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Councilmember Trayon White

Councilmember David Grosso

AN ACT
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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To amend the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula for Public Schools and Public Charter
Schools Act of 1998 to amend the definition of at-risk to include a Pre-k age student
receiving education services at a community based organization; and to amend the State
Education Office Establishment Act of 2000 to establish a pilot program to provide a
facility allowance to high quality child development centers and child development
homes that meet certain criteria.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
act may be cited as the Early Learning Equity in Funding Amendment Act of 2017..
Sec. 2. The Uniform Per Student Funding Formula for Public Schools and Public Charter

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Schools Act of 1998, effective March 26, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-207; D.C. Official Code 38-2901

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et seq.) is amended as follows:

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(a) Section 102 (D.C. Official Code 38-2901) is amended as follows:

(1) Paragraph (2A) is amended by striking the phrase DCPS student or a public

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charter school student and inserting the phrase DCPS student, public charter school student, or

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Pre-K age student receiving education services at a community based organization in its place.

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(2) A new paragraph (2C) is added to read as follows:

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(2C) Community based organization means a Head Start or early childhood

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education program operated by a nonprofit entity, faith-based organization, or other entity that

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participates in federally funded early childhood programs..

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(3) New paragraphs (8A) and (8B) are added to read as follows:

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(8A) Pre-K means the educational gradation available to children of pre-

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kindergarten age for the 2 years prior to their eligibility for enrollment in kindergarten.

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(8B) Pre-K age means children 3 or 4 years of age, and children who become 5
years of age after September 30th of the upcoming school year..

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(b) Section 106 (D.C. Official Code 38-2905) is amended as follows:

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(1) A new paragraph (a-1) to read as follows:

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(a-1)(1) In addition to the local funding for education programs for children of

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pre-k age, additional allocations shall be provided on the basis of the count of students identified

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as at-risk.

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(2) The at-risk allocation payment shall be made in the form of four equal
quarterly payments in the same manner as public charter schools..

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(2) Paragraph (b) is amended by striking the phrase subsection (a) and inserting
the phrase subsections (a) and (a-1) in its place.

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Sec. 3. Section 3(b) of the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective

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October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code 38-2602(b)) is amended as follows:

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(a) Paragraph (23) is amended by striking the phrase ; and and inserting a semicolon in
its place.

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(b) Paragraph (24) is amended by striking the period and inserting the phrase ;and in its
place.
(c) A new paragraph (25) is added to read as follows:

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(25) Implement and administer the child development facility allowance pilot
program established by section 7h..

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(d) A new section 7h is added to read as follows:

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Sec. 7h. Child Development Centers and Homes Facility Allowance Pilot Program.

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(a)(1) OSSE shall establish a competitive pilot program to provide a facility allowance

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to high quality child development centers and child development homes that meet certain

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criteria.

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(2) Each pilot participant shall, at minimum:

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(i) Be a licensed child development facility that has a contract with the
OSSE to provide care for eligible children under the Subsidized Child Care Program;

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(ii) Have a comprehensive curriculum or program that is aligned with

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federal Head Start Program Performance Standards and the Districts early learning and

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development standards for serving infants, toddlers, and their families;

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(iii) Meet the gold level standard of the OSSEs quality rating and
improvement system;

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(iv) Have at least 50 percent of children served be eligible for child care
subsidy;

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(v) Participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; and

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(vi) Provide information and data to OSSE on operational costs and

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annual revenues.
(b)(1) For fiscal year 2018, the per pupil facility allowance for child development
centers and child development homes selected for the pilot program shall be $1000.

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(2) The facility allowance set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be

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multiplied by the number of children enrolled at the participating child development center and

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child development home based on the number of children enrolled on August 15.

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(3) The first half of the facility payment shall be made on October 30. The
second half of the facility payment shall be made on April 30.
(c) OSSE shall collect data and information on the impact of the facility allowance on
pilot participants delivery of services to children and families, and operational financials..

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Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.

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The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal

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impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,

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approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code 1-206.02 (c)(3)).

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Sec. 5. Effective date.

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This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the

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Mayor, action by Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review as

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provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December

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24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of

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Columbia Register.