AJE news, events, and resources to help you feel informed and ready for the rest of the school year!
AJE hopes that all our readers are safe and well as we start the second half of the 2021/22 school year, and as many families gear up to prepare for the 2022/23 school year.
This newsletter has information about the My School DC lottery, COVID-19 vaccinations, and lots of other resources for families.
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High School Application Deadline is Fast Approaching!!
Applications for DCPS and public charter schools for the 2022-2023 school year is underway. The My School DC application deadline for grades 9 to 12 is tomorrow, February 1st. Other grades have until March 1.
Deadlines:
- February 1 Grades 9-12
- March 1: PK2-Grade 8
KEY INFORMATION:
- You do have to submit a My School DC application if you seek to enroll at a DCPS selective high school or program, DCPS out-of-boundary or citywide high school, or a public charter high school.
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You do not have to submit a My School DC application if you will re-enroll at your current school or enroll at your DCPS in-boundary high school. To find your DCPS in-boundary high school, enter your address into the School Finder and filter by "Display In-Boundary Schools Only".
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Apply here today: https://apply.myschooldc.dc.gov/login.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
HOW AJE CAN HELP:
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OSSE - Department of Transportation Updates
As many families know, this has been a difficult year for OSSE-DOT transportation. In order to alleviate some of the pressure on the system, OSSE-DOT has increased access to reimbursement for parents who provide transportation to students who are should be transported by OSSE.
OSSE-DOT also planned to start piloting a new app for parents to track their child's bus by the end of January 2022. AJE hopes this pilot program goes well and the app becomes widely available to families very soon. OSSE-DOT is also tentatively exploring a parent payment option for transportation as well, this would allow parents to take control of providing transportation to transportation-eligible students. AJE is not certain when this program will go into effect, or if it will at all, but we are excited about anything that increases options for families.
If your student may need an exception to the OSSE-DOT masking policy, we suggest confirming that all of the documentation for that mask exemption is properly reflected in the IEP and that OSSE-DOT is fully aware of it. Parents may also want to review OSSE-DOT's letter to schools about the mask exemption policy.
AJE is also happy to answer any questions about masking at school or on the bus for students with disabilities.
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Is your student fully vaccinated?
Use vaccinate.dc.gov to make an appointment to get your child’s required immunizations at 37 sites across DC if your child is not up to date on all vaccines.
Remember that as of December 1, student-athletes who have not received a full course of vaccination (including the COVID-19 vaccination) or do not have an approved religious or medical exemption are not permitted to participate in extracurricular athletics until they come into compliance.
Student-athletes who have an approved medical or religious exemption will be required to wear a mask in athletic events regardless of changes in masking guidance. As of December. 1, student-athletes with an approved exemption must be tested weekly for COVID-19 and provide a negative COVID-19 test result on a weekly basis in order to participate in their school-based athletic activity.
Reminder: DC law and regulations require all schools in the District to verify student compliance with immunization requirements as part of enrollment and attendance. For more information about the District’s Immunization Attendance Policy, please visit the OSSE website or the DC Health Immunization Program website.
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Do You Need Help Talking to your Health Care Provider about the Return to In-person School or have questions about vaccination?
The Administration for Community Living has been working with a group of federal and non-federal partners to develop a COVID-19 decision guide for families with children with special health care needs, and they are seeking the assistance of DC families with beta testing this decision guide, you can find it here, or on AJE's blog here.
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We are also excited to share these videos from Georgetown University's Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities by Dr. Kim Bullock.
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Transition Resources - REAL
AJE families with youth who are age 14 or older and thinking about transition planning may want to look at AJE's updates from REAL Transition resources, available here and updated monthly. Also, don't forget to look at our social media for #TransitionTuesday posts!
The buttons below make it easy to follow us!!
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Affordable Access to Food
This is a food pantry program that provides free bagged groceries to those in need.
Farm-stands-on-wheels that distribute local, sustainably produced food to underserved communities in the Washington, DC area. Their mission is to improve access to healthy and affordable food regardless of where you live and how much you make.
This market has partnered up with several Elementary schools across the D.C. area providing them with fresh fruits and vegetables. The market also features kids’ cooking activities, recipe samples, and chef-led culinary demonstrations, designed to get children excited about healthy eating and cooking.
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Supporting Students' Mental Health
AJE knows that many DC youth are struggling during this unique time. That is why we strongly support the full funding of School-Based Mental Health. If you or your child ever need help accessing mental health care services, please call us! We have lots of great providers we can connect you with!
The Education and Justice Departments have issued this Fact Sheet on Supporting Students at Risk of Self Harm During the COVID-19 Era. Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Education Letter to Educators outlining the civil rights obligations of schools to students with mental health disabilities.
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Supporting DC's Youngest Students and Learners
Early Stages, a program of DCPS, is how DC plans to identify, locate and evaluate children between the ages of 2 years 8 months and 5 years 10 months suspected of having a disability and we are NOT already enrolled in another LEA (a Charter school).
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education's Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program provides early intervention therapeutic and additional services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays. Strong Start also accepts online referrals now.
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Information about Homeschooling in DC
COVID-19 and distance learning has led to an increase in interest around homeschooling. AJE has a great blog post about homeschooling DC, which you can find here. You can also listen to AJE staff member Maria Blaeuer talk with OSSE's Stephanie Thomas about homeschooling and OSS's role here.
Students with disabilities who are eligible for services under IDEA via an IEP or who have a 504 Plan are not able to access services in DC as homeschooling students. Eligible students with disabilities who are in private schools may be able to access equitable services, but homeschooling students can not.
However, DCPS does still have an obligation to identify, locate and evaluate all students, including homeschooled students, who are suspected of having a disability. This DCPS pamphlet has more information.
Please contact AJE if you would like support or information about navigating that process or anything else connected to homeschooling in DC.
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Need help affording internet access? Look at the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program!
What is offered: The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband services for eligible customers and up to $75 per month towards eligible households.
Customers will also be able to receive a one-time discount of up to $100 towards equipment purchased from providers including laptops, desktops, or tablets if they contribute between $10-$50 towards the purchase.
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AJE Seeking Parent Survey Participants
AJE is seeking parents of children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs from Wards 1, 7, and 8 to participate in our Community Health Needs Assessment Survey! Participants can receive a $25 gift card.
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Text AJE to 202-953-4355 to join our Text list
Join AJE's text list for updates and announcements about events, resources, and trainings specific to you. In order to receive these updates, you have to opt-in by texting AJE to 202-953-4355 (this is a different process than joining our email list). Messaging rates apply.
Text AJE to 22828 to join our E-list
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Legal Resources for DC residents
There is a new COVID-19 resources page at www.LawHelp.org/DC that has information about legal resources and social services available in the District of Columbia during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
This “one-stop-shop” of useful information can help answer questions about:
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About AJE:
Advocates for Justice and Education is the federally designated Parent Training and Information Center and the Health Information Center for DC. AJE seeks to empower families, youth, and the community to be effective advocates to ensure that children and youth, particularly those who have special needs, receive access to appropriate education and health services.
Our passion is empowering families by equipping parents and students with disabilities with the tools they need to be their own advocates.
Have questions? We are here to educate, advocate and empower. Contact us today!
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Advocates for Justice and Education, Inc.| (P) 202.678.8060 | (F) 202.678.8062 |
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