Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Sep 19, 2025

B 26-0062: Board of Trustees Training Amendment Act of 2025

The Board of Trustees Training Amendment Act of 2025 requires newly elected or appointed members of public charter school boards in Washington, D.C., to complete a no-cost training program within 90 days of joining and annually thereafter. The training covers key areas including financial management, school operations, governance, academic programs, personnel, and updates to federal and District laws. It mandates coordination between the Public Charter School Board and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to ensure boards have the necessary skills for effective oversight. The law takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year, aiming to improve governance and prevent financial lapses that have led to school closures.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates training for charter school boards on governance, finance, and operations to improve school management and oversight, strengthening educational governance.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Sep 17, 2025

B 26-0340: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2025

This bill is an emergency measure to implement the District of Columbia's Fiscal Year 2026 budget. It authorizes the reallocation of existing funds across various city programs to support budget priorities without requiring new taxes or revenue. Key provisions include clarifying grant administration for human services, adjusting fees for building conversions, expanding recreational facility assessments, and modifying funding for education programs like early childhood literacy and public charter schools. The bill directly affects District government operations, public service providers, and residents relying on city-funded programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReallocation of existing funds without new taxes supports fiscal management and funds education programs like early childhood literacy.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies education funding for early childhood literacy and public charter programs, indicating direct support for educational initiatives within budget reallocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Sep 12, 2025

B 26-0211: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This temporary bill requires the District of Columbia Department of Corrections to provide special education services under federal and local law to youth aged 18 and older with disabilities who are held in secure correctional facilities. It mandates these services during the 2024-2025 school year, covering all eligible individuals until their special education eligibility ends under federal and District law. The requirement applies specifically to those detained in secure facilities, not general custody. The bill expires 225 days after implementation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates special education services for incarcerated youth with disabilities, promoting rehabilitation and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates special education services for incarcerated youth with disabilities, expanding educational access under federal law during 2024-2025.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Sep 12, 2025

B 26-0276: Pilot Truancy Reduction Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This bill creates a temporary 2024-2025 pilot program targeting secondary schools in Washington D.C. with over 50% truancy rates. It requires the Mayor to select 5 such schools to refer students aged 14-17 with 15 or more unexcused absences to the Department of Human Services (DHS) within two school days. DHS must then provide interventions and document outcomes, including attendance, academic performance, and delinquency status, comparing participants to their prior year data and similar non-participating schools. The program expires 225 days after enactment, with DHS required to publish two reports detailing the program's impact and common causes of absenteeism like housing instability.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill directly addresses K-12 truancy through mandated interventions to improve student attendance and academic outcomes, aligning with educational access and performance goals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Sep 12, 2025

B 26-0262: Fiscal Year 2026 Local Budget Emergency Act of 2025

This bill (B 26-0262) is part of Mayor Bowser's FY2026 budget package to address a $1 billion revenue shortfall over four years, driven by federal job losses and economic uncertainty. It directly affects DC residents and city operations through adjustments to spending and taxes, including a reduced Universal Paid Leave tax rate (0.72% from 0.75%) and $180 million in new funding for public safety and schools. Key mechanisms include targeted investments in economic growth (e.g., $171 million for Capital One Arena improvements, $24 million for tech startups) and "rightsizing" unsustainable spending in health services and government operations. The budget maintains core services like DC Public Schools funding ($2.8 billion) and affordable housing ($160 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund). It is a financial plan, not a policy bill, designed to stabilize city finances amid revenue shortfalls.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces Universal Paid Leave tax rate and allocates $180M for public safety/schools, indicating tax relief and increased funding support.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $180 million specifically for schools in the budget package addressing revenue shortfall, directly advancing school funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Aug 22, 2025

