OSSE blazed trails in 2023, creating new dual-enrollment and Career and Technical Education programs while expanding access to successful ones that excite our students – from middle school through 12th grade.
To spark a passion for Career and Technical Education at a younger age, OSSE leveraged funds from a $21 million federal Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant in 2023 to expand programs that encourage DC middle school students to persist through secondary school and graduate high school with a plan to be successful in college and careers. The six-year GEAR UP grant will allow OSSE and its partnering organization, the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP), to offer approximately 480 middle school students in Wards 7 and 8 workshops, coaching and an $11,000 scholarship per year over their first two years of postsecondary education.
Opening a New Home for The Advanced Technical Center
The Advanced Technical Center (ATC), in its permanent home at the Penn Center, stands as a testament to our work in answering Mayor Bowser’s charge to reimagine the high school experience for our students and to forge new pathways to the middle class.
In 2023-24, the new state-of-the-art facility is offering 191 students from 15 DC public and public charter high schools a chance to access cutting-edge coursework in Cybersecurity and Nursing, learn from outstanding educators and accrue college credits at no cost to our students. In the 2022-23 school year, ATC students earned a staggering 740 college credits, valued at nearly $625,000 in tuition. Earning college credits with no cost attached paves the way for a future with fewer financial constraints.
Opening the ATC was a strategic move toward fostering a generation armed with knowledge, skills and the tenacity to thrive. As the ATC continues to shape the future as an investment in the boundless potential of the workforce, in the prosperity of the community and in a brighter, more empowered tomorrow.
Breaking Down Barriers with DC Futures
Mayor Bowser has a guiding mantra, that every resident of the District of Columbia deserves a fair shot. A fair shot to build the life they want. A fair shot to improve their education or their skills. A fair shot to succeed. The DC Futures program connects deeply to OSSE’s mission of breaking down any barriers that stand in the way of 1,288 DC residents seeking a quality education and a better life.
DC Futures provides a scholarship and other support for DC residents seeking their first degree in a highdemand career field at any of three local universities: the University of the District of Columbia and the University of the District of Columbia Community College, Catholic University of America and Trinity Washington University. In addition to providing residents with up to $8,000 in tuition support, the DC Futures Program also provides students with college coaching, a stipend of up to $1,500 a year and up to $2,000 annually in emergency funds for unanticipated expenses that can be challenging to cover, such as food, housing, healthcare and child care. In the 2022-23 academic year, 1,489 DC residents enrolled in college course with assistance through the DC Futures program and in September, we welcomed more than 400 DC Futures Scholars to the first-ever DC Futures Conference to kick off the second year of the program. Conference attendees accessed vital resources and strategies on how to address personal and financial barriers to college completion.
As the state education agency for the District of Columbia, OSSE is committed to maintaining DC’s momentum toward increasing postsecondary enrollment and eliminating barriers to education so that DC residents of all ages can access the quality education they deserve. DC Futures and OSSE’s other college access and assistance programs, such as the DC Dual Enrollment Consortium Program, the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) and Mayor’s Scholars, help increase the number of DC residents, particularly those farthest from opportunity, enrolled in postsecondary education and on a pathway to the middle class.
Offering Real-World Experiences with Internship Programs
Tailored for high school juniors and seniors, OSSE’s Advanced Internship Program and Career Readiness Internships aren’t just about clocking in hours; they’re a roadmap for young minds to navigate post-high school life and carve out meaningful careers. These opportunities are not just internships; they’re gateways to a future brimming with possibilities.
What’s exciting is that these programs break the mold—no inside scoop or business connections required. They’re designed with equity at their core, ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, gets a shot at a transformative, paid internship experience.
With over 1,200 students already getting real world experience. OSSE’s commitment to empowering the next generation is crystal clear. The Advanced Internship Program stands out as the District’s pioneer in school year internships, aligning seamlessly with students’ career and technical education paths. It’s not just a stint; it’s an immersion into their chosen fields, offering both financial rewards and course credit. The impact is tangible. In the 2022-23 school year and the 2023 summer internships alone, students put in over 117,000 hours and earned a collective $1.95 million.
The momentum doesn’t stop there. The Advanced Internship Program for the 2023-24 school year kicked off on Nov. 6 with a bang. OSSE orchestrated the placement of 250 students into internships, partnering with 59 host employers. It’s not just another internship cycle; it’s a continuation of a journey where students aren’t just observers; they’re active contributors to their own success stories. OSSE’s programs are here to debunk the myths that internships are about fetching coffee or reserved for a privileged few. These internships are steppingstones to careers, pathways to self-discovery, and opportunities that level the playing field for all. The future isn’t a distant concept; it’s being shaped by these young minds, one internship at a time.
Providing High-Quality Dual Enrollment Opportunities
In the 2022-23 academic year, 625 students seized the opportunity to catapult themselves into higher education through OSSE’s DC Dual Enrollment Consortium Program. This groundbreaking initiative empowers DC public and public charter school students in grades 10-12 to delve into college courses at prestigious DC-area institutions, all while accruing college credits at absolutely no cost. The surge in dual enrollment participation in 2023 is nothing short of phenomenal, nearly tripling the previous year’s figures and establishing a record-breaking pinnacle for the program.
These students aren’t merely earning credits; they’re forging a path that transcends conventional educational boundaries. By engaging in this transformative program, a 10th-grade student stands to carve out a financial future that defies the norm, potentially saving $40,000 on their college journey by the time they proudly don their graduation cap. This isn’t just education; it’s a financial game-changer.
Inspiring College Dreams for DC's Middle Schoolers
More than 650 bright young minds from the communities of wards 7 and 8 are set to embark on a transformative journey towards higher education, fortified by a monumental $21 million investment. The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant, a beacon of equity and opportunity, has been bestowed upon OSSE by the US Department of Education.
Over the span of six impactful years, this grant will empower OSSE and its dedicated partner, the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP), to champion the cause of educational equity. Middle school students in wards 7 and 8 will be enveloped in a comprehensive support system, featuring workshops, personalized coaching, and a substantial $11,000 scholarship per year throughout their crucial first two years of postsecondary education.
DC GEAR UP, a force for change, will extend its academic and socio-emotional coaching to 658 students attending eight Title I middle schools in wards 7 and 8 (grade 7 cohort). These institutions, grappling with the challenges of high rates of at-risk students and chronic absenteeism, will now become the epicenters of empowerment. Housed at DC-CAP, College and Career Ready Coaches will not only guide students toward rigorous academic pursuits but also instill vital life skills that transcend the confines of academia.
This groundbreaking program, scheduled to commence in mid-2024, is not merely an investment in education; it’s a commitment to fostering a generation of resilient, well-rounded individuals poised to conquer the challenges of college and beyond.
