OSSE is committed to helping child development facilities, local education agencies (LEAs), schools and families plan effectively for reopening and recovery after closures related to the coronavirus public health emergency. This page includes downloadable guidance, information and supports related to closures, reopening and recovery. This page is frequently updated – please check back as we continue to update information.  

Educators, families and the public should find information about public health and safety at coronavirus.dc.gov.

---

Health and Safety Guidance

K-12 Schools

• Health and Safety Guidance for Schools: COVID-19 Recovery Period (Updated: 8/9/2021)
• Daily Screening Questions for Families with Students Attending Schools (Updated: 9/24/2021)
• Exclusion and Dismissal Criteria and Protocols for Schools (Updated 9/15/2021)
• Return to School Criteria (Updated 9/15/2021)
• Return to School Criteria Chart (Updated 8/27/21)
• Close Contact Dismissal Workflow for Schools  (Updated 9/15/2021)
• Close Contact Identification Questions for Schools (Updated 8/27/2021)
• PPE Best Practices for School Staff (Updated 9/15/2021)
• Formula Allocations to Support School-Based Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing in 2021-22 School Year
• School Health and Safety Resources (Updated: 9/3/2021)

Child Care Providers

• Health and Safety Guidance for Child Care Providers: (Updated: 8/12/2021)
• Daily Screening Questions for Families with Children Attending Child Care (Updated 9/24/2021)
• Daily Screening Tracker for Children (Updated 9/24/2021)
• Exclusion and Dismissal Criteria and Protocols for Child Care Providers (Updated 9/15/2021)
• Return to Child Care Criteria (Updated 9/15/2021)
• PPE Best Practices for Child Care Staff (Updated 9/15/2021)
• District of Columbia COVID-19 Testing Sites

COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sessions

• Vaccine Information Session for School, Child Care and OSSE Division of Student Transportation Leaders
• Vaccine Information Session for School, Child Care and OSSE Division of Student Transportation Staff: Español
• District of Columbia COVID-19 Vaccine Information

[Back to Top]

Resources for K-12 Schools and LEAs

• Checklist: Review of Symptoms Consistent with COVID-19
• School-Based COVID-19 Testing Opt-Out Form
  • Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
• COVID-19 Medical Consent & Certification for Distance Learning 
  • Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
• COVID-19 Medical Consent & Certification for Distance Learning: Frequently Asked Questions for LEAs and Schools 

Educator Licensure

• Prueba para la Certificación de Maestros (PCMAS) Scoring (Issued: 7/31/2020)
• Educator Credential Application Extension Processes Guidance (Issued: 4/21/2020)
• EPP Clinical Experience/Fieldwork Requirements Guidance (Issued: 4/6/2020)

Planning for Continuous Education and Virtual Professional Development

• Guiding Principles for Continuous Education (updated 5/2021)
• Outdoor Learning Resources (Updated 4/2021)
• High-Dosage Tutoring Guidance (Issued 3/15/2021)
• Teaching and Learning Professional Development Opportunities

[Back to Top]

Serving Students with Disabilities

• Nonpublic Schools Dear Colleague Letter - Accelerated Learning for Students Attending Nonpublic Schools (8/24/2021)
• LEA Dear Colleague Letter - Accelerated Learning for Students Attending Nonpublic Schools (8/24/2021)
• IDEA, Part B Provision of FAPE: Guidance for the 2021-22 School Year
• OSSE DOT’s Bus Safety Kit: 2020-21 Guide to Reopening
• Overview of IDEA Part B Guidance Documents: Continuous Learning for Students with Disabilities in Washington, DC and Beyond
• COVID-19 SEATS Nonpublic Attendance Codes (Updated: 9/18/2020)
• Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) Guidance (Updated: 6/30/2020)
• LEA Toolkit: Serving Students with Disabilities during Periods of Remote or Blended Learning (Issued: 5/20/2020)
• OSSE DOT Operating Procedures (Takes effect: 3/9/2020)

