Read the full stored bill text
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA The John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20004
Statement of Introduction Future Smiles Pilot Program Establishment Amendment Act of 2025 October 6, 2025 Today, I am proud to introduce the Future Smiles Pilot Program Establishment Amendment Act of 2025, along with Councilmembers Matthew Frumin, Zachary Parker, Anita Bonds, Janeese Lewis George, and Brooke Pinto. This legislation would establish a two-year pilot program providing two cohorts of high school students in School Years 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 with the coursework and hands-on experience necessary to become Level II Dental Assistants in the District of Columbia. Dental assistants are healthcare professionals who support dentists and patients in both clinical and administrative capacities. In the District, there are three levels of dental assistants, with Level II Dental Assistants performing advanced duties such as taking impressions, fitting crowns, and assisting with restorative procedures. To qualify as a Level II Dental Assistant, individuals must earn a high school diploma, complete an accredited educational program, or obtain certification from the Dental Assisting National Board. The critical role these professionals play in healthcare provision highlights the need to develop the dental assistant pipeline in the District. A 2023 survey by the ADA Health Policy Institute, which polled 1,000 dentists, found that nearly half reported performing duties previously handled by dental hygienists, assistants, or administrative staff compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic1. This shift not only increases the burden on dentists but also undermines the efficiency and quality of patient care. By offering high school students a pathway to certification as Level II Dental Assistants, the Future Smiles pilot program will strengthen the District’s oral healthcare workforce, improve patient access to oral health care, and expand career opportunities for young people immediately upon graduation. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) administers the District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program through its Division of Postsecondary and Career Education, providing students with access to high-quality, career-focused coursework in across several industries. Within the CTE program, the Health Sciences Cluster offers students a foundation for careers in critical, high-demand health sectors. If successful, the Future Smiles pilot program could become a permanent course offering within this cluster, complementing existing programs while creating a clear pathway into an essential healthcare profession the District urgently needs. This legislation reflects a commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers while addressing critical workforce gaps. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this pilot program and ensure that our youth have access to opportunities that align with both their aspirations and the District’s needs. 1 ADA Communications Trend Report: 2023. https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/about/press-releases/2023_trend_report_-_8-9-23.pdf
Christina Henderson Committee Member Councilmember, At-Large Human Services Chairperson, Committee on Health Facilities Transportation and the Environment
_____________________________ _____________________________ 1 Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Christina Henderson 2 3 4 _____________________________ _____________________________ 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker Councilmember Anita Bonds 6 7 8 _____________________________ _____________________________ 9 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Brooke Pinto 10 11 12 13 A BILL 14 15 _______________ 16 17 18 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 19 20 _______________________ 21 22 To amend the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000 to establish the Future Smiles 23 Pilot program to provide a Level II Dental Assistant career preparation course and work 24 experience for high school students enrolled at participating local educational agencies. 25 26 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 27 act may be cited as the “Future Smiles Pilot Program Establishment Amendment Act of 2025”. 28 Sec. 2. The State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 29 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code § 38-2601 et seq.), is amended by adding a new 30 section 7m to read as follows: 31 “Sec. 7m. Future Smiles pilot program. 32 “(a) In School Year 2027-2028, OSSE shall establish a Level II Dental Assistant career 33 preparation course for high school students enrolled in participating local educational agencies, 34 through a partnership with a dental educational program approved by the Board of Dentistry or 35
accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (“CODA”). The pilot program shall 36 operate for 2 school years and serve 2 classes of students. 37 “(b) The course shall provide classroom instruction by a CODA-approved dental school 38 or facility to train students to become Level II Dental Assistants, including training students to 39 pass the certification examination. 40 “(c) Funds appropriated for the program established by this section shall be used to: 41 “(1) Compensate participating students competitively; 42 “(2) Cover transportation costs of participating students; and 43 “(3) Cover program instructional and student activities costs. 44 “(d) Following the graduation of the 2027-2028 class, OSSE shall administer a student 45 satisfaction survey to participants and, by September 30, 2028, publish the results of the survey 46 and transmit them, along with a blank copy of the survey, to the Council, the Chancellor of the 47 District of Columbia Public Schools, and the Deputy Mayor of Education. 48 “(e) Following the graduation of the 2028-2029 class, OSSE shall administer a student 49 satisfaction survey to participants and, by September 30, 2029, publish the results of the survey 50 and transmit them, along with a blank copy of the survey, to the Council, the Chancellor of the 51 District of Columbia Public Schools, and the Deputy Mayor of Education. 52 “(f) The 2024-2028 District of Columbia Career and Technical State Plan shall include a 53 report summarizing the outcomes of the program’s 2027-2028 class, including: 54 "(1) The total number of participants enrolled in the program; 55 "(2) The total number of participants who successfully completed the program; 56 "(3) The total number of participants who attempted and the number who passed 57 the Certified Dental Assistant examination; 58
"(4) Available demographic data of participants, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, 59 gender, grade level, and ward of residence; 60 "(5) The number of program graduates who successfully completed the program 61 and passed the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination, disaggregated by the following 62 employment outcomes within one year of graduation; 63 "(6) The number who acquired full-time employment in a dental office or dental-64 related setting; 65 "(7) The number who acquired part-time employment in a dental office or dental-66 related setting; 67 "(8) Type of employer, categorized as: 68 “(A) Private dental practice; 69 “(B) Community-based clinic; 70 “(C) School-based dental clinic; 71 “(D) Hospital or medical center; and 72 “(E) Other type of employment; 73 "(9) Whether the employment was obtained through or in connection with a 74 program partner organization; and 75 "(10) Any additional information OSSE deems necessary to evaluate the 76 effectiveness of the program. 77 “(g) Following the graduation of the 2028-2029 class, OSSE shall publish the report on 78 the program’s outcomes, as specified in (f), on their website by December 1, 2029, or include it 79 in the 2028-2032 Career and Technical Education State Plan. 80
“(h) For the purposes of this section, the term “Level II Dental Assistant” means an 81 individual who is registered by the Board of Dentistry and who has met the education and 82 certification requirements for Level II, and who, under direct supervision of a licensed dentist, is 83 authorized to perform all functions permitted to a Level I Dental Assistant in addition to: 84 “(1) Performing vitality tests; 85 “(2) Taking alginate impressions for intraoral appliances; 86 “(3) Applying desensitizing agents; 87 “(4) Placing or removing a rubber dam; 88 “(5) Etching; 89 “(6) Fabricating indirect restorations in a dental office; 90 “(7) Placing or removing a matrix band; 91 “(8) Drying a root canal; 92 “(9) Preparing and fitting stainless steel crowns; 93 “(10) Preparing temporary crowns; 94 “(11) Removing excess cement; and 95 “(12) Removing or placing a periodontal dressing (except placing the original 96 periodontal dressing).”. 97 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 98 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 99 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 100 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 101 Sec. 4. Effective date. 102
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 103 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review 104 as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 105 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 106