B 26-0263: Fiscal Year 2025 Revised Local Budget Emergency Act of 2025

This bill is a budget proposal addressing a $1 billion revenue shortfall caused by federal job losses (40,000 jobs) over four years. It directly affects DC residents by reallocating funds to key priorities: $30 million for police hiring and crime technology, $2.8 billion for schools, and $160 million for affordable housing. Key mechanisms include reducing the Universal Paid Leave tax from 0.75% to 0.72%, funding tech industry incentives ($2.2 million for DC Tech Ecosystem Fund), and pausing certain building regulations to spur economic growth. The proposal aims to "rightsizing" spending to match revenue growth while maintaining core services like public safety and education. It is part of the Mayor’s FY 2026 budget submission, not a finalized law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces Universal Paid Leave tax (0.75%→0.72%) and allocates $2.8B to schools, $30M for police, $160M for housing - directly funding public services and providing tax relief.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates $30M for police hiring and crime technology, directly funding law enforcement within criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $2.8 billion directly to schools from budget reallocation, explicitly increasing education funding as a key priority.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports Housing$160M explicitly allocated to affordable housing directly funds housing initiatives per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReduces Universal Paid Leave tax rate (0.75% → 0.72%), supporting worker benefits under labor/employment policy75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllocates $2.2M to DC Tech Ecosystem Fund for tech industry incentives, directly advancing technology development and innovation in the district.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 4, 2025

B 26-0275: Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill establishes a one-year pilot program targeting secondary schools in Washington, D.C., with truancy rates exceeding 50% in 2023-2024. It requires these schools to refer students aged 14-17 who accumulate 15 unexcused absences to the Department of Human Services (DHS) within two school days. DHS must then provide interventions, document reasons for absences (like housing instability), and publish two reports by March and August 2025 comparing attendance, academic performance, and arrest rates before and after referrals. Participating schools are exempt from standard truancy reporting requirements for students in this age group during the pilot.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDiverts truancy referrals to DHS for social interventions (housing stability) instead of law enforcement, preventing school-to-prison pipeline - aligns with criminal justice reform90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses chronic absenteeism in DC K-12 schools via DHS interventions to improve attendance and educational access, directly supporting student engagement and school performance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 4, 2025

B 26-0266: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill requires the District of Columbia Department of Corrections to provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) under federal special education law and District regulations to young adults with disabilities who are in its custody or detained in secure facilities. It specifically applies to individuals aged 18 and older during the 2024-2025 school year, covering their education until they reach the end of their eligibility under federal and District law. The bill amends two existing laws to add this requirement as a new provision, effective May 30, 2025, for one school year. This change directly affects incarcerated young adults with disabilities and the Department of Corrections' educational responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides education for incarcerated young adults with disabilities, a rehabilitation measure supporting criminal justice reform to reduce recidivism.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates FAPE for incarcerated young adults with disabilities, expanding educational access for a vulnerable group under special education law95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 1, 2025

PR 26-0220: Ninth Master Agreement between the University of the District of Columbia and the University of the District of Columbia Faculty Association/National Education Association Emergency Approval Resolution of 2025

This emergency resolution approves the Ninth Master Agreement between the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and its faculty union (UDC Faculty Association/NEA) for the period October 2022-September 2025. It establishes new salary structures with discipline-specific pay bands for faculty ranks (e.g., Professor, Associate Professor), includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for fiscal year 2025, and provides longevity-based "continuity pay" increases (1.5%-7.5% based on years of service). The agreement directly affects approximately 214 UDC faculty members and will cost UDC $3.8 million in fiscal year 2025, totaling $14.8 million over the agreement period. The resolution bypasses standard legislative timelines to implement these compensation terms urgently.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesApproves state funding for UDC faculty salaries and 3% COLA, directly increasing public sector spending on personnel costs within state budget allocations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationApproves faculty salary increases including 3% COLA and longevity pay, directly supporting educator compensation and retention in higher education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentApproves union contract with salary increases, cost-of-living adjustment, and longevity pay - directly strengthens faculty compensation and collective bargaining rights.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jun 27, 2025

PR 26-0219: Ninth Master Agreement between the University of the District of Columbia and the University of the District of Columbia Faculty Association/National Education Association Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This bill is an emergency resolution to approve the Ninth Master Agreement between the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and its faculty union (UDC Faculty Association/NEA). It directly affects UDC faculty covered by the agreement, providing a new salary structure for Fiscal Year 2025, a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, catch-up payments for promotions from 2022-2024, and service-based pay increases. The resolution declares an emergency to fast-track approval of these compensation terms, which UDC claims are necessary to retain and attract faculty in a competitive higher education market. The agreement itself covers the period October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill approves salary increases and cost-of-living adjustments for UDC faculty, requiring government spending on public education. Directly funds a public service through budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationApproves new faculty compensation with 3% COLA, catch-up pay, and service increases, directly supporting higher education staff benefits and retention.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentApproves salary increases, 3% COLA, and catch-up payments for UDC faculty via union agreement, advancing wages and collective bargaining outcomes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education