Education & Opportunity.

Public school enrollment in Washington, D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) has grown steadily in recent years. Yet growth alone does not equal success.

Today, only one in five students in the District meet college-ready SAT benchmarks, roughly half the national average. Enrollment without improved outcomes is not progress; it’s drift.

At the same time, chronic absenteeism in Washington, D.C. public schools has surged. When I was in school during the 2014–2015 academic year, absenteeism hovered around 10 percent. By the 2023–2024 school year, that number had nearly tripled to close to 30 percent, with middle school students among those most affected.

This is not a failure of our children.

It is a failure of coordination, attention, and sustained investment in the systems meant to support them.

Students cannot thrive when the structures around them are unstable. Strong schools require consistent leadership, accessible support systems, and policies that recognize the realities families face every day.

I, as your next Mayor, will treat education reform in Washington, D.C. as a whole-community effort that addresses academic performance, student well-being, and family stability.

“ABCs of Learning Act”

• Attendance

• Behavior

• Course Direction
  
  We will ensure that every student has access to:

• Mental health counselors in every school, strengthening student wellbeing and crisis support.

• Expanded after-school programs, that nourish both body and mind through academic enrichment, arts, athletics, and mentorship

• Early-warning data systems, that identify struggling students quickly and connect them with support services before small challenges become lifelong barriers

These reforms will strengthen Washington, D.C.’s public education system by ensuring that every student is surrounded by the care, stability, and opportunity they deserve.

“Pipeline to Employment Act”

Through apprenticeship pipelines. Every student in Washington, D.C. will be aligned with the District’s existing Moonshot goal of achieving an 80 percent college graduation rate. But we should not stop there:

Our standard must be 100 percent student success, measured across multiple pathways that recognize the different ambitions, talents, and goals of District students.

The mission of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) must extend beyond graduation. It must prepare every student for a stable and meaningful future, whether through higher education, skilled careers, or entrepreneurship.

As we expand access to higher education, we will also strengthen real-world pathways that allow young people to build stable and fulfilling lives in Washington, D.C. :

• Career-connected learning:
  Students will gain access to expanded internships, apprenticeships, and career-connected learning programs that link classroom education with real workforce experience across industries in Washington, D.C.

• Empowered community colleges:
  Community colleges and workforce training programs will be strengthened through expanded dual-credit opportunities, early academic support, and lifelong learning pathways that begin as early as prenatal and early childhood development programs.
  
  1 Credit per year, per child for their entire grade school term, equaling 18 college credits by senior year, with 1 extra credit given for the parents who attend optional governmental prenatal preparation classes and 1 and 1.5 credits given to the Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Totaling to 20 - 20.5 credits to use freely at any accredited institution.

• Structured transition programs for ages 18 to 27:
  New transition programs will support residents ages 18 through 27, ensuring young adults have access to workforce training, higher education guidance, and mentorship programs that provide a clear pathway to stability and purpose.

Every young adult in Washington, D.C. deserves a clear on-ramp to opportunity, regardless of their background or starting point.

A city that truly believes in its people does not abandon them at graduation. It builds systems that guide them forward.

Through coordinated investments in education, workforce development, and student support systems, Washington, D.C. can transform aspiration into assurance.

This is how we strengthen the District of Columbia Public Schools and ensure that every student is carried forward toward opportunity, dignity, and a future worth building via the “Human Life Standard”.