News Room

Professional Development, Leadership Opportunities & Events

New: DC SAYS Data is Available
New: Back-to-School Supply Grants from LifeChanger of the Year
Discipline Data Collection Deadline Tuesday, July 1 (Reminder)
Revised 2025 Model Policies: School Safety Omnibus Amendment Act (Reminder)
OSSE Parent Portal for Transportation (Reminder)
2024-25 Educator Workforce and Educator Preparation Provider Data Files Release (Reminder)

Catalyzing and Sustaining Systemwide Inclusive Practices - Extension Program (Reminder)
K-5 Summer Literacy Leader Training Opportunity (Reminder)
Special Education Professional Learning Community (Reminder)
Application Now Open for 2025-26 Superintendent’s Advisory Councils (Reminder)

Updated List of Grant Program Contacts (Reminder)

View the LEA Look Forward for June 20, 2025.

OSSE Launches New Parent Portal for Student Transportation Services

arrien.davison — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:15:00 +0000

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

The online portal puts families in the driver’s seat in choosing transportation options for the upcoming school year.

Today, State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell encouraged parents and guardians with children who have an individualized education program (IEP) that lists yellow bus transportation as a service to log on to the new OSSE Parent Portal—an online tool open now that empowers parents to directly select transportation preferences for the upcoming school year.

“By putting parents directly in the driver’s seat, we are not only streamlining the process but also placing decision-making power where it belongs, at the family level,” said State Superintendent Dr. Mitchell. “This initiative reflects our efforts at the ��ѻ��ý of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to address operational costs and service challenges in a way that best serves our community.” 

The OSSE Parent Portal opened Monday, June 9, 2025, and all parents and guardians with children who have an IEP that lists school transportation as a service are encouraged to sign up by submitting their transportation preferences by Friday, July 11, 2025.

OSSE will offer training videos in the portal to support families in completing their submission. In addition, from now through June 28, OSSE will offer in-person technical support at OSSE headquarters, 1050 First St. NE, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4–7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

In a significant shift from the current model where local education agencies (LEAs) submit transportation requests on behalf of parents, the new OSSE Parent Portal empowers families by giving them control over the information they provide and services they receive.

Upon logging in, parents and guardians will have the ability to choose their language from among six available options and select from three transportation options:

No Transportation Needed
Parent Stipend Program (available to students who have previously utilized OSSE transportation services—with the exception of pre-K 3 students, for whom the stipend option is automatically available)
OSSE-DOT Transportation

The entire enrollment process is designed to take less than 5 minutes. Once a parent’s information is completed, the corresponding LEA will receive an alert to confirm transportation details and any necessary accommodations, such as arrangements for a 1:1 aide, school nurse, or booster seat based on the student’s IEP.

Multiple communication strategies—including text/email outreach in six languages, dedicated phone support, informational flyers, and in-person assistance at OSSE headquarters—have been used to guarantee that every parent can seamlessly navigate the new system.

OSSE launched the Parent Portal in response to directives from the City Administrator to identify cost-cutting measures for OSSE-DOT without compromising service quality. After presenting several options in January 2025, OSSE received final approval in March 2025 and dedicated substantial IT resources in partnership with OSSE’s ��ѻ��ý of the Chief Information ��ѻ��ýr to ensure that the application meets rigorous standards of accessibility and reliability.

For the past six years, OSSE-DOT’s on-paper ridership has increased by more than 1,200 students (a 36 percent growth rate), a trend that does not align with actual demand from students with disabilities—over 90 percent of whom rely on these services.

While OSSE-DOT has used private transportation services and parent stipend program to meet demand, the number of students requiring transportation services has continued to rise significantly each year. At the same time, the number of drivers and attendants has decreased. The current system is unsustainable, given high operating costs and a regional shortage of bus drivers.

The new portal ensures accuracy of transportation needs and allocates buses to students in critical need of transportation services. The OSSE Parent Portal represents a critical step forward in modernizing transportation services for the District’s students through enhanced efficiency with a renewed focus on family engagement and equity.

For more information on the new OSSE Parent Portal and OSSE’s student transportation services, visit the OSSE website.

