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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-204
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NOVEMBER 24, 2025
ToamendtheDayCarePolicyActof1979toupdatetheminimumsalarieschilddevelopmentfacilitiesmustpayassistantandleadteachersbeginninginJanuary2026toparticipatein
theEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityProgramandtoincorporatetheEarlyChildhoodEducatorEquitableCompensationTaskForceandtheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityFundintotheact;andtomakeconformingamendments.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedasthe“EarlyChildhood EducatorPay ScalesAmendment Actof 2025”,
Sec.2.TheDayCarePolicyActof1979,effectiveSeptember19,1979(D.C.Law3-16;D.C,OfficialCode§4-401efseq.)isamendedasfollows:
(a)Section2(D.C.OfficialCode§4-401)isamendedasfollows:
(1)A newparagraph(3A-i)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“@AGi)Theterm“community-basedorganization”meansaHeadStartorearlychildhoodeducationprogramoperatedbyanonprofitentity,faith-basedorganization,orother
entitythatparticipatesinfederallyfundedearlychildhoodprograms.”.
(2)Paragraph(4A)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“section5102oftheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityFundEstablishmentActof2021,effectiveNovember13,2021
(D.C.Law24-45;D.C,OfficialCode§1-325.431)”andinsertingthephrase“section11d”initsplace.
(3)Paragraph(4C)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“section11b(b)-(c)”andinsertingthephrase“section116”initsplace.
(4)A newparagraph(5C-i)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(SC-i)Theterm“subsidy”meanssupplementalpaymentsmadebytheMayorpursuanttosection5a.”.
(b)Section11a(D.C.OfficialCode§4-410.01)isamendedasfollows:
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(1)Subsection(b)isrepealed.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(2)Thelead-inlanguageinsubsection(¢)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(c)ByFebruary1,2024,andonatriennialbasisthereafter,OSSEshallconductacost
modelinganalysistoestimatethecostsofcareforchilddevelopmentfacilitiesintheDistrict,whichshallincorporatethecostofimplementingtheECEsalaryscaleestablishedandupdatedpursuanttosection116,andsubmitareporttotheCouncilthatincludes:”.
(c)Section11b (D.C.OfficialCode § 4-410.02)isamended as follows:
(1)Newsubsections(b-1)and(b
“(b-1)(1)FromJanuary1,2025,through
-2)areaddedtoreadasfollows:
December 31,2025,childdevelopment facilities
‘thatenterorhaveenteredintoa contractoragreementwiththeDepartmenttoreceivemonies
from theEarlyChildhoodEducatorPay EquityFund shalluse such monies to pay,atminimum,
thesalariesforassistantandleadteacherslisted.inthefollowingtables:
[Table1:AssistantTeacher Minimum Salaries
(CredentialLevel [Minimum Salary
‘DA. $51,006/year($24.52/hour)
[Associatedegreeorhigheror60hoursofcollege-levelcourseworkinanyfield '$54,262/year(§26.09/hout)
[Table2:Lead Teacher Minimum Salaries
(CredentialLevel inimumSalary
hhilddevelopmentcenterteacherorexpanded+hilddevelopmenthomecaregiverwithaCDA.
$51,006/year($24.52/hour)
‘hilddevelopmenthome caregiverwith a CDA. [$54,262/year($26.09/hour)
|Associatein ECE; associatewith atleast12
redithoursinECE; 60 collegecredithours
withatleast12 credithours inECE
{s63,838/year($30.69/hour)
IBachelor’sor higherinECE; orbachelor’sor
\igherwith atleast12 credithours inECE.
175,103/year($36.11/hour)
“(2)From January 1,2026, throu
monies from theEarlyChildhood EducatorPay
facilitiesthatenteror have enteredintoa contractor agreementwiththeDepartment toreceive
minimum, thesalariesforassistantand leadteacherslistedinthefollowingtables:
ighSeptember 30,2026, childdevelopment
EquityFund shalluse such monies topay,at
‘able1:AssistantTeacher Minimum Salaries
(CredentialLevel inimumSalary
ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
(CDA $48,736/year($23.43/hour)
\Associatedegreeor higheror 60 hoursof $51,576/year($24.80/hour)
ollege-levelcoursework inany field
[fable2:Lead Teacher Minimum Salaries
(CredentialLevel inimum Salary
(Childdevelopmentcenterteacherorexpanded_{48,736/year($23.43/hour)
‘childdevelopmenthomecaregiverwithaCDA
‘hilddevelopmenthome caregiverwitha CDA |$51,576/year($24.80/hour)
|AssociateinECE; associatewith atleast12 60,678/year($29.17/hour)
redithoursin ECE; 60 collegecredithours
ithatleast12 credithours inECE
‘Bachelor’sorhigherinECE; or bachelor’sor _|$71,010/year($34.14/hour)
1igherwithatleast12 credithoursinECE
“(b-2)TheDepartmentshallissueguidancetoassistchilddevelopmentfacilitieswithaligningtheminimumsalaryrequirementsinsubsections(b)and(b-1)ofthissectionwiththequalificationsforchilddevelopmentfacilityassistantandleadteachersithasestablishedby
regulation.”.
