The SCDC Resource Bank is designed to be a living hub of research, best practices, guides and other materials that are thoughtfully collected to identify and reflect the challenges, barriers, needs, and supports for students who are system involved, their parents and families, educators, and other stakeholders who work directly with young people impacted by the child welfare and/or the juvenile/adult justice systems.
Featured Resources
General Resources
Students Impacted by the Child Welfare System
Students Impacted by the Justice System
Lesson Planning Tools
Special Education & IEP
Social Emotional Learning
Mental Health Supports
Distance Learning & COVID-19 Specific Resources
Featured Resources:
COVID-19 Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) Clinical Experience / Fieldwork Requirements
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) | April 2020
Scope: This document contains guidance to EPPs regarding clinical experience/fieldwork requirements for state licensure candidates during periods of approved closures of the District of Columbia’s EPPs, PreK–12 public and public charter schools based on changed operating status due to the public health emergency. This guidance applies to all EPPs, both those with Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation and those with state approval.
What Coronavirus Means for Local Child Welfare Agencies
By: Hosted on Kojo Nnamdi Show | May 2020
“Since the start of the pandemic, the number of calls placed to local child protective service hotlines have dropped significantly. Without the watchful eyes of educators and coaches, many are concerned for the safety of children facing abuse and neglect.” This 25-minute podcast shares insight on how COVID-19 has been impacting young people who are child welfare involved and their families.
Guests included:
- Brenda Donald, Director of DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA);
- Sharra Greer, Policy Director at DC Children's Law Center; and
- Allison Gilbreath, Policy Analyst, Voices for Virginia's Children.
COVID-19's Impact on Student Achievement and Academic Growth in DC
By: EmpowerK12 | December 2020
“EmpowerK12 analyzed assessment results of nearly 30,000 students in DC Public Schools (DCPS) and charter schools, finding that DC students are in a COVID learning slide: DC students have lost four months of learning in math and one month of learning in English language arts. The results are particularly stark for at-risk students, highlighting a growing achievement gap.” This is a great new resource filled with data specifically about the learning loss for students across the District.
General Resources:
OSSE's Educator Resources
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
This main page provided by OSSE has four different areas for educators to explore: classroom resources, key points of contact, licensure & certification, and professional development.
The professional development section includes offerings in early learning, K-12 education, and health & wellness. Further, there is a section on “Educator Quality and Effectiveness, Teaching & Learning” with some pertinent resources such as an “Equity Toolkit.”
Attendance and Truancy Resources for Schools
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
This page offers information on school attendance and resources that aid LEAs in promoting school attendance. Additional resources are provided at the bottom of the page.
This document can also be used to see the legislation and regulations related to attendance and truancy. At the end of the document (pages 5-6) both local and national resources, such as Attendance Works and Everyone Graduates Center, are shared.
Online Education and Community Resource Guide
By: State Board of Education (SBOE) | Updated 2019
This webpage lists all the topics outlined in the complete Education and Community Resource Guide, which is a robust 85 pages. One is encouraged to browse through the topics of relevance where they will find lists of agencies and organizations, descriptions, and contact information.
School Support Resources
By: DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB)
“Here are resources public charter school executive directors, principals, teachers, and board members can use to learn more about our accountability measures, compliance reporting, along with other helpful guidance for supporting students.” Specific resources and updates related to COVID-19, including school support trainings and resources, can be accessed here.
Practice Kit 06, Education Toolkit
By: DC's Children's Law Center | Updated August 2018
This practice kit contains a lot of information for D.C and Prince George’s County Schools, including regulations, policies and practices related to enrollment, transportation, attendance and truancy, graduation, special education and more. Browse the main page to find relevant chapters.
All NCTSN Resources
By: The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
NCTSN has developed a resource bank of items (fact sheets, tip sheets, resource guides, webinars, coursework, and more) on child trauma. One can browse the resources by “trauma type,” language, audience (including specifically for child welfare professionals and juvenile justice professionals), and by policy issues.