Serving English Learners

• Resolving Provisional English Learner Identification Statuses in the 2020-21 School Year (Issued: 1/29/2021)
• Eleven Actionable Strategies for LEAs to Support English Learners’ Success During the 2020-21 School Year (Issued: 10/10/2020)
• State-Approved English Learner Identification Assessments (Issued: 7/30/2020)
• Provisional Pre-K-12 English Learner Identification Procedure During Distance Learning (Posted: 7/17/2020)
• Serving English Learners During Distance Learning Frequently Asked Questions (Issued: 6/30/2030)
• Strategies to Support English Learners During Learning at Home Presentation (Issued: 4/29/2020)
• Strategies to Support English Learners During Learning at Home (Issued: 4/27/2020)

Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness

• Education for Homeless Children and Youths Guidance (Updated: 5/22/2020)

Meals for Students

• Policy Guidance for School Food Authorities (SFAs) to Serve Meals in the 2021-22 School Year (Updated: 8/10/21)

Grants

• 21st CCLC Frequently Asked Questions (Updated: 11/20/2020)
• Third DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) Extended Deadline (Takes effect: 8/7/2020)
• Second DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) Extended Deadline (Takes effect: 6/30/2020)
• DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) Extended Deadline (Takes effect: 5/29/2020)
• Federal Grant Flexibilities (Issued: 4/27/2020)
• Grants Administration Guidance (Issued: 3/30/2020)

[Back to Top]

Enrollment Process

• 2021-22 School Year Residency Requirements (Issued: 4/28/2021)
• 2020-21 School Year Enrollment Process Guidance: Part I (Updated: 10/2/2020)
• 2020-21 School Year Enrollment Process Guidance: Part IV (Updated: 6/2/2020)
• 2020-21 School Year Enrollment Process Guidance: Part III (Updated: 5/6/2020)
• 2020-21 School Year Enrollment Process Guidance: Part II (Updated: 4/21/2020)
• COVID-19 - Enrollment and Residency Guidance (Updated: 6/21/2021)

Assessments, Data and Accountability

• 2020-21 School Year Metric Calculation Confirmation (MCC) Policy (Updated:8/13/2021)
• 2020-21 Statewide Assessment & Accountability Waiver Request (Updated: 3/19/2021)
• Updates re: Statewide Summative Assessments for Spring 2021 (Update: 2/25/2021)
• DC State Plan Addendum and Waiver (Issued: 12/17/2020)
• 2019-20 School Year Metric Calculation Confirmation (MCC) Policy (Issued: 6/10/2020)
• 2019-20 School Year Data Validation Policy (Updated: 5/21/2020)
• Statewide Assessment & Accountability Waiver (Response: 3/27/2020)
• Statewide Assessment & Accountability Guidance (Updated: 3/20/2020)
• Data (Attendance) Guidance (Takes effect: 3/16/2020)

Attendance

• 2021-22 School Year Attendance Guidance (Updated: 9/3/2021)
  • Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking: 2021-22 School Year Attendance 
• Instructional Day/ School Calendar Guidance (Issued: 6/7/2021)
• Instructional Day Waiver Form (Issued: 6/7/2021)

[Back to Top]

Resources for Child Care Providers

Child Care Reopening Guidance

• COVID-19 Recovery Guidance for Child Care Providers

Virtual Learning Opportunities

• Early Learning Resources and Virtual Learning Opportunities: Social Emotional, Trauma-Informed Practices and COVID-19

Licensing and Compliance Guidance

• Child Care Licensing and Compliance Guidance (Issued: 3/1/2021)
• Policy on Virtual Licensing Inspections at Child Development Facilities: Español (Issued: 7/14/2020)

Subsidy and Funding Guidance

• Subsidized Child Care Eligibility and Recertification  (Updated: 9/7/2021)
• Public Health Emergency Subsidy Rate (Updated: 7/21/2021)
• Frequently Asked Questions Supporting Subsidized Child Care Provider Attendance and Payment Guidance (Updated: 3/25/2021)
• Child Care Subsidy Guidance (Updated: 2/19/2021)
• Subsidy Agreement Renewal Application (SARA) Issuance (Issued: 9/14/2020)
• Child Care Closure & Public Funding Guidance (Issued: 3/13/2020)

[Back to Top]

