Education (K-12 Education)

This bill allows parents in the District of Columbia more flexibility regarding when their children must start school and which grade they can enroll in. It permits minors born between June 16 and September 30 to defer kindergarten enrollment for one year if they remain enrolled in a licensed childcare program or a pre-kindergarten class. Additionally, the legislation expands enrollment options for children born during this period, enabling them to apply for Pre-K3, Pre-K4, or kindergarten depending on their specific age at the start of the school year. To support these changes, the District must update its public school lottery application process to accommodate these new enrollment categories.

This resolution authorizes the District of Columbia to issue up to $30.5 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds to help St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School fund and refinance its school facilities. The funds will specifically support improvements at the school's existing campuses and the construction of a new 33,000-square-foot middle school building. The legislation ensures that the District has no financial liability for these bonds, meaning the school itself is responsible for repaying the debt.

This resolution approves two contract modifications ($61.46 million total) for Smoot Construction Company to build and stabilize the DC Infrastructure Academy at Spingarn High School. It specifically authorizes payment for additional construction work under Contract No. DCAM-22-CS-RFP-0019, including $999,990 for Modification No. 6 (already implemented) and $2,099,032 for proposed Modification No. 7. The resolution designates this as an emergency to expedite approval under District law, requiring only a single reading by the Council. The direct effect is enabling Smoot Construction to continue work on the academy project without further budgetary delays.

This resolution confirms Mayor Bowser's appointment of Cambridge Worrell-Smith to fill a vacant seat on the Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes. The commission, established by D.C. Law 21-261 (2016), oversees youth programs outside regular school hours. Worrell-Smith, a Ward 5 high school student, will serve the remainder of an unexpired term ending November 7, 2026. The resolution requires the Council to formally approve the appointment and transmit the resolution to the nominee and Mayor's office.

The Youth Financial Literacy Pilot Amendment Act of 2025 would establish a three-year pilot program providing a $50 weekly direct cash payment to eligible high school students in District of Columbia public or charter schools with over 40% at-risk students. The District’s education office would contract an evaluator to administer the stipends, enroll students (with parental consent), and study impacts on wellbeing, attendance, and financial literacy. Participating schools must commit to full-year enrollment, and the program requires annual reports on outcomes to the education office and Council. This is a concrete policy change focused on direct financial support for students, not on legislative procedures or commemorative actions.

The Future Smiles Pilot Program Establishment Amendment Act of 2025 creates a two-year pilot program for high school students in the District of Columbia during the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years. It establishes a Level II Dental Assistant career preparation course through partnerships with accredited dental programs, providing classroom training, certification exam preparation, and covering student compensation, transportation, and program costs. The program directly affects participating DC high school students and OSSE (Office of the State Superintendent of Education), aiming to build a dental assistant workforce pipeline. OSSE must publish student satisfaction surveys and program outcome reports, including certification pass rates and demographic data, after each cohort graduates. If successful, the program could become a permanent career pathway within the District's Health Sciences Cluster of Career and Technical Education.