GTL Center Insights on COVID-19
By: Center on Great Teachers & Leaders at the American Institutes for Research (AIR)
This resource bank is designed for educators, district leaders, and state leaders. Resources can be filtered by specific topics. Additional materials, such as a webinar series titled: Teaching and Leading in the Time of COVID-19 can be accessed here.
District of Columbia Student Discipline Guide for Students, Families and School Staff
By: The Office of the Student Advocate, DC Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education, and developed in partnership with Every Student Every Day | 2020
This is a tool that clearly articulates and displays the laws related to school discipline, key terminology, one’s rights (see pages 4-5), connected agencies and offices to know, and how to best self-advocate. The end of the document provides phone numbers for agencies and offices connected to student discipline.
OSSE's Nonpublic School Toolkit
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) | 2013
“The District of Columbia Nonpublic School Toolkit is a comprehensive guide which contains information to assist educators in effectively addressing the needs of students enrolled and enrolling in nonpublic schools or transitioning to a less restrictive environment from a nonpublic school. This guide was developed using Federal and District of Columbia policies, procedures and regulations."
Working with Disengaged Students
By: UCLA's Center for Mental Health in Schools
UCLA's Center for Mental Health in Schools provides four key strategies in working with disengaged students in this brief three-page guide:
- Clarify student perceptions of the problem;
- Reframe school learning;
- Renegotiate involvement in school learning; and
- Reestablish and maintain appropriate working relationships.
Resources for Early Learning
By: The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) | February 2021
The Resources for Early Learning provides extensive educational resources related to early child development to help "support adults who teach, nurture, and care for children from birth to age five." There are resources specific to educators, parents, and children. Each page will direct one to specific topics and skills that will have additional activities when clicked. The children’s section has “kid-approved” playlists which includes videos and interactive games.
Students Impacted by the Child Welfare System:
CFSA Information for School Personnel
By: Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA)
Educators can find tools regarding educational neglect reporting and other guidance/resources. Specific operating procedures for SY 2020-2021 are also provided here.
Assessing Child Safety in the Virtual Environment
By: Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA)
CFSA along with its associated partners put together an hour-long training webinar on how to access child safety during distance learning. A FAQ guidance document can be accessed here and a guidance document here.
School Year 2020-2021 Operating Procedures for Local Education Agencies (LEAs), DC Public Schools (DCPS), DC Public Charter Schools (DCPCS), DC Private Schools, and DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) in Response to Student Attendance Concerns
By: Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) | August 2020
“This document outlines the processes DCPS, DCPCS, and CFSA will undertake in response to concerns about students ages 5 to 13 who miss 10 or more school days (whether in remote learning, in-person learning, or a combination of both) during SY 2020-2021.”
Educational Stability for Foster Care Youth in the District of Columbia: Point of Contact Directory
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) | Updated November 2019
OSSE provides a point of contact directory for the state agency points of contact at CFSA and OSSE and then LEA specific contacts.
Foster Care Transition Toolkit
By: U.S Department of Education | May 2016
“This toolkit serves to inspire and support youth currently in foster care and young adults who have aged out of care to pursue college and career opportunities.”
Page 5 of the document provides a table of contents to easily jump to a relevant topic. Information related to educational opportunities, job and career support, money management, housing, and taking care of one’s mental and physical health are collected. Appendix A (page 58) lists national foster youth serving agencies and Appendix B (page 59) shares links to each state’s tuition waivers and vouchers (DC’s is on page 63).
Education
By: National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI)
Brief article on the unique challenges faced by students who are child welfare involved with some specific facts and figures related to these students’ educational obtainment.
Supporting Students Living in Foster Care
By: Edutopia | August 2019
This article provides an overview of students who are impacted by the child welfare system and how teachers can enforce supportive classroom practices.
What Teachers and Educators Can Do to Help Youth in Foster Care
By: Fostering Success Michigan
This three-page resource includes bulleted items for teachers to follow, in order to best support students impacted by the child welfare system including classroom supports, relationship building with the student and family, and preparation for postsecondary education, training and career goals. Additional resources for further information are shared on the last page.