LEA Look Forward for June 20, 2025

arrien.davison — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:32:42 +0000

Friday, June 20, 2025

Professional Development, Leadership Opportunities & Events

New: Discipline Data Collection Deadline Tuesday, July 1
New: Revised 2025 Model Policies: School Safety Omnibus Amendment Act
OSSE Releases SY25-26 School Calendar Guidance and Waivers: Submit by Tuesday, June 24 (Reminder)
OSSE Parent Portal for Transportation (Reminder)
2024-25 Educator Workforce and Educator Preparation Provider Data Files Release (Reminder)

New: Catalyzing and Sustaining Systemwide Inclusive Practices - Extension Program
K-5 Summer Literacy Leader Training Opportunity (Reminder)
Special Education Professional Learning Community (Reminder)
Application Now Open for 2025-26 Superintendent’s Advisory Councils (Reminder)

Updated List of Grant Program Contacts (Reminder)
FY26 ESEA Title Preliminary Allocations Update (Reminder)
FY26 ESEA Titles I-IV and IDEA Phase I Applications Now Available (Reminder)

View the LEA Look Forward for June 13, 2025.

LEA Look Forward for June 13, 2025

arrien.davison — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:35:58 +0000

Friday, June 13, 2025

Professional Development, Leadership Opportunities & Events

New: OSSE Releases SY25-26 School Calendar Guidance and Waivers: Submit by Tuesday, June 24
New: 2024-25 Educator Workforce and Educator Preparation Provider Data Files Release
OSSE Parent Portal for Transportation Now Available (Reminder)

New: K-5 Summer Literacy Leader Training Opportunity
New: Special Education Professional Learning Community
New: Application Now Open for 2025-26 Superintendent’s Advisory Councils
Dually Identified Students: Culturally Sustaining High-Leverage Practices (Reminder)
Celebrating Berries & Greens Day (Reminder)

New: Updated List of Grant Program Contacts
FY26 ESEA Title Preliminary Allocations Update (Reminder)
FY26 ESEA Titles I-IV and IDEA Phase I Applications Now Available (Reminder)

View the LEA Look Forward for June 6, 2025.

LEA Look Forward for June 6, 2025

arrien.davison — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:35:05 +0000

Friday, June 6, 2025

Professional Development, Leadership Opportunities & Events

New: OSSE Parent Portal for Transportation Launches Monday, June 9

New: Celebrating Berries & Greens Day
Outdoor Learning Gathering, Connecting Students with Natural Process in the School Garden (Reminder)
Dually Identified Students: Culturally Sustaining High-Leverage Practices (Reminder)

New: FY26 ESEA Title Preliminary Allocations Update
FY26 ESEA Titles I-IV and IDEA Phase I Applications Now Available (Reminder)
FY24 ESEA Carryover Funds Now Available in EGMS (Reminder)

View the LEA Look Forward for May 30, 2025.

LEA Look Forward for May 30, 2025

arrien.davison — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:29:50 +0000

Friday, May 30, 2025

Professional Development, Leadership Opportunities & Events

Save the Date – Discipline Collection Training Coming Aug. 13 and Aug. 20 (Reminder)
Course Data Collection Updates (Reminder)

New: Outdoor Learning Gathering, Connecting Students with Natural Process in the School Garden
New: Planning for Algebra Course for Math Leaders, June 2-4
New: Dually Identified Students: Culturally Sustaining High-Leverage Practices

New: Opening June 2 - FY26 ESEA Titles I-IV and IDEA Phase I Applications
FY24 ESEA Carryover Funds Now Available in EGMS (Reminder)

View the LEA Look Forward for May 23, 2025.

LEA Look Forward for May 23, 2025

arrien.davison — Tue, 27 May 2025 13:29:52 +0000

Friday, May 23, 2025

Professional Development, Leadership Opportunities & Events

New: Save the Date – Discipline Collection Training Coming Aug. 13 and Aug. 20
New: Course Data Collection Updates
DC Educator Workforce Summit Monday, June 2 (Reminder)
Compliance Notification Regarding the Physical Activity, Physical Education and Health Education Minutes Requirements for Pre-K 3 Through Grade 8 (Reminder)
Free Resources for Teachers from the US Army (Reminder)
��ѻ��ý and Hospital Instruction Annual Data Collection for the 2024-25 School Year (Reminder)
Reimagining High School Graduation Requirements Public Feedback Session, Wednesday, May 28 (Reminder)

2025-26 Restorative Justice Technical Assistance Application due Friday, May 30 (Reminder)
Social and Emotional Learning Community of Practice (Reminder)
Trauma-Informed Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for Educators (Reminder)

New: FY24 ESEA Carryover Funds Now Available in EGMS
Chef Ann Foundation Bulk Milk Grant Opportunity – Applications Due Thursday, June 26 (Reminder)

View the LEA Look Forward for May 16, 2025.

