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LEA Look Forward for March 26 - April 2, 2015

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

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District Highlights Knock It Out of the PARCC: Next Generation Assessments Tips and Resources Important Dates and Deadlines Announcements
Events      

District Highlights

Knock It Out of the PARCC: Next Generation Assessments Tips and Resources

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Important Dates and Deadlines

Dates

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Deadlines

Announcements

New

Go Blue for Strong Families and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Month

We all want every child in our city to grow up in safe and healthy families. Yet the tragic fact is that thousands of our young people fall victim to abuse and neglect each year.

In April 2015, as part of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, OSSE has partnered with the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect (MACCAN) to increase public awareness related to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. On April 10, 2015, OSSE, along with many other DC Government agencies, will GO BLUE.  Wearing BLUE indicates that you are standing up for strong children and families in DC through the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. So, GO BLUE on April 10, 2015.

DC Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month (May 2015)

In May 2015, as part of the Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month, OSSE has partnered with the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to increase public awareness related to children and youth mental health promotion.  Sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Children’s Mental Health Awareness month promotes positive youth development by reinforcing the importance of children’s mental health.  In preparation for the Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month, OSSE and DBH would like to invite all schools to join in the District’s effort to raise awareness on this important public health issue by participating in various district wide activities.
 
Please read the letter from interim director of DBH, Dr. Barbara Bazron, highlighting events that will take place during the month of April.  Should you have any questions or like additional information, please contact Yuliana Del Arroyo, OSSE director of special programs, or Kendra Fitzgordon, DBH social marketing specialist.

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: May 7, 2015
Pre-K – 2nd Grade Poster Making Activity: April 6 – April 24
Poster Display: May 4 – May 8

Field Test of DC Science Assessment in Spring 2015

This spring, OSSE will field test the nation's first statewide assessment of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This computer-based assessment will be administered to all students in 5th and 8th grades and all high school students enrolled in biology. The testing window runs from May 18th through June 19th. Schools will have flexibility in scheduling the administration of the DC Science Assessment within this testing window.

The DC Science Assessment is untimed and will take students 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete. For an overview of the DC Science Assessment, see OSSE’s website.

Additional Training for New SLED Users

The Division of Data, Accountability, and Research will be hosting an additional training session for new users of the Statewide Longitudinal Education Data (SLED) System. This training will take place on Friday, April 3rd, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at OSSE.

To register for the training sessions, please send an email message to [email protected].

Date: 4/3/2015

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Location: OSSE, 810 First Street NE, in the 3rd Floor Training Lab

Be a Learning Hero's Game Plan for Success Contest Launch

To be successful—whether in class or on the sports field—you need a game plan. Be a Learning Hero’s Game Plan for Success contest asks students, parents and teachers to tell us how their schools are hitting it out of the park with higher standards, clear expectations, and classroom support. Contest winners – located in MD/DC, CO and GA – could win $5,000 for their school, personally delivered by a baseball superstar from their city’s major league team! Get more info and submit stories here: www.bealearninghero.org/gameplan

Reminder

Who to Call During PARCC Testing – For LEA Staff Members

For technical support with device setup and configuration, call Pearson Customer Support at 1 (888) 493-9888 or use the chat function in Pearson Access Next.

For test security incident reporting, call the incident reporting hotline at (202) 719-6500.

For general test administration questions, or additional support, call the OSSE Assessment Team at (240) 270-2598 or email [email protected].

Teacher Qualification Data for LearnDC

Federal regulations require OSSE to publish aggregate data about teacher qualifications on its state and local report cards on LearnDC. OSSE is committed to giving LEAs a meaningful opportunity to review their data before sharing it publicly.

LearnDC currently features School Year 2012-2013 teacher data. These data will be taken down and replaced with SY 2013-2014 data. We know that LEAs have recently submitted SY 2014-2015 data; you will receive information in a future communication about the appeals and corrections process for that data.

