Work-based Learning Amendment Act of 2025

Education Labor

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Parker
Last action: 2025-10-10
Official status: Under Council Review
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not define 'work-based learning' directly; it only requires evaluating the current definition.

Work-based Learning Amendment Act of 2025

This bill directs the Deputy Mayor for Education to submit a plan requiring work-based learning as part of high school graduation requirements by 2035.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Deputy Mayor for Education to submit a report within 12 months after the law takes effect.
Asks officials to evaluate and define what activities count as work-based learning for high school credit.
Directs officials to create a proposal for financial incentives for employers who offer these programs.
Requires a plan to make at least one work-based learning experience part of graduation requirements for all D.C. high school students by 2035.
Requires the report to list challenges in coordinating these opportunities across government agencies.

Who It Names or Affects

The Deputy Mayor for Education
High school students in the District of Columbia
Employers who may offer work-based learning programs

Terms To Know

Work-based Learning: Activities and experiences that qualify as real-world training for high school credit.
Graduation Requirements: The specific tasks or courses a student must finish to receive their diploma.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill requires a plan but does not set the final rules for work-based learning yet.
It proposes financial incentives for employers but does not specify exactly what they will be.
The law cannot take effect until approved by the Mayor, reviewed by Congress for 30 days, and published in the District of Columbia Register.

Bill History

2025-10-10 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0410 Published in the District of Columbia Register
2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Referred to Committee of the Whole
2025-10-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
B26-0410 Introduced by Councilmember Parker at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Work-based Learning Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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________________________________ ________________________________ 2
Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Zachary Parker 3
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_______________________________ 6
Councilmember Janeese Lewis-George 7
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A BILL 10
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_________________________ 12
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
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To amend The Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007 to direct the Deputy Mayor 18
for Education to submit a plan to require work-based learning to be a part of graduation 19
requirements by 2035. 20
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this 22
act may be cited as the “Work-based Learning Amendment Act of 2025”. 23
Sec. 2. Section 203b of The Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007, effective 24
June 12, 2007 (D.C. Law 17-9; D.C. Official Code 38-192.02 et seq.), is amended by adding a 25
new subsection (c) to read as follows: 26
“(c) Within 12 months after the effective date of the Work-based Learning Amendment 27
Act of 2025, the Deputy Mayor for Education shall provide a report to the Council which shall: 28
“(1) Evaluate the District's definition of work-based learning, which clearly 29
defines the set of activities and experiences that qualify as work-based learning for school credit 30
for high-school students; 31
“(2) Create a proposal for providing financial incentives to employers engaging in 32
work-based learning; 33

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“(3) Create a plan to require all high-school students have at least one work-based 34
learning program of study or other direct experience as part of city-wide graduation requirements 35
by 2035; and 36
“(4) Outline any challenges that exist to coordinating work-based learning 37
opportunities across government.”. 38
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 39
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 40
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 41
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 42
Sec. 4. Effective date. 43
This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 44
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 45
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 46
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 47
Columbia Register. 48