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New: 2026-27 School Year LEA Course Data Collection Process Launching July 31
This year, OSSE will pre-populate the LEA Course Data Qlik Dashboard application with each LEA’s course data from the previous 2025-26 school year. LEAs will review the information and only need to submit an updated Course Catalog to make changes if course information is different than what was submitted for the 2025-26 school year.
The Integrated Data System (IDS) platform will open on July 31 for LEAs to submit changes to their Course Catalog Collection data for the 2026-27 school year. Starting Aug. 3, LEAs can review their Course Catalog data on the 2026-27 School Year LEA Course Data Qlik Dashboard in OSSE’s Qlik application.
IDS will close for Course Catalog Collection data on Aug. 19, and LEA Heads of School will certify the data on Aug. 21. All LEAs are required to certify their Course Catalog, even if they did not make changes for the 2026-27 school year.
To prepare LEAs to complete this process in a timely and accurate way, OSSE will host a training at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6. Register here.
New: Home and Hospital Instruction Annual Data Collection for the 2025-26 School Year
Per District law (DC Code § 38–251.09), LEAs are required to provide data annually to OSSE on parents’ requests for home and hospital instruction (HHI). Specifically, LEAs must report the following:
- All parent requests for HHI, including the student’s name, unique student identifier (USI), and date of request;
- The outcome of each request (LEA approval or denial);
- The reason for each denial;
- A list of the names of each licensed pediatrician, licensed nurse practitioner, licensed clinical psychologist, licensed mental health counselor or therapist, or physician assistant who provided the medical certification of need for each request; and
- Whether instruction was provided in person or virtually (e.g., via real-time telephony) for each approved request.
In the coming weeks, OSSE will send each LEA the HHI Annual Data Collection Worksheet, which must be completed and uploaded to the HHI Data Collection folder in Box by Friday, Aug. 7.
Note: To maintain confidentiality of student information, LEAs should not submit the worksheet via email.
Thank you in advance for your attention to these important requirements. LEAs should contact Edgar.Stewart@dc.gov with any questions as they complete the forthcoming data collection worksheet.
New: Transition to CLASS Second Edition Pre-K-3rd
OSSE will transition from using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Pre-K to the CLASS Second Edition Pre-K-3rd in January 2027 for pre-K 3 and pre-K 4 classroom observations.
OSSE is transitioning to the CLASS Second Edition tool because it includes several important enhancements that make the tool clearer and more relevant and supportive of educator practice, including:
- Clearer and more specific behavioral indicators;
- Updated examples of evidence in the guidance for observers;
- More intuitive and user-friendly structure;
- Stronger emphasis on cultural and linguistic responsiveness;
- Greater focus on child-centered learning;
- Expanded guidance on play, communication, and individualized support; and
- Improved alignment with continuous quality improvement practices.
For questions, please reach out to osse.delcommunications@dc.gov.
LEA Financial Reporting Application Collection, Submit by July 31 (Reminder)
OSSE began the annual FY25 National Public Education Financial Survey (NPEFS) and the FY25 Annual Survey of School System Finances (F-33) on Monday, June 8. All LEAs are required to submit 2024-25 school year financial data to OSSE by Friday, July 31.
NPEFS is the US Department of Education’s annual collection of the nation’s public elementary and secondary school financial data. Data is used to calculate the State Per Pupil Expenditure (SPPE), which is used for Title I and other allocations. The F-33 is a public education financial survey distributed by the US Census. Many of the NPEFS and F-33 data elements overlap so OSSE has combined them into one survey to reduce LEA paperwork and confusion.
When the reporting period began, each LEA’s designated finance POCs received the following from OSSE via email:
- Their LEA’s FY24 NPEFS / F-33 data submission to OSSE from last year in an Excel spreadsheet
- OSSE’s FY25 NPEFS / F-33 collection template in an Excel spreadsheet
To minimize confusion and maximize effectiveness of processing this data, we strongly encourage LEAs to submit your data as soon as possible. For questions related to the LEA Financial Reporting Application, please contact Gabriel Montague, OSSE administrative officer, at Gabriel.Montague@dc.gov or (202) 394-8977.
DC CAPE Next – Access to Tools for Teachers (Reminder)
As part of DC's transition to DC CAPE Next assessments in the 2026-27 school year, access to Smarter Balanced interim assessments and aligned instructional resources is now available at no cost to District of Columbia educators. These resources are housed on Tools for Teachers - the home for educator-created lessons, activities, strategies, and professional learning to help tailor instruction and boost learning.
Educator access to Tools for Teachers is managed through Pearson LaunchPad and is granted via role designation in the OSSE All Staff Collection. Users with the appropriate roles will receive a welcome email from Pearson LaunchPad to complete their account setup.
