Let us know what you think about the new design. Email [email protected] with your feedback.

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District Highlights	Knock It Out of the PARCC: Next Generation Assessments Tips and Resources	Important Dates and Deadlines	Announcements
Professional Development	Funding Opportunities	Events

District Highlights

• What you need to know about the NCSC ELA/Math Assessments
• School Garden Bike Tour is Back!
• Informational Session for DC Free Summer Meals Program

Knock It Out of the PARCC: Next Generation Assessments Tips and Resources

• Resources for Schools
  • PARCC Parent Toolkit
  • 2015 DC PARCC Administrative Guidance on Timing and Cell Phones
  • DC PARCC Infrastructure Trial Guide
  • PARCC FAQs by LEAs
  • NGA Ambassador Information
  • 2015 DC State Test Security Guidelines
• Resources for Parents/Community
  • PARCC Parent Resources
  • OSSE PARCC Parent Letter (Available in Multiple Languages)
  • Want to see PARCC items in action?
  • Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Ideas for Parents
  • Guide to the New PARCC Assessment (For Parents)

>>>Learn More

Important Dates and Deadlines

Dates

• 2015 DC Assessment Timeline
• 4/28: 2nd Annual Infant and Toddler Conference
• 4/30: April 2015 Next Generation Assessment (NGA) Meeting
• 5/6: DCSAA Recognizes the 2014-15 Student-Athlete Academic Scholarship Winners
• 5/7: Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
• 5/18: NGSS Assessment Begins

>>>View the OSSE Calendar

Deadlines

• 5/1: AFHK School Grants for Healthy Kids Application Deadline
• 5/4: ESY 2015 Student Transportation Certification Deadline
• 5/11: Public Comment Ends for FFY 2015 Draft State Grant Application Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• 5/20: DC Free Summer Meals Sponsor Application Deadline

Announcements

New

Important Information about the NCSC ELA/Math Assessments

1) NCSC ELA/Math testing window

The testing window began on Monday, March 30, 2015 and will conclude on Friday, May 15, 2015.

2) Test Administrator (TA) training & NCSC test schedules

NCSC Test Administrators (TAs) should complete certification well in advance of your test schedule to allow for questions and clarifications. All NCSC school test schedules must be submitted to OSSE ([email protected]) 10 days before the start of NCSC test administration.

3) Do not close the test for students who have an observable method of communication

The NCSC assessment data will help us produce an improved assessment design only if every student who has an observable method of communication takes all items, whether they get items wrong, skip some items, or get items correct. Knowing which items a student gets wrong or skips over is as important as knowing which ones the student got right. Do not close the test if students are unable to answer, are skipping questions, or are getting items incorrect. This is essential information to ensure the highest quality, most appropriate tests in the future.

4) Student Response Check (SRC)

The purpose of the SRC (Test Administration Manual, pp. 30, 33) is to ensure that the Test Administrator can clearly identify which answer a student chooses. For students who have an observable method of communication and who clearly select their answers to the test questions by either responding verbally, non-verbally, or using assistive technology (AT), conducting the entire Student Response Check is not necessary; however, test administrators must still select the modes of communication the student will use during the test.
 
If a student displays observable responses during the Student Response Check, TAs will administer all the test items in ELA and Mathematics. If the student does not have an observable response, the TA will administer the first 4 items of either Mathematics or ELA. If the TA does not observe any response to the first 4 items, the TA may close the test session. If the TA observes a response (correct or incorrect) to at least one of the 4 items, the TA should administer the remainder of the ELA and Mathematics assessments.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 202- 316-9789.

Complete the Enrollment Audit Evaluation

The Office of Enrollment and Residency would like to extend the opportunity for a point of contact at your LEA to complete the Enrollment Audit evaluation. It is imperative that we only receive one (1) complete survey from each LEA to capture all wins and needs for your sites as we move forward. Please complete this evaluation by as soon as possible. To complete this survey now, please click here.

If you have any questions, or need additional assistance now or during the enrollment process, please call (202) 727-7224.  Again, we appreciate all that you do and look forward to working with your team in the upcoming school year.

DC Free Summer Meals Program Informational Session

Are you hosting a summer program for young children and teens?  Would you like to receive reimbursement for the meals you serve?