Modified District Government Services for Memorial Day

lynn.romano — Fri, 23 May 2025 17:12:54 +0000

Friday, May 23, 2025

(Washington, DC) – On Monday, May 26, District Government will observe the Memorial Day holiday. While some services will be affected, many District employees will continue serving to maintain essential District operations.

What's Open on Monday, May 26

Access to Emergency Shelter

All low-barrier shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness operate year-round. The following low-barrier shelters are open 24 hours and will remain open all day on Monday, February 17.
New York Avenue Men’s Shelter (1355 New York Avenue NE)
801 East Men's Shelter (2722 MLK Jr. Avenue SE)
Adams Place Men’s Shelter (2210 Adams Place NE)
Emery Men’s Shelter (1725 Lincoln Road NE)
Pat Handy Women’s Shelter (810 5th Street NW)
Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter (1910 Massachusetts Avenue SE)
Living Life Alternatives LGBTQ+ Shelter (400 50th Street SE)

Individuals and families seeking accessible transportation to homeless services should call the DC Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093, between the hours of 8. to 12 am., or the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at 311 at any time of the day or night.

The Downtown Day Services Center (The Center), located at 1313 New York Avenue NW, provides walk-in services to individuals experiencing homelessness with no appointment required. The Center will be open on Monday, May 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Entry will be permitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests will be provided with a wristband that must be worn while in the Center.

Zoe’s Doors Youth Drop-In Center for residents experiencing homelessness, located at 900 Rhode Island Avenue NE, offers a safe place for youth 24 hours a day and will be open on Monday, May 26.

DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH): Residents facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol/drug use concerns, or just need to talk as well as those who are concerned about family members/friends can call 988 anytime to talk with a trained, caring crisis counselor for free, confidential support. The following services also are open on Monday, May 26:  

The DC Stabilization Center, located at 35 K Street NE, is a 24/7 safe place for people experiencing a substance use disorder crisis to get the help they need and is open to individuals 18 years and older at no-cost, and with no insurance necessary.
The Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) provides 24/7 emergency psychiatric services and extended observation beds for individuals 18 years of age and older by calling (202) 673-9319.
The Community Response Team (CRT) provides 24/7 support to adults who are experiencing emotional, psychiatric or substance use vulnerabilities, including on-the-spot assessment and referral to behavioral health care. The response team is available by calling (202) 673-6495.

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Outdoor pools will be open Saturday, May 24, Sunday, May 25, and Monday, May 26 from 10 am to 6 pm. Outdoor pool details can be found at dpr.dc.gov/outdoorpools. Spray parks will also be open Saturday, May 24, Sunday, May 25, and Monday, May 26 from 10 am to 6 pm. Spray park details can be found at dpr.dc.gov/sprayparks. Outdoor parks, playgrounds, athletic courts, and fields will be open. All previously permitted events on these outdoor spaces will take place as scheduled.  

Modified Service Adjustments

The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will not collect household trash, recycling and food waste collection on Monday, May 26. Trash, recycling, and food waste collections will “slide” for the remainder of the week into Saturday. For example, households that normally receive trash, recycling and food waste collections on Monday, May 26 will be serviced on Tuesday, May 27.

The Benning Road Transfer Station is closed for renovations until further notice.

The Fort Totten Transfer Station will be closed to the public on Monday, May 26. All services will resume on Tuesday, May 27 for bulk trash and recycling.

Construction:

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will suspend construction and work zones for non-emergency work in roadways, alleys, and sidewalks within the District’s right of way. This includes manhole access and construction-related deliveries. Approved construction activities may resume Tuesday, May 27 during permitted work hours.

Lane Restrictions:
DDOT will suspend reversible lane operations citywide on Monday, May 26 on the following:

Canal Road between Chain Bridge and Foxhall Road NW
Rock Creek Parkway (controlled by the National Park Service)
16th Street NW between Irving Street and Arkansas Avenue NW

The DC Department of Buildings (DOB) will not allow construction on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day without an issued after-hours permit. Construction activity that proceeds on the holiday without this required permit will result in a Stop Work Order. Illegal construction reports can be made using the Illegal Construction Inspection Request Form or afterhours by calling 311. To learn more about the authorized construction hours and how to apply for an after hours permit, please view the following link: After Hours Permit. DOB offers many online services, tools, and resources, enabling customers to conduct business 24 hours per day, seven days per week.     

