Welcome to the new school year! As students, teachers, and school leaders are reacquainting themselves this week with new and old classrooms and school buildings and preparing for a promising year ahead, OSSE is diligently working to ensure that this school year is not only a success for our students, but the District’s entire education community. We are very excited and hope you are too!
OSSE remains dedicated to setting quality and rigorous standards of achievement to serve and support every child in the District of Columbia, from infancy and pre-school enrollment through post-secondary graduation, and entry into the professional workforce. It is my ultimate hope that we will be seen as a year-round partner, significant ally, and essential value-add for each local education agency and school.
I want you to know that our agency continues to take considerable measures to improve public education in the District. From year-round training and professional development opportunities for school staff; timely access to federal grant and funding opportunities; to an in-house team of higher education financial aid professionals available to inform families and students of grant and scholarship opportunities exclusive to DC residents, OSSE has even more in store to support our education partners and District residents for the upcoming school year.
For starters, we invite all DC parents and families to attend the 2nd Annual DC Parent & Family Engagement Summit: Your Passport to Excellence on Saturday, September 7, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The event will feature a host of workshops and exhibits, vital information, and community resources geared towards promoting successful educational outcomes for our students. I encourage you to register here today.
Additionally, over the coming months we will expand services and offerings including free SAT® exams and practice materials for every District high school junior and senior. This school year will also see the launch of new and innovative initiatives that aim to greatly impact our students’ pursuit of college and careers.
We hope you found the time to enjoy your summer as we have quite the year planned and can’t do it without collaboration among students, parents, schools, local education agencies, and all other education stakeholders. I look forward to working with each and every one of you in this exciting journey.
Sincerely,
Emily Durso
Interim State Superintendent
From State to Student: The OSSE Blog 
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