DC OSSE OPC Attestation Form: Who Can Sign and How to Get One
What the OPC Attestation Form Actually Is
When a grandparent or relative in DC needs to enroll a child in school and the parent isn't available to sign a Custodial Power of Attorney, OSSE's Other Primary Caregiver (OPC) form requires supporting evidence that you're the child's primary caregiver. One of the five accepted evidence types is a professional attestation — a form signed by a qualified professional confirming your caregiver status.
The attestation is a separate fillable PDF from OSSE, distinct from the OPC form itself. You need both.
Who Can Sign the Attestation
OSSE allows three categories of professionals to sign:
- Legal professionals
- Medical professionals
- Social service professionals
The critical restriction: school officials and employees of the enrolling LEA cannot sign the attestation. That means the child's current or prospective teacher, school counselor, or principal is excluded. The professional must be independent of the school.
How to Get One When You Don't Have a Professional Contact
If you don't have an existing relationship with a doctor, lawyer, or social worker, start here:
Medical route: Ask a legal, medical, or social service professional who knows the caregiving arrangement whether they can attest to the child's OPC status. The OSSE form asks the professional to state their relationship to the OPC or student.
Legal aid route: Contact the Children's Law Center (202-467-4900) or Legal Aid DC (202-628-1161) to ask whether an attorney can complete the attestation based on their knowledge of the caregiver's status.
CFSA Kinship Navigator: The Kinship Caregiver Support Line at 866-FAM-KIN1 provides direct support, information, and referrals. The Kinship Navigator website is kinshipdc.org.
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The Sworn Statement Alternative
If you can't get a professional attestation quickly, the OSSE Sworn Statement is another accepted evidence type. You sign it yourself under penalty of perjury, attesting that you are the child's primary caregiver and the parent is unavailable due to a qualifying hardship. No professional signature is needed — but you must be truthful, because OSSE and the DC Office of the Inspector General investigate false residency and caregiver claims.
The attestation is valid for 12 months. Mark the date and plan to renew before it expires, or the child's enrollment status may lapse mid-year.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of every OPC evidence type and when to use each one, see the DC School and Medical Consent Guide for Grandparents and Relatives.
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