Holding School Budgets Harmless During Modernizations Amendment Act of 2025

This bill amends the Schools First in Budgeting Amendment Act of 2022 to prevent budget cuts for District of Columbia public schools temporarily relocating to "swing spaces" during facility modernizations or capital projects. It directly affects schools undergoing construction, which often face enrollment declines (up to 18% in recent cases) during relocation, triggering budget reductions based on enrollment metrics. The key mechanism adds a new provision requiring that no budget decrease be made when a school uses a swing space due to a modernization or capital project on-site. This ensures schools maintain their full operating budget during the temporary transition period, preserving resources for staff and students. The bill does not change enrollment-based budgeting rules but creates a specific exception for modernization-related relocations.