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New: Course Catalog Collection Certification Today
Today, Friday, Sept. 26, is the certification date for the 2025-26 school year Course Catalog Collection data. LEA Heads of School should review their Course Catalog data on the 2025-26 School Year LEA Course Data Qlik Dashboard in OSSE’s Qlik application and certify the data on the LEA Course Data Certification Page.
New: Public Charter School Educator Compensation Payment Process Starts Oct. 3
In accordance with the Public Charter School Educator Compensation Payments Act of 2025, OSSE will make direct payments to public charter LEAs in the 2025-26 school year in an amount not to exceed $30,785,832 from the Workforce Investments Account for the purpose of increasing the compensation of public charter school educators.
To determine the amount of funding for each LEA, OSSE will use the SY24-25 Final Certified Audited Enrollment data as the basis for the per-pupil calculation.
To receive funds authorized under the Act, a public charter LEA’s chief executive officer or Head of School must provide a signed assurance attesting that the LEA will adhere to the guidance and the post-payment reporting requirements and that the funds provided through these payments will be:
- Used exclusively to provide compensation of public charter school educators, and
- Paid to the public charter LEA’s educators during the 2025-26 school year.
Accessing LEA’s Box Account and Signing the Assurance
On Oct. 3, each LEA’s Assurance document and Post-Payment Reporting File will be available to download via the LEA’s “Public Charter School Educator Compensation” folder nested within the “OSSE to LEA” folder in Box.
LEAs must return both their completed Assurance document and Post-Payment Reporting File to OSSE via the LEA’s “Public Charter School Educator Compensation” folder nested within the “LEA to OSSE” folder in Box. Completed Assurance Documents are due no later than Oct. 17. Failure to return the Assurance Document by the deadline may result in delayed or forfeited payment. Post-Payment Reporting Files are due no later than Sept. 30, 2026.
Currently, LEA Heads of Schools and LEA Data Managers should have access to upload and download documents from the respective Box folders. We encourage LEA Heads of Schools to review the LEA bank account info with their chief financial officers prior to returning their signed Assurance Documents to OSSE.
Chief executive officers or Heads of Schools who are unable to access their LEA’s Box folders must contact their LEA Data Manager to have their role updated to “Head of School” in All Staff.
For more detailed information about OSSE’s execution of payments through the Public Charter School Educator Compensation Payments Act of 2025 please visit OSSE’s website. If you have additional questions, please reach out to OSSE’s School Finance Officer, Gabriel Montague, Gabriel.Montague@dc.gov or (202) 394-8977.
New: Federal Grants Advisory Group Seeks Inaugural Members
The Office of Federal Programs and Strategic Funding (FED) seek LEA grant managers to serve on the new Federal Grants Advisory Group.
Members of the group will share insights, suggestions, and feedback to inform OSSE policy and practice for the following grant programs: Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Titles I-IV, Part A; Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act; and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Potential topics include grant timelines, application design, strategic uses of funds, and federal and local policy.
The Federal Grants Advisory Group will include representation from a variety of LEAs and reflect the wide range of school models and structures within the District. It will meet three to four times each calendar year.
If you are interested in serving as an inaugural member of the Federal Grants Advisory Group, please apply using this form by Thursday, Oct. 16.
For any questions, contact Linda Sun at Linda.Sun1@dc.gov.
New: DC STEM Fair combined Scientific Review Committee/ Institutional Review Board
OSSE is seeking participants to serve on the combined Scientific Review Committee/ Institutional Review Board.
A Scientific Review Committee (SRC) is a group of adults knowledgeable about regulations concerning experimentation especially with vertebrate animals and potentially hazardous biological agents. The SRC must review and approve all projects in these areas before experimentation may begin.
An SRC must consists of a minimum of three members including the following:
- biomedical scientist (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M., D.D.S., D.O.);
- an educator; and
- at least one other member.
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee that, according to federal regulations (45-CFR-46), must evaluate the potential physical and/or psychological risk of research involving humans. All proposed human research must be reviewed and approved by an IRB before experimentation begins. This includes review of any surveys or questionnaires to be used in a project.