We expect to be able to share the SY 2013-2014 data shortly for review. The data points are:

  • the percent of courses taught by highly qualified teachers;
  • the percent of courses taught by teachers who are not highly qualified; and
  • teacher education credentials, specifically, percent by highest degree obtained.

For LEA review of the aggregate data, we will follow a similar process to the one we did with DC CAS data in the summer of 2014. Specifically, LEAs will be able to review their data in two forms:

  • in a spreadsheet posted on the FTP site, and
  • on the “staging site” of LearnDC, which is not public facing and for which we will provide unique links so LEAs see only their own data in a more visual environment.

Please be aware that your data will specifically reflect what you have submitted to OSSE. If education credentials data are missing, for example, LearnDC will indicate that your LEA has no teachers with a bachelor’s degree.

We plan to accept corrections to the aggregate data through a Google doc but will require LEAs to submit documentation to correct individual-level data through the normal QuickBase process LEA HR managers use.

For questions, contact Gwen Rubinstein, data analysis manager, at (202) 374-3723.

Apply for School Grants for Healthy Kids for SY 2015-2016

Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) is excited to open the call for application for School Grants for Healthy Kids for SY 2015-2016. Breakfast Grants and Every Kids Healthy Grants (supporting physical activity and nutrition programming) are available.

Eligible schools may apply for funding to pilot or expand their school breakfast program and/or support physical activity and nutrition initiatives working towards healthy-school certification.

In addition to funding, your school will receive technical support, gain access to AFHK’s improved grants portal, and ensure your students are healthy and ready to learn. Learn more when you register for a School Grants Webinar. Apply for one or both by May 1, 2015.

For questions, please contact your AFHK State Coordinator, Kristina Shelton at [email protected] or [email protected].

Events

Reminder

Save the Date: Grants Management Conferences

LEAs: June 4, 2015 at Kellogg Conference Center at Gallaudet University
CBOs: June 16, 2015 at Kellogg Conference Center at Gallaudet University

Growing Young Minds: Nurturing Healthy, Happy and Secure Children

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s Division of Early Learning presents the 2nd Annual Infant and Toddler Conference. This engaging conference will bring together more than 900 professionals in Infant/ Toddler early care and education professionals. Conference attendees will include early intervention and infant/toddler specialists, home visitors, social workers, mental health providers as well as physical, occupational therapists, pediatricians, dietitians and other professionals.

This exciting and interactive conference will feature:

  • Nationally acclaimed speakers, presenters and authors
  • The Early Head Start Framework
  • Early identification, Intervention and Support Services
  • Hands-on Interactive Exhibits
  • Education Scholarships and Training Programs

Dates:  April 28, April 29 or April 30, 2015 (waiting list only)

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location: Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the Campus of Gallaudet University 800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002

Save the Date: May 1-2 – It Takes a City: DC Does it Best!

OSSE will host the school year’s final LEA Institute, IT Takes a City: DC Does it Best! Join OSSE at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, May 1-2, 2015, for this two-day event designed to reflect on high quality and innovative best practices in public education. School staff will learn new teaching strategies for success in improving outcomes for students in the District while parents and families will learn new strategies for supporting their child in preparing for college and careers. Find additional information and sign-up to receive updates.

Celebrate Women’s History Month at the Charles Sumner School Open House

The Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives is hosting an Open House on Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tour the exciting exhibits celebrating the history and pride of DCPS. There will be special activities for all ages.  For more information, call 202-730-0478 or email [email protected].

Save the Date: March 31 - State of the District Address

Please join Mayor Muriel Bowser for her first State of the District Address. The Address will lay out where we stand on creating a fresh start, highlight our commitment to engagement and integrity and establish how we will create a pathway to the middle class.  It is time to work together to ensure that opportunity is available to all of our residents.

Join Mayor Bowser at the historic Lincoln Theatre on Tuesday, March 31st.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the program starts at 6:30 p.m. RSVP.

Attachment(s): 
PDF icon LEA Look Forward for March 26 - April 2

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