OSSE Educator Credentialing Fee Changes Coming Soon (Reminder)
Heads up, DC educators. A new OSSE educator credentialing fee schedule goes into effect Thursday, Oct. 1. Review what’s changing and find answers to common questions on the OSSE website here.
For questions or additional information, please email osse.asklicensure@dc.gov.
LifeChanger of the Year Grants, Applications Due Aug. 15 (Reminder)
LifeChanger of the Year is a national recognition program that honors K-12 educators and school employees who are making a difference in the lives of students.
This summer, they are awarding 10 $750 Back-to-School Supply Grants to K–12 public, private, and charter school employees across the country. These grants are designed to help cover the out-of-pocket costs educators often spend on classroom supplies.
Here’s a quick overview:
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What: 10 $750 Back-to-School Grants for K–12 educators
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Who’s Eligible: Any K–12 public, private, or charter school employee
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Application Period: July 1 - August 15
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How to Apply: Complete the form here: LifeChanger of the Year Nomination Form
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Bonus: All strong applicants will be automatically considered for the 2026–27 LifeChanger of the Year program, with a chance to win up to $20,000 to split with their school.
Learn more by visiting LifeChangeroftheYear.com.
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Save the Date for the 2026 OSSE Literacy Convening (Reminder)
OSSE’s Division of Teaching and Learning is proud to host the 2026 Literacy Convening on Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St. NW, 20001). The convening theme, From Insights to Impact: Advancing Literacy Together, invites participants to reflect on literacy instruction to ensure evidence-based practices are implemented for all DC children and students from birth through grade 12.
During the convening, participants will hear from national literacy experts and engage in a series of breakout sessions led by some of DC’s dedicated educators. These sessions will offer opportunities to deepen understanding of effective literacy instruction and explore strategies for improving literacy outcomes. Participants can expect to gain valuable insights, expand their professional network, and access resources that will support their ongoing literacy work throughout the year.
More information on the call for proposals to lead breakout sessions will be shared soon and registration for the convening will open on the OSSE CLSD Website in late August.
For questions, please email OSSE.CLSD@dc.gov.
DC Survey About Your School (DC SAYS) Professional Development Summer 2026 (Reminder)
Start the new school year with energy, purpose, and a positive plan for your school community! Now, it’s time to turn those results into action. To support your work, OSSE is partnering with Panorama Education to offer targeted professional learning sessions. Whether you’re new to the survey or ready to dive deeper into the data, these sessions will address your needs and goals. Participants can choose from the following sessions. For questions, please email Jessica.Dulay@dc.gov.
Taking Action on DC SAYS Results (Virtual)
Wednesday, July 29, 1-2 p.m. Register here.
Are you new to the DC SAYS school climate survey? Are you focused on responding to stakeholder voice? Join this session to gain confidence in using the data and walk away with tangible next steps for your school. This session will help school leaders and school level champions effectively navigate DC SAYS survey results and set clear and actionable goals for themselves and their team.
Empowering Every Voice: Turning DC Survey About Your School (DC SAYS) into Action
Thursday, Aug. 13, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at OSSE, 1050 First St. NE, Room 108. Register here.
How can we turn the insights from DC SAYS into meaningful shifts to strengthen school climate? This professional learning day is designed specifically for DC education leaders and teams to bridge the gap between survey data and daily practice. The session will be divided into two focused sessions, each designed to develop a data-driven "Playbook" with targeted interventions and strategies for the upcoming school year.
Upcoming Training Opportunities from the Office of Enrollment and Residency (Reminder)
The Office of Enrollment and Residency (OER) is hosting two upcoming training opportunities to support LEAs in preparing for the 2026–27 school year.
OER will host an in-person Residency Verification Workshop on Monday, July 27, at 11 a.m. This interactive session serves as Part 2, a follow-up to the March in-person workshop, and is designed for LEA staff seeking deeper, hands-on practice with residency verification, real-world audit scenarios, and peer collaboration. Space is extremely limited, and preference will be given to novice staff members.
OER will also hold the annual Enrollment Audit and Child Count Webinar on Monday, Aug. 3 at 10:30 a.m. This mandatory virtual training will review key deadlines, requirements, and processes for the 2026–27 Enrollment Audit and Child Count. A recording will be made available for team members unable to join live.
An email with full details for both trainings was sent to LEA Heads of School and LEA Enrollment Audit POCs on Tuesday, July 7. LEAs should refer to that message for registration instructions and additional guidance.
For more information, please contact OSSE.EnrollmentAudit@dc.gov.
Social and Emotional Learning Summer Caregivers Guide (Reminder)
Summer is a time filled with joy and the perfect chance for families to nurture vital academic and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. OSSE is excited to offer five engaging ways to practice SEL at home and create lasting memories. Explore here.
For questions, contact Marcus Hughes, school climate specialist, at Marcus.Hughes@dec.gov.
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August 2026
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