Educator's Guide to Supporting Students in Foster Care
By: Produced by Washington State Department of Social & Health Services, Superintendent of Public Instruction Washington, and Treehouse
Educators should know that this is a Washington state specific guidebook; however, many of the items discussed are versatile and adaptable. Educators should evaluate the table of contents of this guidebook for information that is the most useful to them.
Page 12 outlines the “top things educators should know about students in foster care” and a variety of additional resources, such as videos or programming, are available throughout.
Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect: A Conversation with Teachers
By: Colorado 4 Kids | May 2020
Colorado’s Department of Human Services along with hundreds of community agencies spearheaded a multi-year Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Public Awareness Campaign. Part of this campaign is to develop specific materials for teachers who come into contact with young people who are child welfare involved. This webinar shares the perspectives and accounts of teachers reporting child abuse and neglect, especially in a virtual environment.
Remote Learning + Child Abuse Reporting Resources for Teachers
By: Colorado Department of Human Services
This toolkit was developed by teachers, education advocates, the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Department of Human Services to provide teachers with a resource to best combat the needs of their students who may be child welfare involved.
Three resources are provided:
- Signs of Abuse and Neglect, which outlines signs that teachers should be cognizant of when looking for child abuse and neglect. It concludes with a "Dos and Dont's" as it relates to reporting.
- K-5 Educator Toolkit, which provides different modes of instruction (i.e., phone, online, online "face to face," and paper pencil) and strategies for educators to check-in with their students.
- 6-12 Educator Toolkit has strategies and question prompts for engaging this older set of students.
Special Education and COVID-19
By: UCLA's Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families | April 2020
Education Program Director Jill Rowland leads a discussion on Special Education and COVID-19 and the impacts and consequences it will have on youth and young adults involved in the child welfare system. The webinar is about 50 minutes in length.
Students Impacted by the Justice System:
Blueprint for Change: Education Success for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
By: Legal Center for Youth Justice and Education
"The Blueprint for Change is designed to be a tool for all stakeholders (including youth, parents, educators, lawyers, judges, caseworkers, probation officers, child welfare workers for dual status youth, juvenile justice and education system administrators, state and local agencies, and policy-makers). Stakeholders can use the framework of this Blueprint for Change to identify what they can do to promote educational success for youth in the juvenile justice system in their jurisdiction." There are 10 different goal areas and an extensive list of general resources here.
OSSE Guidance on Education in the Juvenile Justice System
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
LEA responsibilities can be found in the following document. Please note some of the contact information is outdated, but the FAQs starting on page 4 may be useful including the steps a LEA should take if they believe a student has been detained or arrested. Links to the MOAs between OSSE, DCPS, DOC, and DYRS are also provided.
Education for Youth Under Formal Supervision of the Juvenile Justice System
By: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) | January 2019
A literature review on the intersection of the educational and juvenile justice systems, which includes the academic characteristics and challenges youth involved in the juvenile justice system (both committed and on probation/supervision) face with specific interventions to improve their educational outcomes.
Lesson Planning Tools:
Lesson Planning Apps and Websites from Common Sense Education
By: Common Sense Media
"Create custom calendars for each class, track standards across the curriculum, develop differentiated lesson templates, share schedules with parents, and find the best online resources with these top-notch tools." Both free and paid options are available.
Southern Poverty Law Center: Teaching Tolerance Resources
By: Southern Poverty Law Center
"From film kits and lesson plans to the building blocks of customized Learning Plans (including texts, student tasks and teaching strategies) our resources will help you bring relevance, rigor and social emotional learning into your classroom." All the resources are free.
Digital Promise's Online Learning Resources
By: Digital Promise
This online resource offers a library of online learning tools that can be filtered by type, grade and subject. All resources are free and meet student privacy criteria. There is also a section on digital resources specifically to support learners with disabilities.
