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New: Excellence In Immunization Compliance Awards Announced
DC Health and OSSE have announced the winners of their annual Excellence in Immunization Compliance Awards for the 2025-26 school year. The award recognizes the schools’ commitment to protecting students from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough.
This year, 173 schools are receiving awards for achieving a compliance rate of 95 percent or more in the key grades of pre-K 3, kindergarten, 7 and 11, and 39 schools are receiving awards for achieving a compliance rate of 90 percent or more in all grades. The winning schools will receive award letters with a digital award emblem that the school can display on their website and/or print out to display at their school. The names of the winning schools can be found here.
Shape and Refine OSSE’s next Strategic Priorities for 2026-2030 (Reminder)
OSSE supports learners citywide from birth to adulthood. OSSE is continuing to develop its next five-year strategic plan and is seeking feedback on proposed priorities, initiatives, and progress measures that will guide the agency’s work from 2026 through 2030.
This round of engagement builds on earlier stakeholder input and focuses on refining OSSE’s direction to ensure the plan is focused, actionable, and responsive to community needs.
We want to hear from LEA leaders, educators, and school communities across DC on the proposed priorities and initiatives for the coming years. Your voice is vital in ensuring we are having the most impact for DC students and families. Please share this survey with your LEA and school staff and families so that we can learn about their perspectives. Survey closes Friday, March 27.
Resources to Support Military-Connected Youth (Reminder)
For staff supporting military-connected students experiencing, or potentially experiencing, family deployment, the following resources are available. These tools offer practical guidance for educators and caregivers.
For additional questions, please contact Joseph Hood, Policy Analyst, at Joseph.Hood@dc.gov.
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New: Structured Literacy in Action, July 13 and 15
OSSE is excited to host the first in-person structured literacy training. This two‑day session for educators teaching and supporting grades K–5, complements OSSE’s asynchronous science of reading training providing participants opportunities to synthesize, discuss, and apply the learning. Successful completion of OSSE’s Science of Reading course is highly preferred but not required. The in-person training will take place at OSSE, 1050 First St. NE, on July 13 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional dates will be added based on educator interest.
Session Objectives
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Internalize key research and theoretical models aligned with the science of reading
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Synthesize evidence-based practices for teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and writing
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Apply new learning through curriculum alignment, use of OSSE’s instructional walkthrough tool and hands on practice
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Collaborate with OSSE’s literacy team and fellow educators to strengthen structured literacy implementation for the 2026-27 school year
Interested participants register here.
*This in‑person training alone does not meet the kindergarten structured literacy training requirement.
For questions, please contact Vaani Gupta at Vaani.Gupta@dc.gov.
Take the Healthy Schools Pledge for Growing Healthy Schools Month (Reminder)
This April, join our District LEA community in celebrating Growing Healthy Schools Month (GHSM)! GHSM celebrates how schools across the District of Columbia are creating healthy places for all students. During the month of April, let us know how your school contributes to a healthy school environment by taking Healthy Schools pledge.
For questions or additional information, please email osse.nutritionprogram@dc.gov.
2026 Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching, July 14-17 (Reminder)
Applications are now open for 2026 Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching, happening July 14-17, 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
This is a four-day training, consisting of 30 hours of intensive in-person training for 40 kindergarten to fifth grade public and public charter school teachers. The goal of this training is to inspire and support teachers and school staff to integrate their school garden more fully into their daily educational activities.
Applications will be accepted now through Friday, May 1. The priority deadline is Monday, April 6. Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis starting April 9, until full. All participants receive a stipend. Click here to apply and learn more. For more information, please email Sam Ullery, School Gardens Specialist, at Sam.Ullery@dc.gov
Professional Learning Session: Instructional Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Reminder)
Learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and instructional strategies to support students’ academic, behavioral, and cognitive needs. This professional learning session will cover instructional supports, accommodations, and approaches that can be applied in the classroom.
Location: OSSE (1050 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002)
Space is limited to 40 educators. Attendees will receive 4 professional development units (PLUs) for each session. There will be two optional follow-up virtual sessions.
For more information, contact Angela Awonaike at Angela.Awonaike@dc.gov
 New: FY27 Draft State Grant Application for IDEA Part B Open for Public Comment
Every year, OSSE submits an application to the US Department of Education (USED) for the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grant. This grant supports free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. The IDEA application OSSE submits this year will be for funds that would be awarded for fiscal year 2027.
Members of the public have the opportunity to make comments on OSSE’s IDEA Part B grant application through Monday, April 20. Comments may be submitted to OSSE.PublicComment@dc.gov.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Megan Williams at Megan.Williams@dc.gov.
SOAR Act FY27 Stakeholder Engagement Survey – Input Requested by Friday, April 3 (Reminder)
Each year, OSSE applies for a grant from USED under the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act to support the public charter sector in the District of Columbia. In the application, OSSE must outline priorities for this grant and provide a breakdown of how funding will be used to support public charter LEAs and charter support organizations in the application. OSSE anticipates that it will be awarded $17.5 million in SOAR Act funding for fiscal year 2027 (FY27).
OSSE is requesting input from public charter LEAs and nonprofit charter support organizations based in the District on its tentative proposal for FY27 SOAR Act funding. To provide your input, please complete the SOAR stakeholder engagement survey by Friday, April 3. Each organization should submit one survey response.
For questions, contact Diana Acosta at Diana.Acosta@dc.gov or (202) 213-7002.
FY26 SOAR Act Facilities Competition – Application Opens April 1 (Reminder)
The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act Facilities grant application for eligible public charter LEAs will open on Wednesday, April 1. The SOAR Facilities grant program provides high-quality public charter schools in the District with funds to renovate their facilities.
The notice of funding availability (NOFA) published on Friday, March 13 includes information on eligibility, requirements, and grant application timelines. The request for applications (RFA) will be released on Wednesday, April 1.
LEAs must submit applications in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) no later than 3 p.m. on Friday, May 15. For questions, contact Safa Babikir at Safa.Babikir@dc.gov.
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March 2026
April 2026
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