An IRB must consist of a minimum of three members including the following:
- An educator;
- A school administrator (preferably principal or vice principal); or
- A medical or mental health professional. The medical or mental health professional may be a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, Doctor of Pharmacy, registered nurse, psychologist, licensed social worker or licensed clinical professional counselor. The medical or mental health professional on the IRB may change depending on the nature of the study. This person must be knowledgeable about and capable of evaluating the physical and/or psychological risk involved in a given study.
OSSE is looking to create a combined committee consisting of a minimum eight members including the following:
- Two educators-Science background preferred, but not required;
- Two biomedical scientists (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M., D.D.S., D.O.);
- Two school administrators (e.g., principal, vice principal, coordinators and or instructional coaches);
- Two medical or mental health professionals.
Participants will play a vital role in supporting secondary high school DC STEM Fair participants qualify for a chance to advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. If you are interested, please complete the application here.
For more information, please contact Jhatia McKnight with the OSSE Division of Teaching and Learning at Jhatia.McKnight@dc.gov.
Transportation Update for Students Riding Metro (Reminder)
A new school year means distributing new Kids Ride Free cards. All students should receive the 2025-26 Kids Ride Free card to ride Metro and Metrobus by Tuesday, Sept. 30. Students ages 13 and olde with an iPhone or Apple Watch can convert the plastic card to a digital card in Apple Wallet. Please visit the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) website or contact DDOT at (202) 673-1740 if you need more information.
2025-26 Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF) Payment Letter (Reminder)
In an effort to provide clear communication, increase transparency, and enhance predictability regarding the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF) for school year 2025-26, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) have released updated guidance to public charter local education agencies (LEAs).
The guidance letter provides information on school funding for the upcoming school year, including the timeline for the four regular quarterly payments (which include charter facility payments), three supplemental payments, and two extended school year (ESY) payments.
Please click here to access the letter.
For questions or additional information, please contact OSSE Administrative Officer Gabriel Montague at Gabriel.Montague@dc.gov.
Help Shape OSSE’s Model Cellphone Policy (Reminder)
OSSE is gathering input from school leaders, educators, students and families across the District to help develop a model cellphone policy for the 2026-27 school year, as required by the Disconnect Act of 2025 (DC Act 26-0113).
Whether or not your school currently has a cellphone policy, we invite you to complete a short survey to share your experiences and insights on how cellphones affect teaching and learning in the District.
Please take our survey by Wednesday, Oct. 15 and share it widely! Stay tuned for details on upcoming feedback sessions.
For questions or additional information, please contact Lisvette Garcia-Acosta at Lisvette.Garcia-Acosta@dc.gov or Joseph Hood at Joseph.Hood@dc.gov.
Nominate Your School Hero! RISEDC nominations open through Oct. 10 (Reminder)
OSSE is accepting nominations for the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award, a national recognition honoring classified school employees. This award honors bus drivers, paraprofessionals, custodians, and more. Help us spotlight these education heroes in our school communities!
To learn more about the criteria and to submit a nomination, please fill out this form no later than Friday, Oct. 10. For questions, contact Jessica Dulay at Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov.
Thriving Together: Fostering Student and Staff Wellbeing Newsletter (Reminder)
OSSE’s Division of Health and Wellness (H&W) regularly publishes the newsletter, Thriving Together: Fostering Student and Staff Wellbeing. Stay informed about school health and wellness policy updates, upcoming trainings and events, community announcements, local spotlights and more by subscribing here.
Contact Sarah Mack at Sarah.Mack@dc.gov with any ideas, stories, photos or highlights you would like to see featured.
Alternative Program Designation Application Now Available (Reminder)
LEAs interested in applying for alternative program designation for the 2026-27 school year are now eligible to do so. The application can be found on the OSSE website and will close on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025.
Please note that alternative program designations are valid for three years from the date the designation was issued by OSSE. All LEAs with alternative programs that were first designated by OSSE in 2022 will now need to reapply for alternative program designation.