New York Times: Learning Network
By: New York Times
The New York Times has curated items for teachers including student activities, professional development webinars, and resources for English Language Arts, Social Studies, ELL & Arts, Science & Math, and current events.
CNN 10 Writing Prompts
By: CNN
CNN10 can be used as a resource for both teaching about current events and writing exercises. It provides 10-minute, daily videos targeted for middle and high school aged students. This article further explains using the videos as writing prompts.
PBS News Hour Extra: Student and Teacher Resources 6-12 Grade Levels
By: PBS
Lesson plan ideas are provided for free for educators to peruse and find the best items for their young people. They have also ensured that the content is revised for distance learning. Specific subject areas can also be accessed through the tab at the top of the page.
Reading Partner's Resource Library
By: Reading Partners
Downloadable worksheets and 1-pager guides are provided by Reading Partners to assist in engaging and encouraging young people to further their reading skills. These resources are available in English and Spanish and are marketed for a K-5 audience. These resources could also be shared with families and caregivers.
Special Education & IEP:
OSSE's IDEA, Part B Provision of FAPE: Guidance Related to Remote and Blended Learning
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) | July 2020
"This document contains guidance on LEA responsibilities under Part B of IDEA relating to the provision of FAPE in instances where LEAs are required to close their doors or limit access to buildings because of a local or national emergency and transition to distance or blended learning models. Previously issued guidance related to the provision of IDEA Part B is consolidated throughout and organized consistent with the special education process. This document additionally provides newly issued guidance on procedures related to IDEA Part B, specifically concerning parent training as a related service, telehealth, homebound instruction and optional distance learning, and servings students who are medically fragile."
Special Student Populations
By: DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB)
PCSB’s webpage shares compliance documents, special education resources, and English Language Learner resources.
Education Modifed Resources
By: Education Modified
Education Modified has free downloadable webinars related to special education and IEPs. Their most recent webinar was titled "Progress Monitoring IEP Goals: Now & After COVID-19," which educators may find helpful. Some other interactive tools can be found here.
Learning Differences and Special Needs Guide
By: Common Sense Media
There are six different subjects to choose from (communication, social interaction, organization, reading and writing, math, and motor skills) and each have three different levels to them. Different applications are then provided to best meet the student’s and/or family’s need.
How to Improve Distance Learning for Students with IEPs
By: Edutopia | June 2020
"Strategies for parental involvement and synchronous and asynchronous activities can help students with individualized education programs."
Social Emotional Learning (SEL):
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Local Education Agency Toolkit
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) | 2013
This is an in-depth resource filled with information on best practices and planning guides. I suggest looking at Chapter III (easy charts to follow on pages 32-35) and the specific tools for positive behavioral support in Chapter V (starting on page 40).
Creating a PBIS Behavior Teaching Matrix for Remote Instruction
By: Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports | March 2020
"This practice brief shares tips for maintaining continuity of learning through defining classroom expectations for remote (i.e., distance) instruction and online learning environments. With a few adaptations, teachers can use a PBIS framework to make remote learning safe, predictable, and positive."
CASEL Program Guides: Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs
By: CASEL
"The CASEL Guide provides a systematic framework for evaluating the quality of social and emotional programs and applies this framework to identify and rate well-designed, evidence-based SEL programs with potential for broad dissemination to schools across the United States. The Guide also shares best-practice guidelines for district and school teams on how to select and implement SEL programs. Finally, it offers recommendations for future priorities to advance SEL research and practice."
A guide for preschool and elementary grade students can be found here. For middle school and high school students, a guide can be found here. These guides are designed to provide an overview of best practices of SEL and lists of programs that are highly rated for educators to choose from. An updated program list for younger grades can be accessed here.
Trauma Informed Care: Perspectives and Resources
By: JBS International Inc. and Georgetown University's Center for Child and Human Development
This resource is a comprehensive web-based, video-enhanced tool and includes multiple modules with specific focuses on "Trauma-Informed Child Serving Systems" which includes video interviews from education staff and juvenile justice professionals.