If you answered yes to these questions; come join us at the DC Free Summer Meals Program Informational Session!

This informational session is designed for new organizations to learn about the DC Free Summer Meals Program and to receive information to participate as a Sponsor or a Site. The DC Free Summer Meals Informational Session is open to churches, afterschool programs, community based organizations, summer camps or anyone who will have summer programming for children or are interested in serving free meals to needy children this summer.

Date                              Thursday, April 30, 2015 (two sessions)

Time                              9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Location                       Covenant House, 2001 Mississippi Avenue, S.E., Washington D.C. 20020

Contact                         For further information, please email Elisabeth Sweeting or call 202-368-3009

Training for New SLED Users

The Division of Data, Accountability, and Research will host a training session for new users of the Statewide Longitudinal Education Data (SLED) System on Thursday, May 14, from 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. at OSSE. To register for this training session, please email [email protected].

Date: May 14, 2015

Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Location: OSSE, 810 First Street NE, in the 3rd Floor Training Lab.

Join Microsoft and OSSE for Microsoft DigiGirlz Day

DigiGirlz Day is a one day technology camp for young ladies in middle school grades who want to experience first-hand what it would be like to have a career in an IT related field or as an entrepreneur. This camp is for young women who want to learn new skills and gain exposure to some of today’s most cutting-edge technologies:

• Develop code on “touch” technology like the Microsoft Surface tablet
• Build apps for cell phones and other devices
• Test your imagination for creating videos used in Xbox gaming
• Engage in career discussions with Microsoft Academy of College Hires (MACH)

Date/Time: Thursday, May 21, 2015, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Location: Microsoft, 901 K Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20001

For more information, please contact Ed Roebuck, Career and Technical Education State Coordinator via email or at (202)741-5522.

FoodCorps on Rachel Ray

FoodCorps Service Member Noel Webster chatted with Rachael Ray today about the amazing work that is happening in DC schools. Noel serves with City Blossoms at Randle Highlands and Eastern Senior High School where she engages students in hands-on gardening and cooking activities, teaches food and nutrition lessons, and leads regular taste tests in the cafeteria to expose students to local healthy foods. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education is the proud host site for FoodCorps Washington DC which serves to support 13 service members in eight service sites across the district.
 
Watch the show here.

Reminder

2014-15 Science Assessment Field Test Guidelines

OSSE will be administering the field test of the new science assessment aligned to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) from May 18 to June 19, 2015. The field test is required for students in grades 5, 8, and for high school students enrolled in a biology course. As a field test, this year’s tests will not be used for accountability purposes, and will not be publicly reported at the school, LEA, or DC-wide level. We will provide individual student reports for students and families, as well as educator reports.

Please find online details about the test administration. We will also be focusing on the science test administration in the upcoming LEA meeting on April 30, and will share the tools and resources from that meeting in future editions of the LEA Look Forward and the Admin Bulletin.

Read more about the upcoming Science Assessment.

Notice of Intent to Apply for a Waiver of a Title I Section 1003(g) (School Improvement Grants) Requirement

OSSE intends to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education to extend the period of availability for the state's fiscal year 2014 School Improvement Grant (SIG) funds authorized under Section 1003(g) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. If granted, the waiver will allow the state to use approximately $1.3M in FY2014 SIG funds through September 30, 2020 to support low-performing schools that successfully apply for School Improvement Grants. The current period of availability ends on September 30, 2016.

For more information, contact Sharon Gaskins.

ESY 2015 Student Transportation Certification Deadline May 4, 2015

The deadline for ESY 2015 certification for student transportation is Monday, May 4, 2015.

All Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and schools that will serve as ESY sites and have students eligible for ESY transportation, please log in to the Transportation Online Tool for Education (TOTE) and submit ESY school calendar information (as applicable) and transportation requests for students eligible for student transportation. For our non-public schools, if you are an ESY site, please upload your ESY calendars in TOTE, which will allow the LEAs to complete the transportation request for your ESY students.

This week, aim to complete submitting all transportation requests for all eligible students. Once all your transportation requests are submitted, you will be ready to complete certification for transportation for ESY 2015. Read more.

For questions, please reference the TOTE Quickstart Guide on OSSE DOT’s website. You may also reach out to the TOTE support team via the “Contact TOTE Admin” tool or via email at [email protected].