On June 14, 2019, OSSE released a Notice of Final Rulemaking proposing a new chapter titled “Alternative Program” to Subtitle A “Office of the State Superintendent of Education” of Title 5 “Education” in the DC Municipal Regulations. This chapter sets forth the eligibility criteria for a school or specialized program within a school to be designated as an alternative education program and establishes the application process. The final rulemaking can be found in the DC Register and on the OSSE website.
For more information, please contact Gabriel Montague at Gabriel.Montague@dc.gov.
OSSE Wellness Guidelines for Child Care Facilities Self-Assessment (Reminder)
The DC Healthy Tots Program, a partner with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), have released the OSSE Wellness Guidelines Self-Assessment application via Quickbase. All licensed child development facilities received an email from Quickbase on Aug. 25 to access the application. Facilities are encouraged to complete the self-assessment. Learn more about OSSE’s wellness guidelines for child care facilities here.
For more information, please contact Sheena King at Sheena.King@dc.gov.
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New: Celebrate Digital Inclusion Week, Oct. 6-8
Join us as we celebrate Digital Inclusion Week 2025 by learning together online. OSSE Adult and Family Education (AFE), in collaboration with the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), invites adult education providers, workforce development professionals, training organizations, and partner agencies to a dynamic Mini-Professional Development (PD) Institute — Reimagining Adult Learning: The Role of Distance Education, HyFlex and AI— from Monday, Oct. 6 to Wednesday, Oct. 8. Each day features two 1-hour virtual sessions at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. that will be recorded and posted on the OSSE website.
This institute offers a space for DC providers and partners to connect, learn, and grow together as we strengthen the District’s adult education and workforce development system. Please see session descriptions and details on the OSSE website.
For questions or additional information, please email OSSEAFETA@dc.gov.
New: Leading for Belonging: Connecting Data, Equity, Social and Emotional Learning, and Leadership for Impact
OSSE, in collaboration with DC Public Schools (DCPS), and the Wallace Foundation Equity Center Pipeline Initiative (ECPI), is pleased to announce the upcoming event "Leading for Belonging: Connecting Equity, Social and Emotional Learning, and Leadership for Impact."
This in-person convening, happening Monday, Nov. 17, is specifically designed for school leaders who seek to implement data-driven strategies aimed at enhancing belonging within their school, improving the leadership pipeline, and establishing equitable systems that support a thriving school climate.
During the convening, participants will:
- Learn how to access and interpret disaggregated workforce data to identify equity gaps in staff hiring, recruitment, and retention.
- Gain insights on concrete, system-level strategies they can apply in their schools to strengthen staff experiences and foster equitable practices.
- Discuss the DC Survey About Your School (DC SAYS) Climate Survey topic of belonging to provide school leaders with strategies for integrating social and emotional learning (SEL) as a fundamental component of enhancing school climate and systems.
- Engage in a valuable workshop opportunity for resource sharing, collaboration, and networking with fellow LEA and school leaders, while exploring essential OSSE tools and support.
This convening will take place on Monday, November 17, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at OSSE (1050 First N.E.). Register here.
This opportunity is open to LEA leaders and school leaders (principals and assistant principals) from DC public and public charter schools. Seats are limited, be sure to register soon.
For more information, please email Marcus Hughes at Marcus.Hughes@dc.gov.
New: DC College Application and Exploration Month
Sign up to attend a DC CAEM information session to learn more about the program and site coordinator responsibilities. Information sessions are recommended for new site coordinators, but all are invited to attend.
Virtual information sessions will be held on the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 9, 12 – 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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Wednesday, Oct. 22, 1 – 2 p.m.
DC CAEM is intended to enhance and complement the work your school or community-based organization is already doing to increase awareness of college/post-secondary preparedness and the application process by providing resources and a platform to promote your efforts.
Several schools and programs that have implemented new approaches to support the college and/or career training application process are jumping into the campaign, and here’s why:
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Promotional materials and swag provided by OSSE.
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Technical assistance – OSSE can provide resources and assistance to train high school site coordinators.
