Education (Higher Education)

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 approves a $274,409.60 change order and a $3,000,000 multiyear contract for the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) to continue implementing Salesforce as its enterprise-wide customer relationship management (CRM) system. It directly affects UDC by authorizing a total of $4,200,542 to complete Phase I (including the change order) and fund Phase II of the CRM project, which supports recruitment, admissions, marketing, and communications. The contract covers development continuity through September 2026, with Phase I ending in June 2025 and Phase II running from March 2025 to September 2026. This is a procedural budget authorization, not a policy change.

The FAIR Act of 2025 (B 26-0218) bans District of Columbia higher education institutions from using donor or legacy preferences in admissions. It requires these institutions to submit annual reports tracking District residents and graduates of local public schools who apply, are admitted, and enroll. The bill also prohibits the Mayor from issuing or renewing government contracts, grants, or permits to institutions that maintain these preferences. This directly affects all DC colleges and universities operating under the District’s jurisdiction.

This bill would close a 12-foot-wide, unused public alley (a "paper alley") within Lee Montessori East End campus in Ward 8. It transfers the land title to the school to enable development of a student play space in the center of its newly expanded campus. The alley currently serves no practical purpose and occupies space the school wants to use for outdoor learning and recreation. The bill follows standard procedures for closing unnecessary alleys under District law.

The Innovate DC Amendment Act of 2025 provides $2 million in matching grants to partnerships between DC universities, hospitals, tech incubators, and economic development organizations to build research commercialization infrastructure. It also establishes a University Proof to Product Research Grant to fund university researchers for proof-of-concept studies, market analysis, and prototype development. The bill directly targets DC’s research institutions to strengthen local innovation capacity and support tech industry growth, addressing gaps in commercialization facilities. These provisions aim to diversify the District’s economy beyond federal government reliance by incentivizing collaboration and technology development within existing local institutions.

This bill authorizes the District of Columbia to issue up to $675 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds for Georgetown University's campus projects, without the District assuming financial liability. The bonds will refund previous District bonds used to fund specific university projects, including a new science center at 3700 O Street, renovations at law center facilities, and technology upgrades across multiple campus locations. The resolution explicitly states the District will not be liable for repayment, as the bonds are "without recourse to the District" and do not constitute a debt or pledge of the District's credit. This is a financing mechanism for Georgetown University, not a new public policy or service.