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.

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Health and Safety Guidance

K-12 Schools

• DC Health Guidance for Educational Facilities (Updated 9/19/2022)
• Return to School Matrix (Updated 9/6/2022)
• CDC: Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning
• Schools: COVID-19 Isolation and Return Requirements (Updated 12/7/2022)
• CDC: Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19
• CDC: Toolkit for Responding to COVID-19 Cases
• 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: Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention
• CDC: Use and Care of Masks
• Types of COVID-19 Tests (Updated: 10/6/2022)
• Healthy Habits to Prevent and Reduce Respiratory Illness in the Community (Updated 2/2/2023)
  • Spanish (Español) | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
• 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 9/19/2022)
• Return to Child Care Criteria (Updated 9/28/2022)
• Return to Child Care Matrix (Updated 9/6/2022)
• CDC: Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning
• Child Care: COVID-19 Isolation and Return Requirements (Updated 9/30/2022)
• CDC: What to Do If You Were Exposed to 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: Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention
• CDC: Use and Care of Masks
• Types of COVID-19 Tests (Updated 10/6/2022)
• Healthy Habits to Prevent and Reduce Respiratory Illness in the Community (Updated 2/2/2023)
  • Spanish (Español) | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
• Health Form Requirements for Child Care Attendance
• District of Columbia COVID-19 Testing Sites
• Reporting Positive Cases of COVID-19 to DC Health

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Child Development Facility Staff

• Guidance Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19): Required Vaccinations for Child Development Facility Staff (Posted 10/20/2021; Revised 12/19/22)
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Required Vaccinations for Child Development Facility Staff  (Posted 11/16/2021; Revised 12/19/22)
• Sample COVID-19 Vaccination Religious Exemption Form for Child Development Facility Staff (Revised 12/19/22)

COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sessions

• District of Columbia COVID-19 Vaccine Information

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Resources for K-12 Schools and LEAs

• 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

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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

Graduation

• Guidance: Community Service Graduation Requirements

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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

• Instructional Day/ School Calendar Guidance (Issued: 5/31/2023)
• Instructional Day Waiver Form (Issued: 5/31/2023)
• 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

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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)

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Strong Start

• Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program (DC EIP) Part C Guidance for In-Person Visits (Updated: 1/3/2023)
  • Spanish (Español)
• Guidelines and Requirements for Vendor Agencies Regarding Virtual Early Intervention Services (Updated: 1/3/2023)
• Guidelines for Early Interventionists Conducting Virtual Early Intervention Services (Updated: 1/3/2023)
• Guidelines for Families and Caregivers: What Should My Virtual Visit Look Like? (Updated: 1/3/2023)
• Informed Consent for Virtual Early Intervention Services Form (Updated: 1/3/2023)
  • Spanish (Español) | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français)

Capital Quality

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

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Resources for Students and Families

K-12 Resources for Families

• Healthy Habits to Prevent and Reduce Respiratory Illness in the Community (Updated 2/2/2023)
  • Spanish (Español) | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
• Types of COVID-19 Tests (Updated 7/15/2022)
• Child Care: COVID-19 Isolation and Return Requirements (Updated 7/15/2022)

Archived Guidance and Resources

 

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