Hello LEA Leaders,
Title I A Upcoming Webinars
FY 07/08/09 Title I A Critical Information Webinar: OSSE Title I team invites all LEAs to participate in an important webinar that will address several critical issues related to Title I A awards (see the list below). The webinar session that was held Tuesday of this week was a great success – If your LEA wasn’t able to participate on Tuesday, please participate in our 2nd session this Thursday, June 25, 1:30-3 pm. Appropriate representatives (Both fiscal and instructional staff, i.e. Executive Director/Head of School; Business Manager/Accountant) from each LEA are strongly encouraged to participate.
- Title I Team Staff Assignments for LEAs
- Upcoming Title I-related webinars
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FY 2007 (“school year 2007-2008”) Award:
- Explanation of carryover application process
- Review of LEAs’ carryover Grant Award Notifications
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FY 2008 (“school year 2008-2009”) Award:
- Explanation of LEAs’ remaining timeline for spending FY 08 funds and reminder of general rules for carryover
- Update on LEAs’ progress in spending down FY08 funds and required set-asides
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For FY08 and 07: Ideas for obligating funds during summer/early fall months
- Update on 09 awards, including ARRA and non-ARRA Title I A funds
If you would like to participate in the June 25 session of the Title I A Updates webinar, please click here to register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/493724755
Overview of Title I A ARRA/Stimulus Funding Webinar: OSSE Title I team invites all LEAs to participate in a separate webinar that will provide an overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as it relates to education funding and activities, focusing specifically on Title I, Part A. We will discuss several issues that will help LEAs plan and budget for the year ahead (See the list below). For your convenience, the webinar will be offered twice: Thursday, June 25, noon-1 pm; OR Tuesday, July 7, 10-11 am. (All topics listed below will be addressed at both webinar meetings). Appropriate representatives (Both fiscal and instructional staff, i.e. Executive Director/Head of School; Business Manager/Accountant) from each LEA are strongly encouraged to participate. Please share this invitation with all relevant individuals at your LEA or organization who may benefit from a deeper understanding of the ARRA/Stimulus as it relates to Title I, Part A.
- General ARRA Overview
- Allowable Uses of Funds
- Impact on Set-Aside Requirements
- Expanded Reporting Requirements
If you would like to participate in the June 25 session of the ARRA webinar, register here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/889563330
If you would like to participate in the July 7 session of the ARRA webinar, register here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/517588179
H1N1 Update:
Attached is a letter from the U.S. Department of Education and the US Department of Health and Human Services with updates on how to prepare you schools for possible H1N1 outbreaks in the fall.
National Principal of the Year
OSSE is requesting nominations for the MetLife/NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals) National Principal of the Year award program, which annually recognizes outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students. These principals are acknowledged by their peers for the exemplary contributions they have made to the profession. The program honors school principals who have demonstrated excellence in collaborative leadership; curriculum, instruction and assessment; and personalization. Self-nominations are acceptable. Please complete the attached application to formally recognize the outstanding and talented principals we have in the District of Columbia. Applications should be submitted to Erika L. Lomax, at 51 N Street, NE, Suite #3019, Washington DC 20002 or [email protected] no later than June 26, 2009.
IDEA, Part B Upcoming Webinars
FY07/08/09 IDEA, Part B Awards Critical Information Webinar: The OSSE IDEA team invites all LEAs to participate in an important webinar that will address several critical issues related to IDEA, Part B awards. Both Part B grant programs (Section 611 – Grants to States and Section 619 – Preschool Grants) will be addressed in the webinar. (See the list below). For your convenience, the webinar will be offered twice: Monday, June 29, 10 am to noon and Tuesday, June 30 1-3 pm. (All topics listed below will be addressed at both webinar meetings).
Who Should Participate: We strongly encourage both fiscal and instructional staff (i.e. Executive Director/Head of School; Business Manager/Accountant) from each LEA to participate. Please share this invitation with all relevant individuals at your LEA or organization who may benefit from a deeper understanding of the below IDEA, Part B grant processes.
Outline for IDEA, Part B Critical Information Webinar
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FY 2007 Award (“school year 2007-2008”):
- Explanation of carryover process for IDEA, Part B grant funds
- Explanation of time remaining for spending FY 07 funds
- Reminder of general rules pertaining to expenditures
- Release of Carryover Grant Award Notifications
-
FY 2008 Award (“school year 2008-2009”):
- Explanation of Final Grant Award Notifications process
- Explanation of time remaining for spending FY 08 funds
- Reminder of general rules pertaining to expenditures
- Update on LEAs’ progress in spending down FY08 funds and set-asides
-
For FY08 and 07: Ideas for obligating funds during summer/early fall months
- Annual FY 2009 and ARRA Award (“school year 2009-2010”):
- Allocation Process
- Phase I Application Timeline
- Phase II Application Timeline
- Summer Preparation for compliance with spending IDEA Part B, Annual and ARRA grant funds
- Q & A
Registration Links to the IDEA, Part B Critical Grants Management Information Webinar:
If you would like to participate in IDEA Part B Critical Grants Management Webinar on June 29, register here:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/144748571
If you would like to participate in IDEA Part B Critical Grants Management Webinar on June 30, register here:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/490962922 <https://outlook.dc.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/490962922>
Overview of IDEA ARRA/Stimulus Funding Webinar: OSSE IDEA team invites all LEAs to participate in a separate webinar that will provide an overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as it relates to education funding and activities, focusing specifically on IDEA, Part B funds. We will discuss several issues that will help LEAs plan and budget for the year ahead (See the list below). For your convenience, the webinar will be offered twice: Thursday, July 16,10 am-1pm and on Friday, July 17, 10-11 am. (All topics listed below will be addressed at both webinar meetings).
