The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (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 (COVID-19) 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

• DC Health Guidance for Educational Facilities (Updated 6/13/2022)
• Return to School Matrix
• CDC: Quarantine and Isolation
• CDC: Toolkit for Responding to COVID-19 Cases
• CDC: Steps for Determining Close Contact and Quarantine in K-12 Schools
• CDC: Overview of COVID-19 Isolation in K-12 Schools
• CDC: Stay up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines
• CDC: How Schools and Early Care and Education (ECE) Programs Can Support COVID-19 Vaccination
• CDC: Frequently Asked Questions for K-12 and Early Care and Education (ECE) Settings: Information for School and ECE Administrators, Teachers, Staff, and Parents
• CDC: Use and Care of Masks
• Types of COVID-19 Tests (Updated: 7/15/2022)
• Student Health Form Requirements for School Attendance
• Reporting Positive Cases of COVID-19 to DC Health

Child Care Providers

• DC Health Guidance for Educational Facilities (Updated 6/13/2022)
  • Español
• Return to Child Care Matrix
• Return to Child Care Criteria
• Exclusion and Dismissal Criteria and Protocols for Child Care Facilities
• Daily COVID-19 Screening Questions for Families with Children Attending Child Care
• Child Care: COVID-19 Isolation and Return Requirements (Updated 7/15/2022)
• Child Care: COVID-19 Quarantine and Return Guidance (Updated 7/15/2022)
• CDC: How to Determine a Close Contact for COVID-19
• CDC: Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines
• CDC: How Schools and Early Care and Education (ECE) Programs Can Support COVID-19 Vaccination
• CDC: Frequently Asked Questions for K-12 and Early Care and Education (ECE) Settings: Information for School and ECE Administrators, Teachers, Staff, and Parents
• CDC: Use and Care of Masks
• Types of COVID-19 Tests (Updated 7/15/2022)
• Healthy Habits for Families While Outside of Child Care
• District of Columbia COVID-19 Testing Sites
• What to Expect at Your Child Care Provider During Spring 2022 (Posted: 4/26/2022)
  • Español
• Reporting Positive Cases of COVID-19 to DC Health

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adults Regularly in Schools or Child Care Facilities and for Student-Athletes

• Guidance Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19): Required Vaccinations for Child Development Facility Staff (Posted 10/20/2021)
  • Español
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Required Vaccinations for Child Development Facility Staff  (Posted 11/16/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sessions

• District of Columbia COVID-19 Vaccine Information

[Back to Top]

Resources for K-12 Schools and LEAs

• Test to Stay Resources
  • FAQs

    • Español | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)

  • Planning Checklist
  • Sample Policy
  • Sample one-pager for families
    • Español | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
  • Sample letter to families on test-to-stay
    • Español | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
  • Sample close contact letter
    • Español | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
• School-Based COVID-19 Testing Data

• 2022-23 Attendance and Distance Learning Guidance (Issued: 7/29/2022)
• Standards for Approving Distance Learning for Students Possibly Subject to Educational Neglect, 2021-22 School Year (Issued: 11/9/2021)

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

• IDEA, Part B Provision of FAPE: Guidance for the 2021-22 School Year (Revised: Nov. 2, 2021)
• 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)
• 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
• 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

• State-Approved English Learner Identification Assessments (Issued: 7/30/2020)

Grants

• Recovery Funding

[Back to Top]

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)
• 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

• 2022-23 Attendance and Distance Learning Guidance (Issued: 7/29/2022)
• Attendance Regulations - State Board of Education Working Session (June 1, 2022)
  • Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking
• Instructional Day/ School Calendar Guidance (Issued: 5/27/2022)
• Instructional Day Waiver Form (Issued: 5/27/2022)

[Back to Top]

Resources for Child Care Providers

Subsidy and Funding Guidance

• Subsidized Child Care Eligibility and Recertification  (Updated: 9/7/2021)
• Public Emergency Subsidy Rate (Published: 2/18/2022)
• Frequently Asked Questions Supporting Subsidized Child Care Provider Attendance and Payment Guidance (Updated: 2/7/2022)
• Child Care Subsidy Guidance (Updated: 2/7/2022)

[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 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 Early Intervention Guidance for Vendor Agencies (Takes effect: 4/1/2020)

Capital Quality

• Capital Quality Observation Memo (Issued: March 2022)
  • Español 

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)

[Back to Top]

Resources for Students and Families

K-12 Resources for Families

• Steps to Promote Healthy Habits Outside of School (Issued: 12/20/2021)
  • Español

• Types of COVID-19 Tests (Updated 7/15/2022)

• Strong Start In-Person Services During COVID-19, Guidelines for Families (Effective 6/14/2021)
  • Español
• Strong Start Virtual Visit Guidance for Families and Caregivers (Takes effect: 4/1/2020)
• Types of COVID-19 Tests (Updated 7/15/2022)
• Child Care: COVID-19 Isolation and Return Requirements (Updated 7/15/2022)
• Child Care: COVID-19 Quarantine and Return Guidance (Updated 7/15/2022)

Archived Guidance and Resources

 

[Back to Top]