For more guidance, register today for training on the ESY certification process (sessions offered every Thursday, April 2–30 2015).

Professional Development

New

NPEFS/F-33 Survey Webinar

Please mark your calendar to participate in the NPEFS/F-33 Survey Webinar:

The National Public Education Financial Survey (NPEFS) is the U.S. 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.  If you received federal funds in FY 2014, you are required to fill out the survey.  

Date                               Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Time                              2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Access the webinar online or by phone: 1-646-749-3122 (Access Code: 930-633-453).

Student-led IEPs: Tools You Can Use to Build Self-Determination Skills for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities

Self-determination is an important part of knowing and believing in yourself, knowing what you want your future to be like, and making plans to achieve this future. Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities have the right to know and understand the supports that are needed to achieve successful outcomes across home, school, and the community. This hands-on training, presented by Teresa Cogar, will provide participants with an opportunity to explore three self-determination skill building tools: (a) The One Pager, (b) The Good Day Plan, and (c) Goal Setting and Attainment.

Participants will have the opportunity to personalize and differentiate each of the three tools using strategies that have been proven to be successful for students with disabilities who need additional instructional supports. These tools were developed by the Virginia Department of Education’s “I’m Determined Project,” a state directed project that focuses on providing direct instruction and models opportunities to practice self-determined behavior, beginning at the elementary level and continuing through the student’s educational career.
 
Presenter:           Teresa Cogar, Training Associate for Virginia Commonwealth University – Autism Center for   Excellence
Date:                    Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Time:                    8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location:             OSSE, 810 First Street, NE, 3rd Floor Grand Hall

Register

Reminder

Early Care and Education Physical Activity and Education Curricula Training: Dr. Diane Craft’s Active Play Training

Are you interested in learning new ideas and tips on increasing your center or school’s physical education?, If so, please attend Dr. Diane Craft’s Active Play Training sponsored by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Unit's DC Child Care Centers Promoting Lifelong Activity in Youth (P.L.A.Y.) Program at OSSE.
Enjoy Dr. Diane Craft’s highly regarded Active Play! Preschool Physical Activity training. Learn fun, inclusive, developmentally appropriate physical activities that use inexpensive equipment, small spaces, and work well in center-based childcare and preschool settings. Learn the importance of physical activity to the physical, emotional and cognitive development of young children. Dr. Craft’s enthusiastic presentation style provides for plenty of interesting and fun hands-on, practical experiences for participants.

Each center will receive a FREE copy of the trainer's curricula/manual and CD the day of the training.

Register

For questions, please email Chibu Anyanwu.

Early Care and Education Physical Activity and Education Curricula Training: Natii Wright’s “My Little World” Educational Music Series - Your Heart Jumps to the Beat Training

If you're interested in learning new ideas and tips on increasing your center or school’s physical education, please attend Natii Wright’s “My Little World” Educational Music Series: Your Heart Jumps to the Beat Training sponsored by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Unit's DC Child Care Centers Promoting Lifelong Activity in Youth (P.L.A.Y.) Program at OSSE.

The “My Little World” Educational Music Series is a vibrant interactive tool. It is designed to be incorporated into the curricula of early educators, as they engage children, by providing lessons that teach physical movement, early literacy and pre-math concepts, while promoting 60-minutes of healthy physical activity and healthy eating habits.

Each center will receive a FREE copy of the trainer's curricula/manual and CD the day of the training.

Register here

For questions, please email Chibu Anyanwu.

Charter Teacher Family Engagement Professional Learning Community

Flamboyan Foundation is excited to launch the DC Charter Teacher Family Engagement Professional Learning Community (PLC). This professional learning community gives teachers from D.C. public charter schools the opportunity to learn research-based family engagement best practices around (1) relationship building, including home visits (2) academic partnering strategies, such as high quality parent-teacher conferences and student-led conferences and (3) ongoing communication with families. PLC participants who meet the participation requirements will receive a $1500 stipend at the end of SY15-16. Applicants must be early childhood or elementary public charter school teachers, and must apply by May 1, 2015, using this application. Contact Diana Suarez at [email protected] with questions.

