Early October Update 2023

This quick update is to share three upcoming chances for AJE families to share their experiences with policymakers, and to remind families of other resources in the community.

We hope you find this update helpful!

AJE wants families to know what is going on in DC government and what decisions are being made. We also want our families to have their voices heard in those conversations, we want to make sure that the decisions that are being made reflect the voices and needs of the families we work with. That is why we are sharing information about these upcoming meetings about the Boundary and Student Assignment Study.

Virtual Town Hall Series on DC School Planning (The Boundary Study)

• Date:      October 4, 2023 (content the same on both days) 
• Time:      12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. 
• Date:      October 5, 2023 (content the same on both days) 
• Time:      6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 

Parents can register here for October 4 and here for October 5

Families can also visit AJE's website for more information.

MCH Bridges is the official podcast of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP). This podcast aims to inspire and guide actions that will improve the systems that impact maternal and child health populations. MCH Bridges aims to uplift stories and people from the MCH field by centering the voices of the public health workforce, people, and communities most impacted by inequities, and individuals and families with lived experiences.  

MCH Bridges and AMCHP would like to interview parents and caregivers about their experience with the redetermination process.  Please click here for more information. A stipend is available if selected.

AJE understands that families have heard for a long time about programs that OSSE is considering to improve performance.

We have told parents for years that an app is coming where they could track their child's bus, only to have to share a few months later that the project is shelved, or there are vendor problems, or database issues.

Similarly, we have been telling parents that OSSE is considering a stipend for families who want to transport their own children to school off and on for the last few years.

The conversation about the stipend is even older than the app conversation, over 20 years ago OSSE considered a similar program, offering between parents $3,000 to $7,500 per child to transport their children themselves.

OSSE is now exploring this program again and is seeking feedback from families about it via an online survey, but now at the rate of $400/month; assuming a 9-month school year, this new rate works out to about to $3,600 a year.

OSSE sent the survey to 2,705 parent contacts within their current routing structure, if you receive this survey, please respond so OSSE knows if this is something you are interested in.

We have more updates about OSSE and transportation below.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is recruiting 6 young adults and 6 parents or caregivers to serve on a Family Partnership Team that will inform AAP staff and experts on efforts related to the CDC-funded project Building Capacity for Trauma-Informed Pediatric Care. 

AAP wants to partner with young adults and caregivers who have experienced trauma or adversity (or whose children have experienced trauma or adversity), and who would be willing to share their personal experiences with the healthcare community to help support pediatricians and other healthcare clinicians to provide trauma-informed care 

Families can learn more here. A stipend is available if selected.

OSSE-DOT Transportation

We know OSSE-DOT transportation can be a struggle for families, so we wanted to remind you about these resources.

Please see the OSSE Transportation Handbook for Parents and Guardians of Special Education Students and Questions and Answers about Transportation regarding transportation services your child is entitled to under federal law.

Remember OSSE-DOT can not make changes to pick-up or drop-off, all that must come from your child's school. If your child needs specialized support on the bus, or other accommodations, this must be communicated by the school to OSSE-DOT. OSSE-DOT can not take information directly from families.  

Additionally, we encourage you to contact the OSSE-DOT Parent Resource Center for parents and guardians of students with disabilities at (202)-576-5000 and check the daily late/canceled route page. If you have any concerns about your child’s transportation and regularly check our website for future updates to make your child’s transportation to and from school as seamless as possible.

Other things to note -

• OSSE-DOT does not operate on DC Holidays, even if your child's school does. However, parent and school reimbursement is possible on those days.

• Your school or LEA might be able to help you access transportation. OSSE has recently updated its reimbursement policies for LEAs, which might be helpful for families to share with schools if OSSE-DOT isn't working well.

• After you call the PRC, share your experience by taking their customer satisfaction survey!

Medicaid Renewal Required!

Since the COVID-19 virus struck in March 2020, the District has not required Medicaid beneficiaries to renew their health coverage as usual. 

As of April 1, 2023, all Medicaid beneficiaries should renew their health coverage by or before June 30, 2024. Make sure your contact information is updated to know when to renew!

When your Medicaid health coverage is up for renewal, DHCF will send a letter to the address you gave when you applied for health coverage. If that address is no longer where you receive mail, you must update your contact information on District Direct as soon as possible at districtdirect.dc.gov. District Direct is the District’s online portal for applying or reapplying for social service benefits and it is the best place to update your contact information so you receive important updates and know when it’s time to renew your health coverage.

You can learn more here at AJE's website.

School Immunization Resources

Beginning school year 2023–2024, DC Health has changed the definition of compliance with the s school immunization requirement and the grades in which children will be excluded from school if they are not compliant. These changes are meant to simplify and streamline enforcement of this requirement.

Revised Compliance Definition and Enforcement Policy

The District of Columbia follows the immunization schedule recommended by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). As soon as children are old enough that a vaccine is recommended, that vaccine is considered “due”.

Once a student is due for a vaccine, that student will be considered non-compliant with DC’s school immunization mandate. DC Health and the Office of the State Superintendent for Education. (OSSE) will no longer differentiate between “due” and “overdue” in the determination of compliance.

Remaining compliant with vaccinations is required in all grades. However, in the 2023–24 school year, students who are not compliant with immunization requirements will be excluded from school only if they are in one of these four grades:

• PreK3
• Kindergarten
• 7th Grade
• 11th Grade

The vaccinations that are required are summarized in this documents

DC School Requirements

Childhood Vaccination Guide

If you have questions about this policy, contact doh.immunization@dc.gov.

For more information regarding immunization schedules, please see the CDC’s page on Immunization Schedules and/or contact your child’s health provider.

This information is directly from DC Health website. For more details click here.

Information about Vaccine Exemptions for SY 2023/24

We also want to remind parents that both HPV opt-out forms, as well as religious exemptions for immunizations, must be submitted each school year. 

• Religious exemptions and HPV opt-out forms signed from April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023 expired on July 1, 2023. 

• Religious exemptions and HPV opt-out forms signed from April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024 will expire on July 1, 2024.  

If you need to request a new exemption remember you must follow the process outlined here Religious Exemption Request Process.

Parents must submit the name of each child, their date of birth, and the school or childcare facility where they are or will be enrolled to: doh.immunization@dc.gov in order to obtain a blank exemption form to complete. Forms may also be requested in-person Monday Thursday, 9:00am to 3:30pm at: DC Health/Immunization Division Community Health Administration 899 North Capitol Street NE, 3rd Floor Washington, DC 20002.

The below link is the current form you need to document a medical exception

https://dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/service_content/attachments/DOH%20Universal%20Health%20Certificate_2019_0.pdf, alternative documentation (physician statement, for example) is acceptable.

For DCPS Families

In 2022, DCPS updated its 504 policy. You can learn more about Section 504 in DCPS here, and by reading our blog post about it here.

Section 504 Policy

Section 504 Process

Section 504 Resources

Connect With Section 504 Coordinator

DCPS Families may also be interested in DCPS Self-Contained Classroom Program Guides and Locations, and Related Services Guidebooks as they start the school year.

DC PCSB seeking applicants for Parent and Alumni Leadership Council (PALC)

DC PCSB is seeking applications from charter school parents and alums interested in serving on our Parent and Alumni Leadership Council.

The Parent and Alumni Leadership Council (PALC) is an informal advisory board that advises Board Members, Executive Director, and DC PCSB leadership on policies, issues, and topics related to public charter schools.

You can learn more here and if you have questions about this application, please contact Geoffrey St. John, Community Engagement Specialist, at gstjohn@dcpcsb.org.

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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!