(2)Subsection(¢)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Paragraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(o\(1)BeginningFebruary1,2026,andannuallybyFebruary1thereafter,theDepartmentshallprovideapublicreporttotheCouncilandtothemembersoftheEarlyChildhoodEducatorEquitableCompensationTaskForcethatanalyzespossibleupdatestotheminimumsalariesforassistantandleadteachersforthefollowingfiscalyear.Theanalysisshallconsiderthesalarytablesprovidedinsubsection(b-1)ofthissectionftomthepast3years.The
reportshallinclude:
“(A)Recommendedminimumsalariesfortheupcomingfiscalyear,
adjustedtoreflecttheyear-over-yearpercentagechangeintheChainedConsumerPriceIndexforAllUrbanConsumersfortheWashington-Baltimore,DC-MD-VA-WVarea;
“(B)A comparisonoftheDistrict’scurrentminimumsalarieswiththose
insurroundingjurisdictions,includingeducatorsinpre-kindergartenandkindergartenclassrooms,andrecommendationsforkeepingDistrictsalariescompetitiveacrosstheregion;
“(C)A comparisonoftheDistrict’scurrentminimumsalarieswiththoseforcomparablepositionsunderthecurrentoperativecontractwiththeWashingtonTeachers”
Union;
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(D)An assessmentoftheprojectedfundingneededfortheupcoming
fiscalyeartomake fullpayments toallchilddevelopmentfacilitieswith existingagreements
withtheDepartmenttoimplementtheECE salaryscalebasedonthecurrentandrecommended
salaries;and
“(B)A discussionoftheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquity
Program’simpactsandoutcomes,andrecommendations,ifany,forimprovingtheprogram’s
impact,fundingformula,or administrativeoperationstoenhance outcomes and costefficacy.”.
(B)Paragraph(3)isrepealed.
(3)Subsection(d)(1)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Subparagraph(A)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;or”and
insertingasemicoloninitsplace.
(B) Subparagraph(B) isamended by strikingtheperiodand insertingthe
phrase“;or”initsplace.
(©)A newsubparagraph(C)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(C)Revise,consistentwithappropriations,theminimumsalaries
providedin subsection(b-1)of thissectionby ruleissuedpursuanttoTitleIof theDistrictof
Columbia AdministrativeProcedureAct,approved October21, 1968 (82 Stat.1024;D.C.
OffficialCode§2-501etseq.).”.
(4)A newsubsection(e)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(e)The ChiefFinancialOfficershallreporttotheCouncilon a quarterlybasisindicating
thefiscalyearexpendituresfromtheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityFund(“Fund”)to
dateand thetotalamountof fundsremainingintheFund. The reportshallbe submittedno later
than21daysfollowingtheendofeachquarter.”.
(d)Section11d (D.C.OfficialCode § 4-410.04)isrevivedand amended toreadas
follows:
“Sec.11d.EarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityFund.
“(a)ThereisestablishedasaspecialfundtheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityFund(“Fund”),whichshallbeacontinuationofthefundestablishedbytheEarlyChildhoodEducator
PayEquityFundEstablishmentActof2021,effectiveNovember13,2021(D.C.Law24-45;D.C.OfficialCode§1-325.431),andadministeredbytheDepartmentinaccordancewith,
subsection(c)ofthissection.
“(b)ThefollowingfundsshallbedepositedintotheFund:
“(1)InFiscalYear2022,$53,920,878inlocalfunds;
“(2)InFiscalYear2023,$72,889,092inlocalfunds;
“(3)InFiscalYear2024,$69,508,332inlocalfunds;
“(4)InFiscalYear2025,$70,000,000inlocalfunds;and
(5)InFiscalYear2026,$72,126,902inlocalfunds.
