{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-291","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 38-291","heading":"Co-location of early childhood education microcenters in public school buildings.","body":"(a)\nBy May 31, 2027, the District of Columbia Public Schools (\"DCPS\"), in coordination with the Department of General Services, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, the Department of Buildings, and any other relevant District agencies or stakeholders, shall conduct a planning and design study to assess the feasibility of establishing early childhood education microcenters in public school buildings. The study shall:\n(1)\nAssess the facility, licensing, operational, staffing, and funding requirements for microcenters;\n(2)\nEvaluate how microcenters and existing in-school early childhood centers could support educator recruitment and retention in the District;\n(3)\nRecommend policy changes necessary to implement microcenters and prioritize the children of educators and staff in existing in-school early childhood centers;\n(4)\nInclude a cost-modeling analysis for the implementation of at least 3 microcenters that includes tiered levels of tuition based on childcare costs, savings from rent and facilities costs, and school employees' salary scales; and\n(5)\nRecommend timelines and costs for implementing 3 or more microcenters.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nBy September 30, 2027, based on the findings in the planning and design study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, DCPS, in consultation with the Deputy Mayor for Education, shall identify not fewer than 3 school buildings to host microcenters for the purpose of providing infant and toddler child care for children of educators and staff at the host school and nearby schools. Each selected school building shall include at least one classroom or comparable space suitable for conversion into a licensed child development center serving infants, toddlers, or both.\n(2)\nIn selecting host sites, DCPS shall consider:\n(A)\nThe demonstrated need among educators and staff at the host school and nearby schools;\n(B)\nGeographic location of the host schools, with an emphasis on whether the host site is located where educators and staff at multiple schools may reasonably access childcare;\n(C)\nWhether the host school has underutilized classroom space or other suitable space that may be converted into a childcare facility without reducing instructional programming space for enrolled students, taking into consideration the school's current and projected enrollment and future plans to modernize the school;\n(D)\nThe feasibility and cost of retrofitting the space to comply with applicable child development facility licensing, building, and safety requirements; and\n(E)\nThe availability of age-appropriate outdoor space.\n\n(c)\n(1)\nDCPS shall enter into a lease for a minimum of 5 years with one or more child development facility operators, community-based organizations, or other qualified entities to operate each microcenter at the host schools selected pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.\n(2)\nThe agreement shall specify:\n(A)\nThe responsibilities of DCPS, including facilities maintenance, utilities, security, custodial services, repairs, and capital improvements;\n(B)\nThe responsibilities of the operator to obtain and maintain all required licenses, certifications, and appropriate staffing levels;\n(C)\nThe tuition structure for educators and staff at the host and nearby schools, including how any reduced facilities costs will be reflected in reduced tuition;\n(D)\nThe use of shared or ancillary spaces;\n(E)\nEnrollment procedures for microcenter children; and\n(F)\nHealth, safety, emergency, and host and family communication procedures.\n\n(d)\nEnrollment in a microcenter shall be prioritized as follows:\n(1)\nChildren of teachers and assistant teachers employed at the host school who are also District residents;\n(2)\nChildren of non-teaching staff, including administrators, support staff, and non-instructional staff employed at the host school who are also District residents;\n(3)\nChildren of teachers and assistant teachers employed at nearby DCPS schools who are also District residents;\n(4)\nChildren of non-teaching staff, including administrators, support staff, and non-instructional staff employed at nearby DCPS schools who are also District residents;\n(5)\nChildren of teachers and assistant teachers employed at the host school who are not District residents;\n(6)\nChildren of non-teaching staff, including administrators, support staff, and non-instructional staff employed at the host school who are not District residents;\n(7)\nChildren of teachers and assistant teachers employed at nearby DCPS schools who are not District residents;\n(8)\nChildren of non-teaching staff, including administrators, support staff, and non-instructional staff employed at nearby DCPS schools who are not District residents; and\n(9)\nChildren of staff at the microcenter.\n\n(e)\nFor the purposes of this section, the term:\n(1)\n\"Child development facility\" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 4-401(2B).\n(2)\n\"Community-based organization\" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 4-401(3A-i).\n(3)\n\"Infant\" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 4-401(4D).\n(4)\n\"Microcenter\" means a licensed child development facility located inside a DCPS building that provides childcare services to infants, toddlers, or both and has a licensed capacity of not more than 12 children.\n(5)\n\"Nearby\" means within a 2-mile radius of the host school.\n(6)\n\"Toddler\" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 4-401(7).","path":["Title 38. Educational Institutions.","Chapter 2C. Early Childhood Education Microcenters."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/38-291","current_through":"2026-10-22 (D.C. Law 26-190)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-10-26T05:48:18Z","sha256":"6b8c378312ba41f654980f8efe68af123bc1e3fee7aa1d12c0d3fd16b28a2af8","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-285","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-301"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}