Publications List

DC School Garden Planting Calendar

edward.cupaioli — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 18:22:30 +0000

Friday, September 12, 2025

This planting calendar provides planting and harvesting dates for the most popular vegetables found in DC school gardens. The document also provides recommended varieties that work well in school gardens, ranks each veggie based on how easy it is to grow, and includes a space for the user to write notes such as actual planting dates, pests, and other significant observations. In addition to the digital copy below, there are a limited number of poster size calender printed on paper that is semi-weatherproof and can be written on with a dry erase marker. To request this poster, please email Sam Ullery at sam.ullery@dc.gov. Happy Planting!

DC Vegetable Planting Calendar

Attachment(s):

Attachment	Size
DC School Garden Planting Calendar	473.04 KB

Special Education Process Handbook

arrien.davison — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 17:52:17 +0000

Monday, August 18, 2025

To support local education agencies (LEAs) in understanding and implementing special education requirements, OSSE provides this handbook as a comprehensive overview of special education processes. This handbook is a resource for District of Columbia LEA special education administrators and staff to support the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), District of Columbia regulations, policies, and guidance related to the education of students with disabilities. The handbook is updated at least annually.

Attachment(s):

Attachment	Size
Special Education Process Handbook (SY2024-25)	1.26 MB

United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Application

edward.cupaioli — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 14:34:23 +0000

Friday, August 15, 2025

Program Overview

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is a unique and annual educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. Typically, two student leaders from each state will spend a week in Washington, DC experiencing their national government in action. Student delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials from the departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies, as well as participate in a meeting with a justice of the US Supreme Court. All transportation, hotel and meal expenses will be provided by the Hearst Foundations. In addition, each delegate is awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.

The 64th annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week will be held in person in Washington, DC from March 7-14, 2026. Application processes are underway and the national deadline for all states to submit their delegate selections is Dec. 1, 2025. The program may be held online, pending public health guidance and status of large group access to the government venues traditionally visited.

Application Instructions

PLEASE REVIEW THIS WEBPAGE IN FULL BEFORE STARTING YOUR USSYP APPLICATION. District of Columbia public, public charter and private high school juniors and seniors who possess a strong interest in government, public service and history are encouraged to apply for the SY25-26 USSYP by Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Students must be actively serving in qualified leadership positions (per the USSYP official criteria), enrolled in high school, and living in the state that they will represent for the entire 2025–26 school year.

All student leadership positions are subject to the judgment and verification of the state selection administrators.

Examples of qualifying leadership positions are below:

Student body president, vice president, secretary or treasurer
Class president, vice president, secretary or treasurer
Student council representative
A National Honor Society officer (including discipline-based Honor Societies such as the National English and Social Studies Honor Societies that include service components)
Student representative elected or appointed (appointed by a panel, commission or board) to a local, district, regional or state-level civic, service and/or educational organization approved by the state selection administrator
JROTC students who hold officer-level leadership positions, often called Cadet Corps Commanders, within their cadet corps for the entire academic year.

Students must submit:

An online application by Oct. 27, 2025
- Within three business days of submitting this the online application, the student will receive a link to a folder where the student will be able to submit their personal essay, persuasive essay, and video presentation. Please do not share this link with anyone. The folders are secure but will be available to anyone with the link.
Official student transcript
A personal essay describing each of the following elements as they pertain to you:
- Current elected student position held and all past involvement in student government/leadership;
- Activities and achievements that demonstrate leadership in school and community that specifically support your desire to serve as your USSYP state delegate;
- Involvement in community service initiatives or programs outside of school;
- How your participation in USSYP will enhance your understanding and interest in the political and governmental process of the United States;
- Share ways in which you think being chosen for USSYP will help you explore some of the most important questions you have at present about the challenges facing the country.
- NOTE: The personal essay must be double spaced in Times New Roman, 12-point font and must not exceed three pages in total (500 words or fewer per response). References must be cited.
A persuasive essay researched and written on a topic of social significance related to a contemporary state, national, or world event. Select a topic important to you, take a stand, relate its importance to you and defend your position. The essay will be judged on organization, ideas and content, evidence of personalization, and writing conventions (including citation of sources).
- NOTE: The essay must not exceed one page, double spaced, in Times New Roman, 12-point font.
A video presentation on this topic: Imagine that you are a newly elected Mayor or House Representative of the District of Columbia. Describe who you are and why you are proud to represent the District of Columbia. Tell us the personal characteristics you feel will make you an effective leader in the District. Note which legislative initiatives you will champion and why they are important to you and your constituents. Please note any historical leadership figures you would like to emulate.
- NOTE: Prepare a short video presentation, no more than 3 minutes in length, as part of the 2026 application, to be judged for eloquence, vocabulary, originality, organization of presentation, knowledge of any material or content presented, clarity of artwork (charts, graphs, slides if used) and overall presentation.
Two letters of recommendation must be provided:
- Letter from your high school principal or counselor
- Letter from an adult advisor of the organization or student body entity with which you currently hold an officer position
REQUIRED: Parents or guardians must provide written approval via email of their student to participate in the weeklong activities during USSYP Washington Week, under the conditions set forth in the rules and regulations of the program 2026 USSYP Brochure.

Application Process

Please be sure to follow the instructions and to ask questions if necessary. All deadlines and instructions must be strictly followed.

The application process is as follows:

Students will submit their application electronically. The deadline to submit is Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.The application will ask for the name and email addresses of two representatives who will provide the letters of recommendation: (1) the principal and/or counselor who will sign off on the student’s participation in Washington Week; (2) the adult advisor of the organization of the student body entity with which the student currently hold an officer position.
- Please select a preference for the recommenders to submit the transcript and letters of recommendation online or by mail. If the applicant is younger than age 18, a parent/guardian/responsible adult must send an email to Emily Webster at Emily.Webster@dc.gov, acknowledging and corroborating this choice. No follow-up with principals, counselors, or adult advisors will occur without this corroborating email.
- If the student has opted to mail in these materials, they must be sent to the address below. Submission of these materials constitutes permission for the student to attend Washington Week, from March 7-14, 2026. All materials must be received, whether electronically or by mail, by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.
- Within three business days, the student will receive a link to an online folder where the student will be able to submit their personal essay, persuasive essay, and video presentation. Please do not share this link with anyone.
Applicants must keep up with the submission of all application materials:
- Completed personal information on application
- Official academic transcript
- Personal essay
- Persuasive essay
- Video presentation
- Two letters of recommendation
- Signatures of Principal and parents

If transcripts and letters of recommendation are being mailed, please send to:

Emily Webster
��ѻ��ý of the State Superintendent of Education
Division of Postsecondary and Career Education
1050 First St. NE, Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20002

Special Notes

If any of the above is missing from the final application packet, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.
There is NOT a limit on how many students apply from each DC public, charter and private high school.
If an applicant becomes a semifinalist, the student must be able to participate in an interview. Interviews will be virtual and sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis. If the applicant is not able to make the interview date due to extenuating circumstances, they must communicate this to Emily Webster (Emily.Webster@dc.gov) as soon as possible.

Selection Timeline

Applications will be received until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. All applications received are considered final. Please only submit one application per student.
Semifinalists will be contacted in early November to schedule their interview.
Interviews will take place in early November.
OSSE will notify USSYP of the selection of two delegates and two alternates in early December.
The USSYP and the Hearst Foundations will announce the two delegates and two alternates from each state in December. Upon receiving confirmation of the DC selections, OSSE will also notify all applicants of their status via email.
The two delegates from the District of Columbia will attend Washington Week during the week of March 7-14, 2026. Please visit the program website for more information about Washington Week, program rules and scholarship rules.

For more information or questions, please contact Emily Webster, State Selection Coordinator, at Emily.Webster@dc.gov.

Additional Resources

LEA Data Liaisons

kellye.underwood — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 18:56:30 +0000

Friday, August 15, 2025

OSSE has assigned each LEA a Data Liaison. Please find the full list of data team members and their assigned LEA.

