Our Statement on Mayor Bowser’s FY26 Budget Proposal

The DC Students Succeed Coalition thanks Mayor Muriel Bowser for her continued commitment to public education and for prioritizing students and families in her Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal. In the face of difficult economic conditions and indefensible federal reductions to the District’s FY25 budget, the Mayor has made clear that the education and well-being of DC’s young people remain a top priority.

The Mayor’s FY26 proposal includes critical investments that reflect the importance of educational equity and opportunity. We applaud the $2.8 billion allocated for education – an increase of $123 million over last year – and the $270 million set aside for teacher pay raises across DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools. We also appreciate the focus on infrastructure, including $2 billion for school modernizations and $148 million for essential facility upgrades, which support safe and effective learning environments.

We are encouraged by continued investments in early learning, including full funding for childcare subsidies, the Pay Equity Fund, and the Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP). The Mayor’s proposed budget also includes a one-time $3 million investment in high-impact tutoring, $6 million for Safe Passage initiatives in Wards 7 and 8, and funding for out-of-school time grants. These investments demonstrate an understanding of the comprehensive support students need to thrive.

We recognize this is a budget shaped by tough choices. Given the fiscal uncertainty ahead, including anticipated revenue shortfalls, there are very real pressures on future education funding. At the same time, the proposal continues disparities in funding based on which public schools students attend. We are especially concerned about proposed reductions to per student funding beginning in FY27 and the zeroing out of facilities allotment increases for public charter schools.

While we appreciate the Mayor’s statements expressing her desire to make education budgets whole in subsequent annual budget processes, we urge the Council to invest equitably in ALL public school students’ success and provide certainty to schools, students, and families by reinstating future commitments to education.

As Council deliberations begin, we urge Councilmembers to build on the Mayor’s proposals by strengthening and protecting investments in the most critical programs for DC’s students, particularly in areas like mental health supports, out-of-school time programs, career pathways, and attendance interventions.

The District’s young people cannot bear the brunt of budgetary uncertainty. We look forward to working with the Council and the Mayor to ensure every child in every ward has access to well-resourced, high-quality public schools that make achievement possible.