FY26-OSSE-HW-Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching

The District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education is seeking a vendor to design and deliver a comprehensive training program aimed at enhancing garden-based learning in elementary schools across both DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools. The initiative, titled FY26-OSSE-HW-Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching, focuses on equipping school professionals with the skills and resources to integrate hands-on garden activities into their instructional practices, fostering experiential learning that supports student development. The vendor will be responsible for creating a structured summer institute that provides practical, curriculum-aligned training sessions to increase the effective use of existing school gardens as educational tools. This effort is part of a broader strategy to promote environmental literacy, nutrition education, and interdisciplinary learning through outdoor, experiential methods. The vendor will collaborate closely with school staff to tailor training content that fits diverse classroom needs, ensuring scalability and sustainability beyond the initial program delivery. While specific details such as budget, duration, and selection criteria are not provided, the forecast indicates a planned implementation timeline aligned with fiscal year 2026, with the opportunity posted in July 2026. The program will be administered in Washington D.C. and is intended to strengthen the capacity of educators to use school gardens as dynamic learning environments that support academic and personal growth in young students.