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
“(c)TheFundshallbeusedto:
“(L)SupporttheimplementationoftheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPay Equity
Program;
Subjecttoappropriations,reducehealthinsurancepremiumspaidbychilddevelopmentfacilities,oremployeesofchilddevelopmentfacilitieseligibletoreceivethe
minimumsalarieslistedinsection11b,pursuanttoanagreementwiththeDistrictofColumbiaHealthBenefitExchange;and
“(3)(A)PaytheDepartmentadministrativecostsrelatedtoimplementingtheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityProgram,whichmayinclude:
“@)Personnelandassociatednon-personnelcosts;
“(ii)Grantee or contractorcostsrelatedto distributingFund
monies;and
“(iii)Costsrelatedtoprovidingtechnicalassistancetochild
developmentfacilities.
“(B)Administrativecostsauthorizedtobe paidpursuanttosubparagraph.
(A)of this paragraphshallnotexceed 5% of the annualamount depositedintheFund.
“(@(1)MoneydepositedintotheFundbutnotexpendedinafiscalyearshallnotrevert
totheunassignedfund balanceof theGeneralFundofthe Districtof Columbia attheend ofa
fiscalyear,oratanytime.
“(2)Subjecttoauthorizationinanapprovedbudgetandfinancialplan,anyfunds
appropriatedintheFundshallbecontinuallyavailablewithoutregardtofiscalyearlimitation.
“(e)Unlessotherwiseprohibitedbyfederallaw,lump-sumpaymentsanindividual
receivesfrom theFund shallnot be countedas income or assets:
“(1)Forthepurposesofdeterminingeligibilityorcalculatingbenefitsunderthe
Districtof Columbia PublicAssistanceAct of 1982,effectiveApril6, 1982 (D.C.Law 4-101;
D.C.OfficialCode§4-201.01erseq.);and
“(2)Forthepurposeofdeterminingeligibilityorcalculatingbenefitsforthe
followingbenefitprograms:
“(A)D.C.HealthCareAlliance,referencedinsection8(2)ofthe
Department of HealthCare FinanceEstablishmentAct of 2007,effectiveFebruary27,2008
(D.C.Law 17-109;D.C.OfficialCode§7-771.07(2)),oranysubsequentprogramestablishedto
providepublichealthinsurancecoveragetoresidentsineligibleforMedicaid;
“(B) EducationalscholarshipstheDistrictadministerswithlocalfunds;
“(C) Home PurchaseAssistanceProgram,referencedinsection3a of the
Home PurchaseAssistanceFund Act of 1978,effectiveJuly1,2016 (D.C.Law 21-139;D.C.
OfficialCode § 42-2602.01);
ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
“(D)HousingsubsidyvouchersissuedthroughtheRentSupplement
Program, establishedby section26a of theDistrictof Columbia Housing AuthorityAct of 1999,
effectiveMarch 2,2007 (D.C.Law 16-192;D.C. OfficialCode § 6-226);
“(B)GrandparentCaregiverProgramestablishedbysection102ofthe
GrandparentCaregiversPilotProgram EstablishmentActof 2005,effectiveMarch 8,2006 (D.C.
Law 16-69;D.C. OfficialCode § 4-251.02);
“(F)Close RelativeCaregiverProgram,establishedby section102of the
Close RelativeCaregiverSubsidyPilotProgram EstablishmentAmendment Act of 2019,
effectiveNovember 26,2019 (D.C.Law 23-32;D.C. OfficialCode § 4-251.22);and
“(G)OtherDistrictgovernmentbenefitprogramsadministeredwithlocal
funds,includingStrongFamilies,StrongFutures.”.
(©)Anewsection15cisaddedtoreadasfollows:
“Sec.15c.EarlyChildhood EducatorEquitableCompensation Task Force.