Attachment(s):

Attachment	Size
Data Liaison Assignments (as of August 2025)	64.04 KB

2025-26 School Year: LEA Requirements Calendar

arrien.davison — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:50:33 +0000

Monday, August 11, 2025

The OSSE LEA Requirements Calendar is a centralized planning tool designed to help local education agencies (LEAs) stay informed about key deadlines, submissions, and other required actions throughout the school year.

LEAs should use this calendar as a reference tool to support planning and coordination, but it should not be used as the sole source of information. For the most accurate and up-to-date requirements, always refer to direct communications from OSSE program teams and official guidance documents.

Attachment(s):

Attachment	Size
OSSE LEA Requirements Calendar (as of Aug. 11, 2025)	98.31 KB

Letters to Households

kathryn.lynch-morin — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 17:30:38 +0000

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Letters to households must be disseminated to enrolled participants upon enrollment, and annually thereafter. Download the letter template for your program type. Be sure the letter features your institution’s name and/or letterhead, and that it includes the Authorized Representative’s signature, prior to dissemination.

CACFP Translated Meal Eligibility Forms - 33 Languages Available

Attachment(s):

Attachment	Size
Letter to Households for Adult Care	135 KB
Letter to Households for Child Care	135 KB
Letter to Households for FDCH Tier II	113.09 KB
Letter to Households Provider-Quality Tier I or Providers Own	53 KB

Income Eligibility Guidelines with Instructions

edward.cupaioli — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 20:47:02 +0000

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

The Income Eligibility Guidelines, established by the USDA, are used to classify Income Eligibility Statements based on reported household income. These guidelines are effective from July 1 to June 30 of the corresponding years. For questions, do not hesitate to contact your assigned CACFP specialist.

Attachment(s):

Attachment	Size
2025-26 Income Eligibility Guidelines	30.46 KB

Enrollment Forms/Income Eligibility Statements

kathryn.lynch-morin — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 17:21:19 +0000

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Enrolled participants in adult care, child care, and family day care homes must complete and submit a completed Enrollment Form/Income Eligibility Statements upon enrollment, and annually thereafter.

CACFP Translated Meal Eligibility Forms - 33 Languages Available

Attachment(s):

Attachment	Size
Enrollment Form - Tier I ��ѻ��ýs	125.72 KB
Enrollment Form - Income Eligibility Statement Adult Care	174.87 KB
Enrollment Form - Income Eligibility Statement Child Care	189.3 KB
Enrollment Form - Income Eligibility Statement FDCH Tier II	189.66 KB

June 2025 Hearing ��ѻ��ýrs Determinations

arrien.davison — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 18:04:02 +0000

Friday, August 1, 2025

Below are the June 2025 Hearing ��ѻ��ýrs Determinations:

Attachment(s):

Attachment	Size
HOD June 2025 (1).pdf	1.03 MB
HOD June 2025 (2).pdf	852.47 KB
HOD June 2025 (3).pdf	1011.35 KB
HOD June 2025 (4).pdf	901.33 KB
HOD June 2025 (5).pdf	838.85 KB
HOD June 2025 (6).pdf	848.04 KB
HOD June 2025 (7).pdf	845.45 KB
HOD June 2025 (8).pdf	902.87 KB
HOD June 2025 (9).pdf	862.93 KB
HOD June 2025 (10).pdf	952.2 KB

2025 Impartial Hearing ��ѻ��ýr Request for Information

arrien.davison — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:05:50 +0000

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

The Government of the District of Columbia, ��ѻ��ý of the State Superintendent of Education is seeking applicants to serve as a contractual Impartial Hearing ��ѻ��ýr, Mediator, and Facilitator for special education due process matters as they relate to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Please use the link below to view the Request For Information (RFI), including instructions on how to apply.

Attachment(s):

Attachment	Size
2025 Impartial Hearing ��ѻ��ýr RFI	98.04 KB