help protect students and staff in the event of a crisis? DC Health is offering free STOP THE BLEED® kits and training to public charter schools.* These kits are designed to empower bystanders to take immediate action in bleeding emergencies—situations where minutes can make the difference between life and death. Each kit includes essential medical supplies such as gauze, tourniquets, and protective equipment. Once the STOP THE BLEED® wall cabinets are installed in your school, DC Health’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers are available to provide training to your staff at no cost. For more information, view this presentation. To participate, please complete this brief form.
If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Hodgkiss, Emergency Management Specialist at DC Health, at Jeff.Hodgkiss@dc.gov.
*Note: DC Health will work with DCPS central office to reach DC public schools.
New: School Gardens in the District are Thriving
Check out the Thriving District School Gardens Storymap which provides an overview of school garden successes during 2024-25 school year, including creative and impactful ways that schools are engaging students in garden-based learning.
If you would like to share a school garden success story, please complete this short form.
DC SAYS Data is Available (Reminder)
DC Survey About Your School (DC SAYS) data is now available for heads of school, LEA data managers and principals. Please check your email, log in to the Panorama Education platform using the emailed link, and dig in. You will see national, District, grade band and ward benchmarks for comparison as well as resources from the Panorama Playbook to address focus areas.
Please note that if your LEA has its own contract with Panorama and is sharing data with OSSE, your access may be handled differently. Topic-level data on the DC School Report Card will be published in December 2025.
Participation in the first year was strong thanks to the great work of our LEAs promoting and prioritizing survey participation. We heard from 76 percent of our survey-eligible students, 49 percent of school-based staff, and 14,590 families. Thank you!
Back-to-School Supply Grants from LifeChanger of the Year (Reminder)
LifeChanger of the Year, a national recognition program that honors K-12 educators, wants to help teachers in the District stock their classrooms.
All public, public charter, and private school employees are invited to apply for a Back-to-School Supply Grant. Ten educators from across the country will be awarded $500 for school supplies.
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Application period: Tuesday, July 1 – Friday, Aug. 15
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How to apply: Complete the form here.
All strong applicants will be automatically considered for the 2025-26 LifeChanger of the Year program, with a chance to win up to $20,000 for your school.
Learn more about the program on their website.
Revised 2025 Model Policies: School Safety Omnibus Amendment Act (Reminder)
The OSSE model policies to prevent and address sexual abuse and acts of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and dating violence are now revised to align with the 2020 Title IX Rule. Schools and local education agencies (LEAs) may adopt the OSSE model policies as written or use them as a starting point when developing their own policies. Schools and LEAs that used the 2019 or 2024 OSSE model policies are strongly encouraged to review the new 2025 versions and ensure their policies are up to date. A description of the revisions and the two model policies are available on the OSSE website.
Please direct any questions regarding the model policies or available training to osse.schoolhealth@dc.gov.
OSSE Parent Portal for Transporation (Reminder)
The OSSE Parent Portal for Transportation is now open for parents and guardians of transportation eligible students to make their selections for the 2025-26 school year. More than 5,000 special needs students in the District are eligible for OSSE’s Division of Transportation (DOT) services and the Portal puts parents in the driver’s seat to make the transportation choice that works best for them.
Families are asked to confirm their information and select one of the following options:
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Will Not Need Transportation: The student will not use any transportation service offered by OSSE-DOT.
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Parent Stipend Program: This program allows for a $400 monthly payment to eligible parents/guardians for transporting your child to/from the enrolled school. Note: regular student attendance is required and will be checked. Learn more about the stipend program here.
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DOT Transportation: OSSE-DOT will transport your child to/from the enrolled school. Parents (primary guardian) will provide school and address information.
For families that choose OSSE-DOT transportation, LEAs still need to confirm and verify the transportation request no later than two weeks before the start of school.
Please visit with information and resources for you about the portal so you can share this information with your transportation-eligible families. Please email osse.parentportal@dc.gov if you have any questions.
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New: Mindfulness for Educators Summer Institute, Friday, July 18
We know how much heart and energy it takes to teach, and how easy it can be to lose sight of what fills you up. Join us in July for a nourishing gathering that serves both as an introduction to the Peace of Mind program and a reflective space to ask questions, share ideas, and explore what’s possible in your classroom.