An Evaluation of the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiatives (TLPI) Inquiry-Based Process: Year Three
By: Boston University's Wheelock College of Education and Human Development | 2019
This resource shares an abstract and executive summary of their findings, focused on four main themes:
- Facilitating empowerment and collaboration
- Integrating whole-child approaches
- Affirming cultural identity and promoting a sense of belonging
- Re-envisioning discipline toward relational accountability
Some other items, such as audio and video resources and an online community can be found on Helping Traumatized Children's main website.
Here are 3 Top SEL Strategies that Can Help Improve Student Engagement Right Now
By: EdWeek | December 2020
This article offers a handful of concrete social emotional learning (SEL) strategies to assist educators in keeping their students motivated.
6 Exercises to Get to Know Your Students Better - and Increase their Engagement
By: Edutopia | November 2020
This article shares some activities that educators can use with students during this unusual school year. The activities are designed to establish stronger communication between educators and students and for students to explore their own identities, values and principles. Some examples of the activities include: “laws of life” essays, identity charts, passion blogging, and life documentation.
Mental Health Supports:
Questions and Answers Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19): School Mental Health and Wellbeing
By: Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) | April 2020
This guide offers an array of answers and additional resources for supporting the mental well-being of students, families and educators at this time.
Supporting Mental Health in Schools
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
Use this link to find written guidance for LEAs in developing procedures for students’ mental health and a directory of local programs and service providers.
School Mental Health
By: District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)
This page outlines additional information on DCPS’ School Mental Health planning, including referral forms which are located at the bottom of the webpage.
Additional mental health resources, including national level resources, are found here.
Mental Health Supports: Supporting Students:
Talk About Mental Health: For Educators
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
MentalHealth.gov provides a brief article on how educators can identify and support the mental wellbeing of their young people.
A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development
By: Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child
"In this guide, the Center on the Developing Child has gathered a number of resources and recommendations to help you through this challenging time. This guide pulls together information on COVID-19, what it means for child development, and easy-to-share resources that can help parents and caregivers, as well as childcare providers, pediatricians, and others who work with families." Podcasts are also included.
More generally, the Center also provides a resource library with engaging infographics, multimedia, and more that can be filtered through to meet your specific students' needs.
Children's Mental Health Awareness: A Focus on Resilience and Well-Being
By: National Center for Youth Opportunity and Justice
This one-page document provides six steps on what can be done to better support a young person's mental well-being.
D.C. Voices: Mental Health Supports During School Closures
By: D.C. Policy Center | May 2020
"The need for mental health services is increasing for a subset of students and their families at a time when schools, usually a key provider of some mental health supports, are closed. Children face additional risks to their emotional wellbeing while schools are closed during this health and economic crisis."
Support Mental Health and Well-Being of K-12 Students and Staff During COVID-19
By: EAB | March 2020
"Regardless of current proximity to an outbreak, students may be overcome with many questions, fears, and anxieties for their parents and teachers." A quick two-minute-read article provides additional resources on how to best talk about the global health emergency with youth and young adults and specific coping strategies.
As Schools Reopen, Addressing COVID-19 Related Trauma and Mental Health Issues will Take More Than Mental Health Services
By: Child Trends | July 2020
This brief article provides some tips on the best way to ensure a successful school year as schools continue to establish procedures for reopening.
Understood Resources
Understood’s mission is to connect students with learning and thinking differences to resources, expertise and communities that assist in bolstering confidence. Read more about their mission here. Resources for families, students and educators are provided in various forms (articles, tips, and videos).
Mental Health Supports: Supporting Students with Justice System Involvement:
Webinar Promotes Health for Youth in the Justice System
By: Annie E. Casey Foundation | February 2020
This is a 50-minute webinar that "explores how mental health and juvenile justice systems serve youth who need help managing their behavior with programs relevant to their cultural backgrounds."
Mental Health and Juvenile Justice: A Review of Prevalence, Promising Practices, and Areas for Improvement
By: The National Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Neglected or Delinquent Children and Youth (NDTAC) | September 2017
Recommendations start on page 5.