“(a)There isestablishedby theCouncilan EarlyChildhood EducatorEquitable
Compensation Task Force (“TaskForce”),which shallhave,as of theeffectivedateof theEarly
ChildhoodEducatorPayScalesEmergencyAmendmentActof2025,passedonemergencybasis
on October 21,2025 (Enrolledversionof Bill 26-433)(“ECE Pay ScalesAmendment Act”),the
same members astheEarlyChildhood EducatorEquitableCompensation Task Force established
pursuanttotheEarlyChildhood EducatorEquitableCompensation Task ForceAct of 2021,
effectiveNovember 13,2021 (D.C.Law 24-45,D.C. OfficialCode § 38-2241 efseq.),untiltheir
successorsareappointed,
“(b)(1)The Task Force shallbe composed of theChairman of theCouncil,orhisorher
designee,theStateSuperintendentofEducation,orhisorherdesignee,and12Districtresidents,
appointedbytheChairman,representingthefollowingentitiesorgroups:
“(A)Familieswhosechildrenarereceivingorhavereceivedearly
childhoodeducationor childcareservicesfrom earlychildhooddevelopmentfacilitiesinthe
District;
“(B)Community-basedorganizations;
“(©)Earlychifdhoodeducationassociations,advocacyorresearch
organizations;
“(D)Operatorsofchilddevelopmentfacilitieswhoparticipateinthe
childcaresubsidyprograms;
“(E)Operatorsof childdevelopment facilitieswho do not currently
participateinthechildcaresubsidyprogram;
“(F)Operatorsofhome-basedchilddevelopmentfacilities;
«(G)Employeesofchilddevelopmentfacilities;and
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(H)Anindividualwithanexpertiseineconomiesorpolicy,whohasanunderstandingoftheDistrict’searlychildhooddevelopmentandeducationsector.
“@)Atleast2membersoftheTaskForceshallbeemployeesofchild
developmentfacilities,oneofwhomshallbeaparticipantintheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityProgram.
“(3)The Chairman, or hisor herdesignee,shallserveastheChairpersonof the
Task Force.
“(c)FollowingtheeffectivedateoftheECE PayScalesAmendmentAct,theTaskForce
shallconvene:
“(1)Atleastevery3rdcalendaryearstartingin2027;or
“(2)When deemed necessaryby theChairmanof theCouncil.
“(@)Within60daysaftertheDepartmentpublishesthereportrequiredpursuantto
section11b(c),theTask Force shallmeet and submita responsetotheCouncilthat:
“(1)ReviewstheDepartment'sreport,therecommended salaryscales,theEarly
ChildhoodEducatorPayEquityProgramfundingformula,andthestateoftheearlychildhood
educationworkforce;and
“(2)Makesrecommendationstoimprovesystemicsupports.
“(e)Should a vacancy occur on theTask Force aftertheeffectivedateof theECE Pay
ScalesAmendment Act,theChairman, inconsultationwith theStateSuperintendentof
Education,shallappointanindividualtofillthevacancywhosequalificationsandexperienceare
comparabletothoseof theindividualwho vacatedtherole,and whose appointmentmaintains
thecompositionrequirementssetforthinsubsection(b)ofthissection.”.
Sec.3.TheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityFundEstablishmentActof2021,effectiveNovember13,2021(D.C.Law24-45;D.C,OfficialCode§1-325.431),isrepealed.
Sec.4,TheEarlyChildhoodEducatorEquitableCompensationTaskForceActof2021,effectiveNovember13,2021(D.C.Law24-45,D.C.OfficialCode§38-2241etseq.),isrepealed.
Sec.5.TheEarlyChildhoodEducatorPayEquityFundAmendmentActof2025,enactedonSeptember4,2025(D.C.Act26-148;72DCR9825),isamendedasfollows:
(a)Section4032isrepealed.
(b)Section4033(b)(2)isrepealed.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec.6.The second section2(b)(1)of theEarlyChildhoodEducatorPay Scales
Emergency Amendment Act of 2025,passedon emergency basison October21,2025 (Enrolled
versionof Bill 26-433),isrepealed.
Sec.7.Fiscalimpactstatement.
TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommitteereportasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.8. Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
) foe
CounciloftheDistrictofColumbia
Districtof Columbia
APPROVED
NOVEMBER 24, 2025
[]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
DxJACTION
[X]VOTEDATE
[xX]VOICEVOTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
‘ABSENT
[JROLLCALLVOTE~Result
COUNCILOF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DG,20004
FirstReading
October21,2025
Approved
“SecretaryfotheCound
DocketNo.826-0176
[ ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XJACTION
[]VOTEDATE
Da voicevoTe
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE—Result
Member|
ChairmanMendelson)x
Allen
Bonds
Felder
Frumin
eae
| NVPravent,Not
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
FinalReading
November4,2025,
Approved
Nadeau
Parker
‘Absent
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
ety 4 Te)S