The District of Columbia defines literacy as the ability to talk, listen, read and write leading to the ability to communicate and learn. It is a combination of skills in vocabulary, receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, knowledge of print, comprehension and printed materials.

As the state education agency, OSSE plays a critical role in ensuring that teachers have the knowledge and skills they need to support students in becoming competent, confident and joyful readers. Under the 2023-25 strategic plan, OSSE made its commitment  to improving literacy explicit:  “OSSE, in partnership with stakeholders and building upon existing investments, develops and promotes a citywide vision for literacy instruction, grounded in the science of reading, and provides a suite of instructional resources and trainings for aspiring and current educators, in order to improve the quality of literacy instruction students receive.” – OSSE 2023-25 Strategic Plan 

OSSE is leading on several critical projects to ensure educators and students are well supported, including the Early Literacy Education Task Force, implementation of DC Law 23-191 Addressing Dyslexia and Other Reading Difficulties Amendment Act of 2020 and the executive of the federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant. In addition to these projects, OSSE offers robust professional learning for educators. On the OSSE Learning Management System (LMS), educators have access to a variety of training opportunities, including an asynchronous course on the science of reading.  

For questions, please contact [email protected].