Parking Enforcement:
All parking enforcement will be suspended on Monday, May 26, except for Streetcar ticketing and towing. Parking enforcement will resume on Tuesday, May 27.

DC Streetcar will operate on regular hours on Monday, May 26. Riders can visit dcstreetcar.com for the latest updates on routes and schedules.

What's Closed on Monday, May 26

DC Public Schools (DCPS) will be closed on Monday, May 26 and will reopen on Tuesday, May 27.  

DC Public Library (DCPL) locations will be closed on Monday, May 26. For more information on available Library programs, visit dclibrary.org or download the Library’s app.

Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) recreation centers, community centers, indoor aquatic centers, and offices will be closed on Monday, May 26. DPR facilities will resume normal hours on Tuesday, May 27.   

The Department of Human Services Economic Security Administration Service Centers will be closed on Monday, May 26.

The Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, the central intake office for all families in the District of Columbia seeking assistance with their housing needs, will be closed on Monday, May 26.
The DC Health & Wellness Center (77 P Street NE) will be closed on Monday, May 26.

DC Health’s Vital Records Division will be closed on Monday, May 26.

DC Health’s Licensing and Renewal Division will be closed Monday, May 26 with the exception of the online license applications system which will be available at doh.force.com/dchealthrenewals/s/portal-page.

All Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) locations will be closed on in observance of Memorial Day on Saturday, May 24 and Monday, May 26. All locations will reopen Tuesday, May 27. Many of DC DMV's services will remain available online or via the agency's free app.

The Department of Employment Services Navigation Call Center and all-American Job Centers will be closed on Monday, May 26. Residents are encouraged to file unemployment insurance claims online at does.dc.gov.

The Sasha Bruce Youth Drop-In Centers for District residents experiencing homelessness will be closed on Monday, May 26.

The Latin American Youth Center Youth Drop-In Center for District residents experiencing homelessness, located at 3045 15th Street NW, will be closed on Monday, May 26.

The Adams Place Day Center for District residents experiencing homelessness, located at 2210 Adams Place NE, will be closed on Monday, May 26.

The 801 E Day Center for District residents experiencing homelessness, located at 2722 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, will be closed on Monday, May 26.

Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos
Mayor Bowser LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mayorbowser

LEA Look Forward for May 16, 2025

arrien.davison — Tue, 27 May 2025 13:33:24 +0000

Friday, May 16, 2025

Professional Development, Leadership Opportunities & Events

New: DC Educator Workforce Summit Monday, June 2
New: Compliance Notification Regarding the Physical Activity, Physical Education and Health Education Minutes Requirements for Pre-K 3 Through Grade 8
New: Free Resources for Teachers from the US Army
��ѻ��ý and Hospital Instruction Annual Data Collection for the 2024-25 School Year (Reminder)
Reimagining High School Graduation Requirements Public Feedback Session, Wednesday, May 28 (Reminder)

2025-26 Restorative Justice Technical Assistance Application due Friday, May 30 (Reminder)
Social & Emotional Learning Community of Practice (Reminder)
Trauma-Informed Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for Educators (Reminder)

Correction: FY24 ESEA Carryover Funds and Budget Amendments
Chef Ann Foundation Bulk Milk Grant Opportunity – Applications Due Thursday, June 26 (Reminder)

View the LEA Look Forward for May 9, 2025.

LEA Look Forward for May 9, 2025

arrien.davison — Fri, 09 May 2025 16:49:41 +0000

Friday, May 9, 2025

Professional Development, Leadership Opportunities & Events

New: ��ѻ��ý and Hospital Instruction Annual Data Collection for the 2024-25 School Year
Reimagining High School Graduation Requirements Public Feedback Session, Wednesday, May 28 (Reminder)
College Financial Opportunities with the U.S. Army (Reminder)
DC Math Task Force Survey (Reminder)
Local Wellness Policy Resources and Updated Template, Guide and Checklist (Reminder)

New: 2025-26 Restorative Justice Technical Assistance Application due Friday, May 30
New: Social & Emotional Learning Community of Practice
Trauma-Informed Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for Educators (Reminder)

New: Chef Ann Foundation Bulk Milk Grant Opportunity – Applications Due Thursday, June 26