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 Jun 13, 2025

PR 26-0212: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This is a procedural resolution (not a substantive bill) declaring an emergency to prevent a gap in special education services. It authorizes the Council of the District of Columbia to pass the "Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025" after a single reading, rather than through the standard process. The resolution addresses a timing gap between the expiration of an existing emergency special education law (D.C. Act 26-42) on July 10, 2025, and the effective date of a pending temporary law (Bill 26-211). It does not change educational requirements but ensures continuity of services for young adults in District Department of Corrections custody.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents gap in special education services for incarcerated youth, maintaining existing protections without funding cuts or restrictions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jun 13, 2025

PR 26-0218: Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

PR 26-0218, the "Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025," extends a one-year truancy pilot program in 5 District of Columbia schools until the final report on its outcomes is submitted. The resolution directs the Mayor to continue referring students with unexcused absences to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for intervention and documentation, using $3.38 million already allocated in the 2025 budget. It specifically extends the temporary act (passed September 2024) beyond its July 10, 2025, expiration date to allow time for the required August 15, 2025, final report. The resolution applies directly to students in the participating schools and DHS staff managing the interventions. This is a procedural extension, not a new policy change.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends truancy program using $3.38M budget allocation to improve school attendance in K-12, directly supporting student access and outcomes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education