Funding Opportunities

New

Funding Opportunity for Support of Students Experiencing Homelessness

OSSE will issue a Request for Applications (RFAs) for the FY 2016 McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Grant on Monday, May 18, 2015.  Seventy-Three Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty-One Dollars and Seventy-Five Cents ($73,151.75) in grant funds will be sub-granted to successful District of Columbia Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to support the educational and related needs of homeless children and youth.  LEAs interested in applying for McKinney-Vento funds must use the following link to access OSSE’s online Enterprise Grants Management System. Upon release, the RFA and application submission guidance will also be available on OSSE’s Transitory Services webpage.  For more information, please contact Nicole Lee-Mwandha at 202-654-6123.

Request for Application Release Date: Monday, May 18, 2015
Grant Application Submission Deadline: Friday, June 26, 2015

Funding Opportunity for Agencies Providing Extended Learning Opportunities

OSSE will be soliciting grant proposals from eligible District of Columbia agencies to provide extended learning opportunities to DC youth.  Eligible agencies include local educational agencies, community-based organizations, public or private entities, or a consortium of two (2) or more of such agencies, organizations, or entities that do not currently receive 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant funds in the District of Columbia. Priority is given to applications that are jointly submitted by a local educational agency and a community-based organization or other public or private entity. The total funding available for 21st CCLC awards is Three Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty-Nine Dollars and Eighty-Eight cents ($3,776,589.88).  The purpose of the 21st CCLC program is to establish or expand community learning centers that provide students with academic enrichment opportunities along with activities designed to complement the students’ regular academic program. Organizations interested in applying for 21st CCLC may use the following link to access OSSE’s on-line Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS). For more information, please contact Myles Cliff at 202-442-3255.

Request for Application Release Date: Monday, May 18, 2015
Application Submission Deadline: Monday, July 20, 2015

Reminder

FFY14 Scholarships for Opportunities and Results (SOAR) Act Funding Availability

OSSE announced that the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for FFY2014 SOAR Act Funding was made available in the DC Register as of Friday, April 17. The NOFA will be directly available on the DC Register website and will also be available on the OSSE website. The Request for Applications (RFAs) is scheduled to be available May 1, 2015 on the OSSE website. Access the RFAs on May 1 and reas more about the SOAR Act grant at osse.dc.gov.

For questions, contact Katherine Cox.

Events

New

School Garden Bike Tour

Come join us for a fun and informative tour of four amazing DC school gardens! Along the way you will have the chance to taste what’s growing, meet the people that are teaching students in the garden, and explore each space. Between each stop we will take an easy ride together. Snacks and lunch will be provided to the first 40 people to register. Registration is free but there is a suggested donation of $10 which will go directly to the school garden that received the most votes. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sam Ullery.

Register

Date        Sunday, May 3, 2015

Time        11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tour Stops   

JO Wilson Elementary School
Tyler Elementary School
Walker Jones
Eastern High School

Follow the Bike Tour on Twitter @OSSESGP

Reminder

Registration Open! Federal Grants Management Conference

OSSE is pleased to announce the opening of registration for its annual Federal Grants Management Conference. The conference, sponsored by OSSE’s Office of Grants Management and Compliance (OGMC), will take place on Thursday, June 4, 2015, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at Gallaudet University.
        
The conference will address issues related to:

• the federal grants management process;
• available funding opportunities and resources;
• basic grants management; and
• procurement.

These topics and more will be discussed during the conference. To register, click here.

Date:  Thursday, June 4, 2015, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location: Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at Gallaudet University - 800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002

For further information about the conference, please contact Angela Clemons.

Register

Register Before it's Too Late: It Takes a City: DC Does it Best!

OSSE is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its final 2014-15 LEA Institute, “It Takes a City: DC Does it Best!”, to be held May 1-2, 2015, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, DC.

DC public school and public charter school teachers, administrators, service providers, parents and families are invited to attend this exciting two-day event.  During the institute, participants will select from over 100 workshop sessions on topics including:

• Instruction and the Common Core
• STEM and the Next Generation Science Standards
• Positive Behavior Supports
• Special Education
• English Language Learners
• Educator Effectiveness
• Early Childhood
• Parent and Family Engagement (including sessions for parents/families, as well as LEA staff)

Participants will receive OSSE Professional Learning Units (PLUs) for workshop attendance.

Register Now