Strong Start

• Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program (DC EIP) Part C Guidance for In-Person Visits (Updated: 6/10/2021)
• Strong Start In-Person Services During COVID-19, Guidelines for Families (Effective 6/14/2021)
  • Español
• Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program (DC EIP) Part C Guidance (Updated: 11/1/2020)
• Strong Start Virtual Visit Guidance for Families and Caregivers (Takes effect: 4/1/2020)
• Strong Start Virtual Visit Guidance for Early Interventionists (Takes effect: 4/1/2020)
• Strong Start/IDEA Part C Frequently Asked Questions (Issued: 4/11/2020)
• Strong Start Letter for Families (Takes effect: 4/1/2020)
• Strong Start Early Intervention Guidance for Vendor Agencies (Takes effect: 4/1/2020)
• Strong Start/IDEA Part C Guidance (Issued: 3/30/2020)

Capital Quality

• Capital Quality Updates: Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) (Issued: 4/21/2020)

Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program

• Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP) Frequently Asked Questions (Issued: 9/15/2020)
• Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP) Regulations Guidance (Issued: 8/3/2020)
• Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP) Closures Guidance (Issued: 5/12/2020)

Resources for Higher Education

Adult and Family Education

• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title II, Adult Education, and Family Literacy Act Frequently Asked Questions (Issued: 5/4/2020)

Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC)

• Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC) COVID-19 Reopen Guidance (Issued: 6/26/2020)

[Back to Top]

Resources for Students and Families

K-12 Resources for Families

• COVID-19 Medical Consent & Certification for Distance Learning 
  • Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
• COVID-19 Medical Consent & Certification for Distance Learning: Frequently Asked Questions for Families
  • Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
• Resources for Distance Learning
• Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
• DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG)
• Find a Free Meals Site
• Instructional Time: Graduation Requirements for Families Guidance (Issued: 4/7/2020)

Child Care Resources for Families

• Open Child Care Facilities
• Strong Start In-Person Services During COVID-19, Guidelines for Families (Effective 6/14/2021)
  • Español
• Strong Start Letter for Families (Takes effect: 4/1/2020)
• Strong Start Virtual Visit Guidance for Families and Caregivers (Takes effect: 4/1/2020)
• Emergency Child Care Initiative

Archived Guidance and Resources

• IDEA, Part B Provision of FAPE: Guidance Related to Remote and Blended Learning  (Updated: 6/14/2021)
• 2020-21 School Year Attendance Frequently Asked Questions (Updated: 12/8/2020)
• 2020-21 School Year Attendance Guidance (Updated: 10/13/2020)
• 2020-21 School Year Emergency & Proposed Attendance Regulation (Public Comment Ends: 11/8/2020)
• Local Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment Extended Deadline (Issued: 6/22/2021)
• Public Health Emergency Subsidy Rate (Issued: 1/15/2021)
• Frequently Asked Questions Supporting Subsidized Child Care Provider Attendance and Payment Guidance (Issued: 11/16/20)
• Child Care Subsidy Guidance: English | Español (Takes effect: 10/1/2020)
• Nonpublic Schools Guidance: Part III (Takes effect: 7/1/2020)
• Local Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment Extended Deadline (Deadline: 6/30/2020)
• Child Care Subsidy Guidance: Español (Updated: 6/22/2020)
• Frequently Asked Questions Related to IDEA Part B (Issued: 5/29/2020)
• Nonpublic School Payments Frequently Asked Questions (Issued: 5/20/2020)
• IDEA, Part B Extended School Year (ESY) Guidance (Issued: 5/4/2020)
• Special Education Monitoring Update (Issued: 4/30/2020)
• Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC) COVID-19 Guidance (Updated: 4/29/2020)
• Frequently Asked Questions Related to IDEA Part B (Issued: 4/15/2020)
• Nonpublic Schools Guidance: Part II (Takes effect: 4/15/2020)
• Nonpublic Schools Guidance (Updated: 4/6/2020)
• Frequently Asked Questions Related to IDEA Part B (Issued: 3/25/2020)
• IDEA, Part B Provision of FAPE: Guidance Related to Remote and Blended Learning  (Updated: 3/24/2020)
• Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC) COVID-19 Guidance (Issued: 3/16/2020)
• IDEA Part B Guidance (Issued: 3/12/2020)

[Back to Top]