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: 12/14/2020)
- School Health and Safety Frequently Asked Questions: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Recovery Period (Updated: 12/14/2020)
- Health and Safety Guidance for Schools Slide Deck: COVID-19 Recovery Period (Updated: 12/14/2020)
- School Health and Safety Resources (Released: 1/8/2021)
- PPE Requirements for School Staff (Released: 1/8/2021)
- Exclusion and Dismissal Criteria and Protocols for Schools (Released: 1/8/2021)
- Return to School Criteria (Updated: 1/8/21)
- Travel Reminders for School Staff, Students, and Families
- Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
Child Care Providers
- Health and Safety Guidance for Child Care Providers: Español (Updated: 12/21/2020)
- Health and Safety Frequently Asked Questions for Child Care Providers: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Recovery Period (Updated: 12/21/2020)
- PPE Requirements for Child Care Staff (Released: 1/8/2021)
- Exclusion and Dismissal Criteria and Protocols for Child Care Facilities (Released: 1/8/2021)
- Return to Child Care Criteria (Updated: 1/8/2021)
- Daily Screening Tracker: Children (Updated: 12/21/2020)
- Daily Screening Tracker: Staff and Essential Visitors (Updated: 12/21/2020)
- Enhanced Health and Safety Checklist for Child Care Providers (Updated: 12/21/2020)
- What to Expect at Your Child Care Provider During COVID-19 (Updated: 12/21/2020)
- Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
- Supplementary Guidance for Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Child Care Facilities (Released: 10/22/2020)
- Child Care Safety During COVID-19
- Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
- Travel Reminders for Families and Staff Attending Child Care
- Español | Amharic (አማርኛ) | French (Français) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Korean (한국어) | Chinese (中文)
- District of Columbia COVID-19 Testing Sites
- When school or child care staff go to one of the District’s public testing sites, they may identify themselves as educators or child care staff to the testing site staff in order to receive priority for COVID-19 testing. Note, this will not affect the turnaround time to receive test results.
Resources for K-12 Schools and LEAs
Start of School Resources
- LEA Leader Checklist
- Data Connectivity
- LEA Faculty & Staff Data Collection
- Early Access to Student Data
- No Shots, No Schools
- Transportation
- Enrollment Audit
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: Español (Updated: 6/30/2020)
- 2020-21 School Year LEA Continuous Education and School Recovery Plan Application (Updated: 6/30/2020)
- Continuous Education Resources for LEAs
- Continuous Education Resources for Educators and Families
- Teaching and Learning Professional Development Opportunities
Serving Students with Disabilities
- OSSE DOT’s Bus Safety Kit: 2020-21 Guide to Reopening
- IDEA, Part B Provision of FAPE: Guidance Related to Remote and Blended Learning (Updated: 12/15/2020)
- 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
- 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 2020-21 School Year (Updated: 11/23/2020)
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)
Enrollment Process
- 2020-21 School Year Enrollment Process Guidance: Part I (Updated: 10/2/2020)
- 2020-21 School Year Residency Requirements and Temporary Absences (Issued: 8/11/2020)
- 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)
Assessments, Data and Accountability
- 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
- 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)
Resources for Child Care Providers
Child Care Reopening Guidance
Virtual Learning Opportunities
Licensing and Compliance Guidance
- Policy on Virtual Licensing Inspections at Child Development Facilities: Español (Issued: 7/14/2020)
- Child Care Licensing and Compliance Guidance: Español (Issued: 4/1/2020)
Subsidy and Funding Guidance
- 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)
- Subsidy Agreement Renewal Application (SARA) Issuance (Issued: 9/14/2020)
- Child Care Closure & Public Funding Guidance (Issued: 3/13/2020)
Strong Start
- 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)
Resources for Students and Families
K-12 Resources for Families
- 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 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
- Child Care Subsidy Guidance: Español (Updated: 6/22/2020)
- Nonpublic Schools Guidance: Part III (Takes effect: 7/1/2020)
- Local Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment Extended Deadline (Deadline: 6/30/2020)
- 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)
- Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC) COVID-19 Guidance (Issued: 3/16/2020)
- IDEA Part B Guidance (Issued: 3/12/2020)