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Committee advances Schools First Amendment Act after debate over hold-harmless and budget formula
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Summary
The committee moved Bill 26-327 to print with leave for staff after members debated changes to the Schools First budgeting law, including adding average position cost to the formula and preventing budget cuts tied to eliminating school-based support personnel. Members sought hold-harmless language and data on enrollment impacts.
The Schools First Amendment Act of 2026 (Bill 26-327) was moved by the chair with the committee report and leave for staff to make technical and conforming changes after robust member discussion about its scope and effects.
The bill amends the Schools First in Budgeting framework to require school budgets to increase by the highest of three measures: the projected increase in the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF), collectively bargained teacher salary increases, or the increase in the average position cost. It also clarifies that DC Public Schools (DCPS) cannot reduce school budgets based solely on eliminating school-based support personnel and allows budget reductions only in connection with school or campus closures (including phased closures). The chair said the changes aim to provide stability and better reflect the real costs of staffing.
Council member Allen (S8) welcomed the work but said the bill was missing "hold harmless" language to protect schools temporarily operating in swing spaces, noting that enrollment drops during modernization can force staff losses even if enrollment later rebounds. "I'm supporting this today and look forward to supporting it first reading, but I also would like to work with you to include our hold harmless language," Allen said.
Council member Anderson (S9) pressed committee staff on prior DCPS opposition at an earlier hearing and asked about long-term funding implications and whether the formula's mechanics could lead to persistent budget increases. The chair and staff explained that the bill retains a mechanism to treat de minimis budget swings as not requiring changes and that DCPS was more supportive at the hearing than previously. The legislation and report were advanced with leave for staff to finalize language ahead of first reading.
Members and staff discussed data collection and whether the committee or DCPS maintains analyses showing the instructional impact when schools lose staff due to enrollment declines. The chair said committee practice and the report would guide future application of the formula and that staff would meet with members to discuss potential hold-harmless language before first reading. The committee approved the printed report unanimously.