Better Solutions for Youth with Mental Health Needs in the Juvenile Justice System
By: The Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Collaborative for Change: A Training, Technical Assistance and Education Center and a member of the Models for Change Resource Center Partnership
This document hopes to encourage and support communities to find better ways to support their young people with mental health needs.
Mental Health Supports: Supporting Teachers & Education Staff:
Safeguarding the Mental Health of Teachers
By: Harvard Graduate School of Education | December 2019
This article showcases an interview with a longtime high school teacher and department head and provides his insight on how schools can better support and acknowledge the mental health of their staff.
Self-Care and Wellness: An Important Focus for Staff Implementing a School Responder Model
By: National Center for Youth Opportunity and Justice (NCYOJ) | May 2020
This resource is created for individuals who work with students who have experienced trauma, mental health conditions or substance use disorders, or live in poverty that have unique needs and who may be at risk of experiencing "burnout or compassion fatigue." The practice brief is only a few pages, but a list of recommendations can be found on page 8.
A podcast hosted by NCYOJ on "Self-Care and Wellness for Educators" can also be found here.
12 Ways Teachers Can Build Their Own Resilience
By: Cult of Pedagogy | May 2018
Elena Aguilar’s work focuses on cultivating emotional resilience for teachers. She is interviewed in a 50-minute podcast and provides a yearlong guide to assist teachers in building these habits.
Headspace for Educators
By: Headspace
Teachers are able to have a free subscription, which includes guided meditation sessions, sleeping tools, and other video engagement. Free tools and tips are also provided for one's classroom and students.
Distance Learning & COVID-19 Specific Resources:
Outreach Methods to Ensure Students are Safe and Engaged During Learning at Home
By: Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) | April 2020
The DME provides a brief list of possible outreach methods for educators to contact their students and additional information regarding the referral process for CFSA.
They also advertise the Flamboyan Foundation’s Family Wellness Check-In Guidance for Educators as a potential resource. Additional resources from the foundation can be accessed in their resource library.
Strategies for Protecting K-12 School Staff from COVID-19
By: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Updated January 2021
This is an extensive resource from the CDC designed to encapsulate various staff groups. It also includes a list of mental health resources.
Educator Toolkit | Using Educational Technology - 21st Century Supports for English Learners
By: U.S. Department of Education | October 2018
This toolkit is for all educators—including teachers and administrators—who want to use technology to help their English learners gain proficiency in English and meet academic goals." It is guided by the following five principles:
- Understand what educational technology offers for instructing English learners
- Discover the types of educational technology available
- Maximize the supports that educational technology offers English learners
- Seek out hands-on, instruction-focused professional development
- Learn more about English learners and educational technology
Teaching in the Time of COVID-19
By: American Institutes for Research (AIR)
AIR is constantly updating, collecting and expanding their resources for teachers and education staff during the public health emergency. Browse this resource to find information on strengthening teacher quality, resources for teachers and education leaders, survey’s released on teaching and learning during COVID-19, and teacher appreciation.
Strategies to Support English Learners During Distance Learning
By: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) | April 2020
This slide deck has four strategies to better serve students who are English Learners during this time of remote instruction. On slide 7, educators can also find a few programs that may be useful for communicating with one's students.
How to Find Great Learning Resources for Your Students During School Closures
By: Common Sense Education | March 2020
Resources for distance learning, engaging families, core subject resources, tools for using video, collaboration and discussion and other free resources are provided throughout this list.
Read the World: Distance and Digital Learning
This blog source features easy to digest infographics and additional resources on media literacy for teachers, instructional and equitable practices and digital engagement for students. Additional technology support for Google Meet, Zoom, or Google Classroom can be found here.
Top 7 Free Online Video Tools for Teachers to Create Videos in Minutes
By: Hippo Video | March 2020
"There is a wide range of video creation and editing tools available that you can use to quickly create and edit videos."