Schools that ensure their students are protected against communicable diseases, support their mental health, and prepare their staff to respond to health emergencies are schools whose students are ready to learn.
The 2026-27 School Year School Immunization Policy promotes the public health of schools and the community by ensuring that students are up to date on vaccinations and requires schools to exclude immunization non-compliant students in grades pre-K 3, kindergarten, 7 and 11 on Dec. 7, 2026, the District-wide exclusion day, unless students have a medical or religious exemption.
The Undesignated Emergency Medications (UEM) program, jointly administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and DC Health, ensures schools have access to and properly administer emergency medications, including epinephrine (for anaphylaxis), glucagon (for hypoglycemia), and albuterol (for asthma).
School mental health programming equips school leaders, educators and staff with the tools to recognize the warning signs and risk factors of youth mental health crisis, develops workforce programs to increase recruitment and retention of school-based behavioral health providers, and offers support in the implementation of best practices for mental health promotion, prevention, intervention, and response.
Points of Contact
- School Immunization Policy: [email protected]
- UEM Program: [email protected]
- CERP Program: [email protected]
- The School Immunization Policy requires schools to:
- Send out the initial exclusion warning notifications on Oct. 26, 2026, to immunization non-compliant students in grades pre-K 3, kindergarten, 7, and 11 (the key grades).
- Exclude immunization non-compliant students in the key grades on Dec. 7, 2026.
- Undesignated Emergency Medications
- As part of the UEM program, DC Health will supply epinephrine, glucagon (for hypoglycemia) and albuterol (for asthma) to schools at no cost.
- By Sept. 11, 2026, using the OSSE Quickbase application, a school must submit its annual Undesignated Emergency Medication Action (UEMA) Plan to OSSE for review and approval.
- In order to have their UEMA Plan approved, each school must have two staff members trained in the administration of UEM and identify one staff person to serve as the school’s UEM Program liaison with DC Health and OSSE.
- School Mental Health: OSSE offers trainings and events throughout the year to support school-based mental health providers (i.e., school social workers, school psychologists, licensed counselors) on the implementation of evidence-based clinical practices.
School Immunization Policy
- School Year 2026-27 Immunization Policy (coming June 2026)
- OSSE Immunization Resources
- DC School Immunization Requirements Guide
- DC Health Immunization Compliance Portal
UEM Program
- Undesignated Emergency Medication Action Plan: Response Guidance
- UEM Frequently Asked Questions (DC Health)
- Quickbase application for submission of UEM Action Plans - individuals will receive a personalized access link via email
- Undesignated Emergency Medications (UEM) Program (DC Health)
- Program Requirements
- Emergency Medication Administration Letters
School Mental Health
- 2026 Mental Health Guidelines (coming July 2026)
- OSSE Supporting Mental Health in Schools
- School Behavioral Health Program
- Advancing the Recruitment and Retention of Our Workforce (ARROW)
- Multitiered System of Support (MTSS) for School Behavioral Health in the District
- Tier 1 Mental and Behavioral Health Evidence-Based Programs and Curricula
School Immunization Policy
- OSSE and DC Health Immunization Technical Assistance Webinar – TBD
- Oct. 13-23: Develop warning notifications of temporary exclusion to send on Oct. 26.
- Oct. 26: Send initial temporary exclusion warning
- Dec. 7: Temporarily exclude all non-compliant students in grades pre-K 3, kindergarten, grade 7, and grade 11 who do not have a medical or (pending) religious exemption.
UEM Program
- DC Health Administration of Medications Training – TBD
- OSSE and DC Health UEM Technical Assistance Webinar – TBD
- Submission of UEMA Plan to OSSE - Sept. 11
School Mental Health
Trainings are open to all school-based mental health providers (social workers, counselors, and psychologists) at all DC public and public charter schools and mental health partners that participate in the Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health System. Follow OSSE's Eventbrite to be notified when training registrations open.
- Aug. 10-12 – Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Youth Anxiety (in-person)
- Aug. 19 – Suicide Assessment Intervention Training (virtual)
- Aug. 21 – Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Youth Trauma (virtual)
- Sept. 8–9 and10 – Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Youth Anxiety (virtual)
- Sept. 10 – Suicide Assessment Intervention Training (in-person) (Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day)
- Sept. 14 – Play Therapy for Engaging Teens (in-person)- middle and high school only
- Sept. 15 – Play Therapy for Challenging Behaviors (in-person)
- Sept. 18 – Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Youth Trauma (virtual)