This bill updates minimum pay scales for early childhood educators in Washington, D.C., requiring child development facilities receiving funds from the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund to meet new salary standards starting January 2025. It directly affects facilities that contract with the Department of Health to provide early childhood education services. Key provisions set annual minimums: $51,006 for assistant teachers with a child development associate credential (CDA), $54,262 for those with an associate degree or 60 college credits, and $75,103 for lead teachers with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. The bill amends the 1979 Day Care Policy Act to align pay with credential levels and takes effect after emergency approval, with transitional requirements for October-December 2024.
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.
This bill ensures students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in Washington, D.C., can remain in their initial school feeder pattern (the typical neighborhood school path) unless that pattern lacks a program to meet their IEP needs. If a student must be moved outside their feeder pattern, schools must provide written reasons to parents and the IEP team explaining why the current location couldn't support their needs. The bill also mandates staff-to-student ratio standards for self-contained special education classrooms and requires schools to issue written notices within five days if ratios are exceeded, detailing additional resources allocated to meet student needs. It directly affects D.C. students with IEPs, their families, special education teachers, and school administrators.
This bill requires the District of Columbia Department of Corrections to provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) under federal and local law to individuals with disabilities aged 18 and older who are incarcerated in its secure facilities. It specifically mandates this service during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years for young adults in custody until they reach the end of their eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The bill amends two existing laws (the Corrections Act and Corrections Oversight Act) to add this requirement as a new provision. It directly affects young adults with disabilities in DC's correctional facilities who were previously not explicitly covered under these education provisions. The amendment is classified as an emergency measure with a 90-day effective period.
This resolution authorizes The Field School, Inc. (a private nonprofit school in Ward 3) to issue up to $25 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds. The funds will finance specific campus projects: building a 15,000-square-foot Innovation Center, renovating the Wonder Building and athletic fields, and improving parking at 2301 Foxhall Road NW. Crucially, the District of Columbia will not be liable for repayment - the bonds are non-recourse, meaning the school, not public funds, must repay them. This resolution directly affects The Field School’s ability to finance its campus improvements without using District tax revenue or credit.
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.
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.
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.
The Education Reports Simplification Amendment Act of 2025 ends outdated and duplicative reporting requirements for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). It removes specific reports like annual real estate portfolio reviews and separate student enrollment censuses, and combines overlapping reports such as those on pre-kindergarten program quality. The bill also adjusts deadlines - for example, moving pre-k program reports from December 30 to May 15 - to align with when data is actually available. This reduces administrative burden so DCPS and OSSE can focus more on student outcomes rather than redundant paperwork.
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.
