D.C. Code § 38-2619: Fifty Dollar a Week Pilot Program.

(a)

By May 1, 2027, OSSE shall contract with an organization that has experience assessing the effectiveness of a cash transfer program for high school students, including the impact of direct cash transfers on financial literacy, student wellbeing, school attendance, and academic achievement, to design and administer a Fifty Dollar a Week Pilot Program ("Pilot Program"), consistent with the requirements of this section.

(b)

By July 1, 2027, the contract awardee shall:

(1)

Design and publish a methodology for assigning students at participating schools to control and intervention groups;

(2)

Design and publish a methodology for measuring the impact of the Pilot Program on financial literacy, student wellbeing, school attendance, and academic achievement;

(3)

Identify an appropriate method to disburse the weekly direct cash stipend;

(4)

Issue a call for applications to all participating schools; and

(5)

Select participating schools at which the Pilot Program will run during School Year 2027-2028.

(c)

The contract awardee shall:

(1)

Assign students to control and intervention groups in accordance with the methodology designed pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section;

(2)

Disburse the weekly direct cash stipend to participating students in accordance with the method identified pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of this section;

(3)

Invite students at participating schools to enroll in the Pilot Program;

(4)

Enroll eligible students in the Pilot Program;

(5)

Administer the weekly direct cash stipend for a period of 40 weeks to eligible students participating in the Pilot Program;

(6)

By March 31, 2028, submit a preliminary report that describes the schools and students selected for the Pilot Program and the impact of direct cash transfers as measured by the methodology developed pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section through the first half of the school year;

(7)

By September 30, 2028, publish a final report, that evaluates the efficacy of the Pilot Program and includes the following:

(A)

A description of how students utilized the cash stipend; and

(B)

A quantitative evaluation of the impact of the direct cash transfers on financial literacy, student wellbeing, school attendance, and academic achievement; and

(8)

Transmit both the preliminary and final reports required pursuant to paragraphs (6) and (7) of this subsection to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education and the Council of the District of Columbia.

(d)

For the purposes of this section, the term:

(1)

"Direct cash stipend" means recurring cash provided directly to high school students.

(2)

"Participating school" means a public or public charter high school primarily serving students ages 14 to 18 with an at-risk student population that exceeds 60% of the school's total enrollment that is participating in the Pilot Program.

(3)

"Eligible student" means a student enrolled in a participating school whose parent or guardian consents, consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, approved August 21, 1974 (88 Stat. 571; 20 U.S.C. § 1232g), to the student's participation in the Pilot Program.