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College application fee waivers – OSSE has partnered with local colleges and universities and the Common Black College Application to provide college application fee waivers for students to use to complete their college applications.
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College going culture – OSSE wants to highlight and celebrate the work you do to promote college and career readiness in your school or community-based organization.
DC public and public charter schools and community- based organizations must register in advance to be recognized as an official DC CAEM host site. Click here to register.
New: K-2 Evidence-Based Reading Instruction: Small Group Strategies for Multilingual Learners in Spanish, Oct. 22
In this session, kindergarten to second-grade teachers will learn strategies for teaching effective and culturally responsive small group lessons to multilingual early readers in Spanish. Participants will learn how to incorporate students’ language assets and needs into early literacy instruction for dual language settings. Participants will also see linguistically responsive small group instruction in action from a local Spanish dual language teacher.
The session will take place in-person on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at OSSE, 1050 First St. NE, from 1-3:30 p.m. Attendees will receive 3 professional learning units (PLUs) for their participation. The session will be facilitated in Spanish.
For more information, contact Francesca Smith, Multilingual Specialist, at Francesca.Smith@dc.gov.
Instrucción de lectura en K-2: Estrategias para grupos pequeños en español
En esta sesión, docentes de kínder a segundo grado aprenderán estrategias para impartir lecciones efectivas y culturalmente nutritivas en grupos pequeños a estudiantes multilingües en español. Los participantes aprenderán como incorporar la adquisición y comprensión del lenguaje en lecciones de lectura temprana en grupos pequeños. También verán videos con ejemplos de instrucción en grupos pequeños impartidos por una docente bilingüe local.
La sesión se llevará a cabo presencialmente el miércoles, 22 de octubre en la Oficina del Superintendente Estatal de Educación (OSSE, 1050 First St NE) de 1:00 p.m. a 3:30 p.m. Los participantes recibirán 3 unidades de aprendizaje profesional (PLUs) por su participación.
Para obtener más información, comuníquese con Francesca Smith, Especialista Multilingüe, en Francesca.Smith@dc.gov.
K-2 Evidence-Based Reading Instruction: Small Group Strategies for Multilingual Learners, Oct. 15 (Reminder)
Kindergarten through second-grade teachers are invited to learn strategies for teaching effective and culturally responsive small group lessons to multilingual early readers. Participants will learn how to incorporate students’ language assets and needs into phonemic awareness, phonics, and decodable book instruction. Participants will also see linguistically responsive small group instruction in action from a local teacher.
When: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 1-3:30 p.m.
Where: OSSE, 1050 First St. NE
Attendees will receive 3 professional learning units (PLUs) for their participation.
Register here.
For more information, contact Francesca Smith, Multilingual Specialist, at Francesca.Smith@dc.gov.
2025 Financial Aid Professional Learning Day, Oct. 2 (Reminder)
OSSE's 2025 Financial Aid Professional Learning Day is a great opportunity for new counselors and college access professionals, and those looking to refresh their financial aid knowledge.
Join OSSE’s Office of College and Career Readiness for OSSE’s 2025 Financial Aid Professional Learning Day. This day of virtual workshops will offer opportunities to learn about scholarships, financial aid support, and information regarding skills needed to be successful in college.
Attendees will receive updates about OSSE’s FAFSA completion initiative, a 2026-27 FAFSA Dependent Student walkthrough, and recommendations for completing the 2026-27 FAFSA, which launches on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
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When: Thursday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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Where: Virtual, register here to receive the link.
Presenters include DCTAG, the United Negro College Fund, the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (student loan support) and Reach 4 Success.
To join us, please If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Greg Palmer at Gregory.Palmer@dc.gov.
Social and Emotional Learning Community of Practice (Reminder)
OSSE invites educators to participate in a bi-monthly social and emotional learning (SEL) Community of Practice (CoP). These sessions will provide instructional leaders an opportunity to collaborate with peers across schools and LEAs, explore evidence-based SEL strategies, and strengthen systems that promote positive school climate and student success.