This session invites you to reconnect with the deeper “why” behind your work and consider how Peace of Mind’s practical tools—like mindfulness, conflict resolution, and social and emotional learning—can support the kind of change you want to create in your school community.
When: Friday, July 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Spaces Building (609 H St. NE, 6th Floor)
For more information and to register, click here. The first 50 educators to register will receive a free Peace of Mind Curriculum Guide, courtesy of OSSE.
For questions, please email Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov.
NEW: Tiered Behavior Solutions Workshop, Aug. 21-22
OSSE will host a two-day tiered behavior workshop facilitated by Solution Tree.
Academic and social behaviors must be taught and reinforced within every tier of systematic behavior supports in schools. Take strategic action to close the systemic behavior gap, foster social and emotional learning, and boost student achievement by joining the Tiered Behavior Solutions Workshop.
When: Thursday, Aug. 21 and Friday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Where: Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives (1201 17th St. NW, Third Floor).
This professional learning is open to all DC educators. Register here. For questions, contact, Angela.Awonaike@dc.gov.
New: Summer 2025 School Climate Trainings
Join us for a summer of learning. OSSE is offering professional learning opportunities designed to cultivate a positive school climate and support social and emotional learning for students and adults. To view the full catalog with registration links, visit OSSE’s School Climate and Culture website. These trainings are open to DC educators and support providers serving pre-K through Grade 12. For questions, please email Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov
New: WIDA Scaffolding Learning Through Language Workshop, Aug. 5-7
OSSE invites K-12 educators of multilingual learners to a three-part virtual workshop presented by WIDA on scaffolding language and content learning. Participants will explore strategies that contribute to rich classroom interactions and move students toward independent success.
By the end of this workshop series, participants will be able to:
- Identify scaffolding practices based on prior knowledge, new learning, and shared experience.
- Implement micro and macro scaffolding practices that apprentice students into language use for content area learning.
- Develop an action plan for scaffolding in their context.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 5 – Thursday, Aug. 7, 9:30 - 11 a.m.
Where: Virtual Webinar Series
Participants will be registered for a WIDA Secure Portal account to access the online resources and webinar links. Attendees will receive 5 professional learning units (PLUs) for full participation. Register here.
For questions, contact Angela Awonaike at Angela.Awonaike@dc.gov or Francesca Smith at Francesca.Smith@dc.gov.
New: ASVAB Career Exploration Program
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program is a free career planning tool designed to help students in grades 10-12 explore academic and career pathways based on their skills, interests, and values.
- Personalized career matching including college, trade, and military pathways.
- Available at no cost to schools or families.
- Flexible scheduling, administered during the school day.
- Fits into existing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
The ASVAB Career Exploration program is offered by the U.S. military, but participants are not required to speak with recruiters.
Learn more about the planning tool here. For questions, please contact Dr. Baron McCombs, baron.mccombs.civ@army.mil.
Catalyzing and Sustaining Systemwide Inclusive Practices - Extension Program (Reminder)
The two virtual sessions help education leaders take immediate and strategic action to foster equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students, especially those with disabilities.
Session 1: Hiring for Inclusive Mindsets
Effective hiring is the most impactful way to build an inclusive adult culture in schools. This interactive workshop engages participants with concrete hiring tools, explores the impact of mindset, and workshops school/local education agency (LEA) practices.
Session 2: Building Inclusive Adult Culture During Summer Professional Development
Participants will engage with strategies for building mindset and connection in teams and walk away with a toolkit for establishing a shared vision and an inclusive adult culture.
This opportunity is open to current and prospective participants of the Inclusive Leadership Pathway, including LEA leaders and school leaders from DC public and public charter schools.
Interested in enrolling in the program? Complete the interest form here.
To learn more about each opportunity, contact Steaven Hamlin with the OSSE Division of Teaching and Learning (TAL), at Steaven.Hamlin@dc.gov.
K-5 Summer Literacy Leader Training Opportunity, July 8 & 10 (Reminder)
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
- 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.
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