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STOP THE BLEED® Kits and Training for Public Charter Schools (Reminder)
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 (Reminder)
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.
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 encourage families to sign up as soon as possible.
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: Science of Behavior Workshop, Wednesday, Aug. 13
OSSE will host a one-day science of behavior workshop facilitated by Innovageous. This session will review the basic principles of behavior and how it communicates individuals’ needs. By examining the relationship between individuals’ behavior and the elements of the environment, participants will learn how to align proactive strategies and interventions more effectively.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 13, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives (1201 17th St. NW, Third Floor)
This professional learning is open to all DC educators; we strongly encourage school culture team members (e.g., dean of students, behavior technicians, etc.) to join. Register here.
For questions, please contact Byul Yim at Byul.Yim@dc.gov or Jessica Dulay at Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov.
New: Culturally Responsive Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), Wednesday, Sept. 3
School mental health teams (e.g., social worker, school psychologist, etc.) are invited to join us for a one-day science of behavior workshop facilitated by Innovageous.
This session will provide an overview of developing a culturally responsive Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) and implementing it to meet the unique needs of students. Participants will learn how to leverage student backgrounds to understand the function of the behavior, collaborate with families to develop a culturally informed BIP and implement a cohesive intervention plan for the individual student.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: OSSE Headquarters (1050 First St. NE, First Floor)
Register here.
For questions, please contact Byul Yim at Byul.Yim@dc.gov or Jessica Dulay at Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov.
Mindfulness for Educators Summer Institute, Friday, July 18 (Reminder)
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.
Tiered Behavior Solutions Workshop, Aug. 21-22 (Reminder)
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.
Summer 2025 School Climate Trainings (Reminder)
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
WIDA Scaffolding Learning Through Language Workshop, Aug. 5-7 (Reminder)
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.
ASVAB Career Exploration Program (Reminder)
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.
 New: FY26 ESEA Title Grants Update
On June 30, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) received the following notification from the U.S. Department of Education (USED):
Given the change in Administrations, the Department is reviewing the FY 2025 funding for the [Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B] grant program(s), and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year. Accordingly, the Department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review. The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities.
As a result, USED did not issue congressionally appropriated 21st Century Community Learning Center (Title IV-B), Title II-A, Title III-A, and Title IV-A awards to the District of Columbia on July 1.
OSSE is working to determine next steps, and we will continue to provide updates as we have them.
New: Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Whole Child and Educator Wellness (WCEW) Grant
The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Whole Child and Educator Wellness (WCEW) grant Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was published Friday, Jun. 6, 2025, at 12 p.m. in the DC Register. View here. The release of the Request for Applications (RFA) has been postponed due to DC Council's continuing budget discussions. The RFA is expected to be released on the District Grants Clearinghouse in August 2025. OSSE will publish a new NOFA in the DC Register and ServeDC's Grants Clearinghouse prior to the RFA release. Please check back for updates.
For questions, please email Kimberly Thompson at KimberlyA.Thompson@dc.gov.
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