CoP participants will:
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Engage with Tools and Resources to foster Schoolwide SEL- Discuss and explore ways to leverage SEL artifacts and supports (Toolkits, Caregiver Guide, etc.) to inform schoolwide practices and content integration.
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Strengthen Educator SEL Capacity - Explore strategies for incorporating DC SEL competencies within the classroom context, prioritizing Adult SEL and Educator Wellness.
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Examine Barriers to Implementation- Identify challenges and practical obstacles that educators encounter while integrating SEL standards and practices while exploring effective solutions.
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Create Essential and Real-World Opportunities for Learning- By fostering collaboration, exploring best practices, and facilitating peer-to-peer learning.
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Ambassador SEL on Campus- Ensure building principals and leadership are informed of SEL implementation strategies and practices.
Click the dates below to register:
This professional learning opportunity is in person at the OSSE (1050 First Street NE) and is available to all teachers, instructional coaches, academic deans, and school leaders. Participants will receive 2 PLUs for full participation.
To learn more, contact Marcus Hughes with the OSSE Division of Teaching and Learning (TAL) at Marcus.Hughes@dc.gov.
2025-26 State Title III Advisory Committee Recruitment (Reminder)
Are you an educator, LEA/school leader, parent, teacher educator, research or policy expert, or community organization member who understands the perspectives, strengths, and needs of students who are English Learners? The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) requests applications for the 2025-26 State ESEA Title III Advisory Committee, which serves as an advisory body to support OSSE in carrying out its responsibilities under Title III of ESEA for the District of Columbia. By joining this committee, you will contribute to OSSE’s development of educational programming, administration, and accountability guidelines to support LEAs in ensuring that immigrant children and English Learners attain English proficiency and meet State academic achievement standards.
Apply here by Friday, Oct. 3. Applicants will be notified by Friday, Oct. 10.
For more information, contact Angela Awonaike, Inclusive Practices Manager, at Angela.Awonaike@dc.gov.
 Fiscal Year 2026 Whole Child and Educator Wellness (WCEW) Grant Request for Applications (RFA) (Reminder)
The Request for Applications (RFA) for the FY26 Whole Child and Educator Wellness (WCEW) grant is now available in the DC Register. View here. This grant is available to community-based organizations that have experience working with early childhood education facilities and public and public charter schools. The award period for these grants is Nov. 26, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2026. Applications must be submitted online in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) no later than 3 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025.
The pre-application webinar and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents are available on OSSE's website.
For questions or additional information about the WCEW grant application, contact Kimberly Thompson, Grants Management Specialist, at KimberlyA.Thompson@dc.gov.
OSSE Releases Notice of Funding Availability for the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant (Reminder)
OSSE is soliciting subgrant applications for the District of Columbia’s Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant, as authorized by Title I, Part E, Sections 2221-2225 and 2301 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended. The purpose of the CLSD discretionary grant is to create a comprehensive literacy program to advance literacy skills. This includes pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing, for children from birth through grade 12, with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, including children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities.
For eligibility and application information, please refer to the Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) published in the DC Register on Sept. 12, 2025, linked here: Grades K-12 and Birth – Age 5.
Applications open in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) on Friday, Sept. 26. Please reach out to OSSE.CLSD@dc.gov with any questions.
FY26 ESEA Consolidated Application Update (Reminder)
OSSE has received DC’s fiscal year 2026 (FY26) awards from the US Department of Education (USED) for the following formula grant programs:
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Titles I-A, II-A, III-A, and IV-A
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B (Sections 611 and 619)
All FY26 ESEA Titles I-A to IV-A allocations and IDEA allocations have now been posted on OSSE’s website.
The ESEA Consolidated Application (ConApp) was released in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) on Thursday, Sept. 4 and is due on Thursday, Oct. 30. The IDEA Phase II application is also available in EGMS and due on Tuesday, Sept. 30. No changes were made to either application from last year.
For questions on the ConApp, contact Mary Frances Street at MaryFrances.Street@dc.gov.
For questions on the IDEA Phase II application, contact Kristen Thompson at Kristen.Thompson@dc.gov.
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