D.C. Council Legislative Meeting - June 9, 2026

The Council of the District of Columbia held a legislative meeting on June 9, 2026, at 5:24 PM in Room 500 of the Johnny Wilson Building, chaired by Chairman Phil Mendelson. The meeting began with a moment of silence and a quorum call. The consent agenda was adopted unanimously, followed by passage of the fiscal year 2027 local budget and budget support acts. The primary debate centered on a disapproval resolution for the iReady (Curriculum Associates) contract, which was ultimately withdrawn after extensive discussion and commitments from DCPS.

Consent Calendar

• Three ceremonial resolutions were adopted unanimously by consent without objection.
• Councilmember Parker clarified that Councilmember Trayon White co-sponsored the LGBTQI+ resolution but missed the deadline; that co-sponsorship was noted for the record.
• Councilmember Bonds expressed concern about a delivery fee in the BSA but did not move to remove items from the consent agenda.

Discussion Items

• Bill 26-659, Fiscal Year 2027 Local Budget Act of 2026 – Councilmember Pinto and Councilmember Felder expressed unease about an additional fee on grocery and food deliveries, citing rising costs and impacts on drivers and the restaurant industry. Neither voted against the bill. The bill passed first reading unanimously.
• Bill 26-661, Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act of 2026 – Passed unanimously without discussion.
• Proposed Contract Disapproval Resolution (iReady/Curriculum Associates) – Councilmember Henderson moved the resolution, citing thousands of complaints from families and educators about excessive screen time, lack of clear usage guidelines, data privacy litigation, and questionable effectiveness. She noted that DCPS recommends 30–45 minutes per week but 17 schools exceed that; some use iReady for over an hour weekly in literacy and math. Henderson stated that DCPS initially refused to meet until June 15 (two days before contract approval) but a meeting occurred after the resolution was filed.
  • Councilmember Lewis George supported the concerns, emphasizing the need for limits on screen time for young learners and transparency on data protection.
  • Councilmember Allen, a DCPS parent, shared frustrations from educators that iReady hides wrong answers from teachers and does not help diagnose specific skill gaps. He noted the timing of contracts (June/July) makes replacement difficult.
  • Councilmember Robert White echoed concerns about repetitive testing and lack of evidence of effectiveness, but acknowledged DCPS committed to a one-year contract only and reevaluation.
  • Councilmember Fruman called for a fall hearing on technology in schools, noting the pendulum shift and need for broader policy.
  • Councilmember Nadeau quoted teachers who said iReady should not be canceled without a replacement plan. She supported a fall hearing.
  • Chairman Mendelson read six commitments from a June 6 letter from the Chancellor, including new guidance on screen time, shorter diagnostics, monitoring usage, approved alternatives, parent university, and reevaluation. He committed to a fall Committee of the Whole hearing on technology and iReady.
  • Councilmember Parker noted that DCPS had previously cut the ANET contract and urged a global view of assessment strategy.
  • Councilmember Henderson withdrew the resolution after expressing that the conversation must continue and concrete changes are needed. She noted proposed legislation may be introduced.

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda and both budget bills (26-659, 26-661) passed unanimously.
• The disapproval resolution for the iReady contract was withdrawn by Councilmember Henderson after DCPS provided written commitments and promised a reevaluation. The chairman scheduled a fall hearing on technology in schools.
• The Chairman thanked his Committee of the Whole staff for their work on the budget.
• The meeting adjourned at 5:53 PM; upcoming meetings: additional meeting June 23, regular meeting June 30, 2026.