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NEW: Nominate Your School Hero! RISE DC Nominations Open through Oct. 11
OSSE is now accepting nominations for the Recognizing Inspiring 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.
Learn more about the criteria and submit a nomination here, no later than Sunday, Oct. 11.
For questions, contact Rachelle (Rey) Yombo at Rachelle.Yombo1@dc.gov.
Calling All Attendance Counselors: We Want to Highlight You for Attendance Awareness Month (September) (Reminder)
September is Attendance Awareness Month, and OSSE plans to highlight attendance counselors citywide. Throughout the month on OSSE’s social media channels, we will spotlight counselors across the District to showcase your creativity, dedication, and impact in making sure students are in school. If you are an attendance counselor, we’d love to feature you. Please take a minute to fill out our spotlight form so we can share your story with our community. Thank you for everything you do to support students and families — we can’t wait to highlight you!
Questions? Email osse.communications@dc.gov.
DC Health Immunization Policy Remains Unchanged (Reminder)
The DC Health Immunization Division reminds immunization stakeholders that families in the District should continue to receive the full range of vaccines to protect their children from serious disease, per the District’s immunizations policy. These vaccines are recommended by and align with the immunization recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Health care providers and hospitals continue to offer these vaccines at no out-of-pocket cost to patients. Please refer to this letter which includes how to access vaccines and share with families and your school’s health team.
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NEW: Three-Part Leadership Learning Series for the OSSE e2 Math Learning Walk Tool, Register by Sept. 7
OSSE is launching a Math Learning Walk Tool Professional Learning Series for math leaders this fall, building on the excitement and momentum from June’s Instructional Leadership Summit. During the summit, many math leaders asked for continued opportunities to norm and calibrate with the OSSE e2 Math Learning Walk Tool. In response, OSSE is excited to offer the following three-part learning arc, with all sessions held virtually on Teams.
Session 1: Trainer of Trainers
- Wednesday, Sept. 9, 3–4:30 p.m (Grades K-5)
- Friday, Sept. 11, 2–3:30 p.m. (Grades 6-12)
Session 2: Calibration Sessions
- Wednesday, Sept. 16, 3–4:30 p.m. (Grades K-5)
- Thursday, Sept. 17, 3–4:30 p.m. (Grades 6-12)
Session 3: Coaching Session
- Monday, Sept. 21, 2–4 p.m.
Please register here by Monday, Sept. 7.
Sessions will be recorded. For additional information or inquires, contact Noelani Mussman at Noelani.Mussman@dc.gov.
NEW: OSSE and DC Health School Immunization Webinar, Sept. 16
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 3-4 p.m., OSSE and DC Health will hold a technical assistance webinar on implementing the School Year 2026-27 School Immunization Policy. The webinar will cover key dates for the upcoming school year, improvements to immunization data entry and retrieval, and vaccine opportunities. This webinar is required for Immunization Points of Contact (IPOCs) and school nurses. LEA and school leaders and any other school staff involved in immunizations should plan to attend. Register here.
For more information or questions, please email: osse.schoolhealth@dc.gov.
NEW: DC Public Library Launches Boys Who Write, Applications due Sept. 18
DC Public Library is launching Boys Who Write at Benning Library this September. Over the course of 12 weeks, boys ages 10 to 14 will write an original song, record it, and shoot the video, then release it for real audiences. Sessions run twice a week, 4-5:30 p.m., led by a trained facilitator.
The idea is simple. Give a boy something real to make, the equipment to make it, and a place that's his to do it in. What he makes goes out into the world with his name on it.
If you know a boy who's got something to say and hasn't had a place to say it, this opportunity is for them.
Applications are due by Friday, Sept. 18. Twenty participants will be accepted into the pilot.
To apply:
NEW: Taking Action on DC Survey About Your School (DC SAYS), Online Session Sept. 23
Last spring, OSSE administered DC SAYS, a school climate survey for students, staff, and caregivers across all LEAs. Now it’s time to turn those results into action. Join this virtual session to gain confidence in understanding and using school climate survey data while walking away with tangible next steps for your school community. 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. Time will be reserved at the end for individual questions.
This online session will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Register here.
For questions, please email OSSE.DCSAYS@dc.gov.
NEW: Upcoming Social Studies Professional Learning Opportunities, Various Dates
Registration is open for upcoming professional learning opportunities for social studies educators.
Action Civics Institute
- Grade 8 DC social studies teachers are invited to participate in a three-day Action Civics Institute on Sept. 23, Sept. 30, and Oct. 14, from 4:30 -7:30 p.m. each day at OSSE, 1050 First St. NE. Register here.
Teaching Geography and Geographic Reasoning with OSSE Resources
- Grade 6 social studies educators are invited to participate in the Geographic Reasoning with OSSE Resources professional learning day. This session will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at OSSE, 1050 First St. NE. Register here.
Pilot complete units for World History I, World History II, US History II, Geography and Grade 7 Curriculum
- OSSE has partnered with curricular experts to create complete units and lesson plans for World History I, World History II, US History II, Geography and Grade 7 courses. Educators interested in teaching inquiry-driven discourse units are invited to pilot at least one full unit using lesson materials and provide feedback. To participate in the curriculum cohorts, learn more and register here. Pilots will begin in late fall.
