Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on funding within this resolution, only that it was included in a previous act.

Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Declaration

This resolution declares an emergency to extend the truancy pilot program that directs schools to refer students with unexcused absences to the Department of Human Services until a final report is completed.

What This Bill Does

• Declares an emergency situation related to reducing student absenteeism in District of Columbia schools.
• Requires the Mayor to continue a one-year truancy pilot program involving five schools.
• Funds $3.38 million for expanding truancy prevention services at the Department of Human Services (DHS).
• Extends the requirements of an earlier temporary act until August 15, 2025, when a final report on the pilot's outcomes is due.
• Requires DHS to document attendance and academic results of students receiving interventions.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students with unexcused absences in District of Columbia schools.
• Schools participating in the truancy reduction pilot program.
• The Department of Human Services (DHS) which will handle referrals from schools.
• The Mayor who is required to implement and fund the program.

Terms To Know

Truancy

Unexcused absence from school.

Department of Human Services (DHS)

The agency responsible for providing social services and support to individuals in need, including those involved with the truancy reduction program.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what actions will be taken if the pilot program is successful or unsuccessful.
• Only extends the temporary act until August 15, 2025, when a final report on the outcomes of the truancy reduction efforts must be submitted.

Official Summary Text

Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

A RESOLUTION

26-131

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

June 3, 2025

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to direct the Mayor to
establish a truancy pilot for the purpose of referring students with unexcused absences to
the Department of Human Services and documenting attendance and academic outcomes
of students receiving interventions from the Department of Human Services.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Declaration Resolution of
2025”.

Sec. 2. (a) Funding of $3.38 million was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 Local Budget
Act of 2024, effective September 18, 2024 (D.C. Law 25-218; 71 DCR 8366), for the expansion
of truancy prevention services at the Department of Human Services (“DHS”). On July 9, 2024,
the Council passed the Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Amendment Act of 2024, effective
July 23, 2024 (D.C. Act 25-529; 71 DCR 9599) (“emergency act”), followed by passage, on
September 17, 2024, of the Pilot Truancy Reduction Temporary Amendment Act of 2024,
effective November 27, 2024 (D.C. Law 25-228; 71 DCR 12352) (“temporary act”).
(b) The emergency and temporary acts sought to test the effectiveness of the Mayor’s
proposal to redirect truancy referrals in our schools to DHS through a one-year, 5-school pilot
program.
(c) The final report on the outcomes of the truancy pilot is due August 15, 2025, but the
temporary act is set to expire on July 10, 2025. Emergency legislation is therefore necessary to
extend the requirements of the temporary act until the final report is furnished.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Pilot
Truancy Reduction Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.