Outline for IDEA, Part B ARRA/Stimulus Information Webinar
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General ARRA Overview
-
Allowable Uses of Funds
-
Walk through of Phase II Application
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Impact on Set-Aside Requirements
-
Expanded Reporting Requirements
Registration Links to the IDEA, Part B ARRA/Stimulus Information Webinar:
If you would like to participate in the IDEA, Part B ARRA/Stimulus Webinar on July 16, register here :
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/918600994
If you would like to participate in the IDEA, Part B ARRA/Stimulus Webinar on July 17, register here:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/987052651
DC OneApp
The deadline to apply and turn in supporting documents for DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG), DC Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (DC LEAP), and DC Adoption Scholarship is June 30, 2009. If you would like more information please contact, James D. Gaston III at (202) 741-6413 or email [email protected].
Praxis Take Away Library
OSSE has free test materials for the Praxis I and Praxis II exams. For more information please contact Kadena Duncan-Lawrence at (202) 741-5851 or Dorothy Beal at (202) 741-8569.
Special Education
OSSE’s Department of Special Education will be hosting a 2009 Summer Institute to provide high quality professional development, training and technical assistance to all school personnel and service providers in the District of Columbia on special education best practices. The Summer Institute will be held twice this summer: July 10-12 and August 10 -12.
College Fair
The National Association of College Admissions Counselors in partnership with OSSE will hold the Annual DC College Fair at the Washington Convention Center on Tuesday, September 29th. Make plans to attend now. Over 300 colleges and 7,000 students are expected to attend. For more information, please contact Kenneth Howard at (202) 727-2824 or email [email protected]
Stafford Loan Information
We have great news to share with you regarding the Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers: OSSE has updated the “Teacher Cancellation Low-Income Directory” for all DC’s Title I schools for School Years 2004-2005 through 2008-2009. This means that eligible teachers at eligible schools can use the information in that directory to apply for loan forgiveness for their FFEL (Federal Family Education Loan) or Direct Loan program loans! For full details on the Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers, please visit the US Department of Education website. If you have any questions regarding the directory or find any information to be missing or inaccurate, please contact our Acting Title I Director, Emily Butler, at [email protected]. Please share this information with your teachers!
Professional Development
OSSE’s English Language Learner Office is interested in learning more about you and your professional development needs. To better serve your needs for the coming 2009-2010 school year, we are asking you to take a few minutes to complete the following survey. Your responses will be extremely valuable in helping us align our Title III-funded professional development offerings with your needs. Please click the link below to access the survey. You may copy and paste the link into your browser as well.
www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=u5TYFeuLuvB5_2fhLj1R_2buGQ_3d_3d
If you have any problems accessing the survey, you may contact Viky Sosa at [email protected] or by phone at 202-481-3933.
Expiration of the Innovative Education Program Strategies (Title V, Part A of NCLB)
Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2007 funds allocated under Title V, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act remain available for obligation through September 30, 2009. FFY 2007 funds are those funds issued for use in the District’s 2007-2008 school year. Please note that effective FY 2009 there will be no further funding issued under Title V-A and no flexibility to transfer funds to that program. Limited transferability options remain until September 30, 2009. If you have any questions or concerns about this notice, please contact Ms Sheryl Hamilton at (202) 741-6404 or by email to [email protected].
Educator Recruitment Service
OSSE has contracted with Teachers-Teachers.com, the nation's premiere education recruitment service, to provide DCPS and all Public Charter Schools an account at no cost to recruit teachers, service providers, and administrators. Over 40 DC LEAs, including the District of Columbia Public Schools, have been taking advantage of this great recruitment tool and communicating with hundreds of thousands of qualified candidates using Teachers-Teachers.com, but there remain almost 30 Public Charter Schools that have not yet taken advantage of this great, free service!
Not sure if your LEA already has an account? Contact your human resources department or recruiter and ask if they’ve heard about Teachers-Teachers.com, or visit http://www.teachers-teachers.com/dc and click “View District of Columbia Jobs.” There you will find a drop-down menu listing all the current LEAs using the system.
Registration is easy: visit www.teachers-teachers.com/dc and click on the link "Learn if your district is eligible for a free membership to Teachers-Teachers.com. There you may begin the process of registering. If you have any questions or require assistance in registering for your account, please phone or email Kevin Kautzman, DC Recruitment Coordinator, at [email protected] or 877-812-4071 x 72.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed to participate on State Advisory Curriculum Panels in the areas of Mathematics and Reading/English Language Arts. If you are interested, email your resume and a letter of interest stating your content area and grade level to [email protected] .