For questions, please contact Madison Kantzer at Madison.Kantzer@dc.gov.
FY26 Whole Child and Educator Wellness Professional Development Session, Sept. 24 (Reminder)
OSSE's Division of Health & Wellness (H&W) will host a virtual Whole Child Educator Wellness (WCEW) professional learning session on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Register here.
Hear from current WCEW grantees and partners on their organizations’ evidence-based and best practices for implementing early childhood education (ECE) and school health and wellness programming and partnerships related to grant activities.
This session is intended to support participant engagement, learning and best practices, peer-to-peer sharing, and program outcomes in alignment with the goals of the grant. The session is intended for LEAs, child care sites, and community-based organizations that are interested in learning more about the grant and future partnerships.
For questions, please reach out to Kimberly Thompson, grant analyst for Health & Wellness, at KimberlyA.Thompson@dc.gov.
Join OSSE’s ESEA Team for Fall Title Tuesday Office Hours (Reminder)
Title Tuesdays are monthly office hours covering Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) grant program topics relevant to the current moment in the grant cycle. Examples of rotating ESEA topics include parent and family engagement, application requirements, program requirements, fiscal planning, reporting, and monitoring. Each session provides actionable information relevant to ESEA Title programs and offers LEAs an opportunity to engage directly with OSSE’s ESEA team on any related questions.
These virtual office hours will be held from 10-11 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Participants can join each session using the recurring link.
Upcoming topics include:
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Tuesday, Sept. 15: Completing and Submitting the FY27 ESEA Consolidated Application (ConApp)
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Tuesday, Oct. 20: ConApp Feedback and LEA Listening Session
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Tuesday, Nov. 17: Closing Out Your FY26 Grants
Please come prepared to share your questions and feedback. We encourage participants to submit questions related to the monthly topics and ideas for future office hour topics to Con.App@dc.gov.
LEA Homeless Liaison In-Person Training Session on Tuesday, Sept. 22 (Reminder)
OSSE’s Homeless Education Program invites all LEA homeless liaisons to attend Driving Impact: Empowering Liaisons to Support Students and Families in Transition, a mandatory in-person training session to begin the 2026-27 school year. This training will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at OSSE (1050 First St. NE) on the first floor.
Key Benefits of Attending
Participants will gain clarity on McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (MKV) best practices, strengthen their ability to identify and support students experiencing homelessness, learn to turn data into actionable strategies, expand knowledge of early learning opportunities, build confidence in using community resources, and ensure alignment with OSSE’s MKV compliance expectations for the 2026–27 school year.
LEA homeless liaisons are required to attend and should register no later than Friday, Sept. 18. If you require assistance or have questions, contact Tasheen Stallings at Tasheen.Stallings@dc.gov.
Important note: LEA leaders are reminded to ensure that there is an LEA-level homeless liaison designated in your student information system.
Register Now for the 2026 OSSE Literacy Convening, Sept. 29 (Reminder)
OSSE’s Division of Teaching and Learning will host the 2026 Literacy Convening on Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St. NW, 20001). This one‑day convening will bring together DC educators, literacy leaders, and national experts to deepen understanding of evidence‑based literacy practices and strengthen literacy outcomes for children and students across the District. Participants will engage in dynamic breakout sessions, hear from leading researchers, and collaborate with peers dedicated to advancing literacy across DC.
Register here by Monday, Sept. 21.
For more information on the convening, please visit the OSSE Literacy Convening Website.
For questions, please email OSSE.CLSD@dc.gov.
OSSE Multilingual Learner Institute: Whole Child, Whole Community, Sept. 18 (Reminder)
OSSE will host the 2026 Multilingual Learner Institute on Friday, Sept. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20001). This full day of professional learning will bring together educators from DC public and public charter schools to strengthen their practice in supporting multilingual learners.
Participants will receive 6 professional learning units (PLUs). Register here.
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Fidelity of Implementation, Sept. 25 (Reminder)
OSSE, in collaboration with the MTSS Center at American Institutes for Research (AIR), is hosting a workshop to help educators elevate success for every learner by strengthening their MTSS practices. Specialists from the MTSS Center will lead participants through a reflective review of current implementation efforts, highlighting strengths and uncovering areas for growth supporting the development of actionable next steps for continuous improvement.
This workshop will take place on Friday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. and repeated 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. at OSSE, 1050 First St. NE, First Floor.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in Schools Training, Sept. 9 & 28 (Reminder)
In partnership with DBT in Schools, LLC, OSSE is pleased to offer in-person and virtual professional learning on how to use DBT skills and strategies in the school setting and within the multitiered system of support (MTSS) framework. These three-day trainings will be available to all licensed school-based behavioral health providers (social workers, school psychologists, community-based organization clinicians, counselors, Department of Behavioral Health [DBH] school-based clinicians) placed at DC public and public charter schools. In addition to the resources shared in the training, participants will receive an accompanying textbook to support their continued work with students.
- In-Person Offering:
- Sept. 9 – 11, the training will take place from 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. each day.
- Virtual Offering:
- Sept. 28 – 30, this training will take place via Zoom from 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. each day.
Interested individuals should register for the training on the Advancing the Recruitment and Retention of our Workforce (ARROW) Eventbrite page. Reach out to OSSE.HYDT@dc.gov with any additional questions.
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September 2026
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