District of Columbia legislation · 26th Council
District of Columbia B526: Leading Education Access for Reentry and Necessary Success (LEARNS) Amendment Act of 2025
Status: Signed into law, October 16, 2026
As introduced, Bill 26-526 would mandate that the Department of Corrections (DOC) evaluate students for special education services who were not evaluated before entering DOC custody. DOC must provide education services for current Individualized Education Program (IEP) holders in their custody. It, among other things, would also require that DOC establish and maintain in a publicly accessible and searchable online tracking system for resident service requests and complaints. FISCAL NOTE - Sections 2 and 3 are passed Subject to Appropriations. Please see the Fiscal Impact Statement for more information.
What the bill says
To amend Chapter3 ofTitle 14 ofthe Districtof ColumbiaOfficial Codeto clarify that certain provisions only apply toa victim who is undertheageof18; and forotherpurposes. BEITENACTED BYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA,Thatthis act may becitedasthe "Leading Education Access for Reentry and Necessary Success ("LEARNS")AmendmentAct of2026". Sec 2. AnActTocreate aDepartmentofCorrections intheDistrictofColumbia, approved June27, 1946(60 Stat. 320; D.C. Official Code § 24-211.01 efseg.),isamendedasfollows: (@) Section2(b)(D.C. Official Code § 24-21 1.02(b)) and"andinserting a semicolon initsplace.
From the enrolled text, July 2, 2026:
to amend Chapter3 ofTitle 14 ofthe Districtof ColumbiaOfficial Codeto clarify that certain provisions only apply toa victim who is undertheageof18; and forotherpurposes. BEITENACTED BYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA,Thatthis act may becitedasthe "Leading Education Access for Reentry and Necessary Success ("LEARNS")AmendmentAct of2026". Sec 2. AnActTocreate aDepartmentofCorrections intheDistrictofColumbia, approved June27, 1946(60 Stat. 320; D.C. Official Code § 24-211.01 efseg.),isamendedasfollows: (@) Section2(b)(D.C. Official Code § 24-21 1.02(b)) and"andinserting a semicolon initsplace. (2)The firstparagraph(10) isamendedbystrikingtheperiodandinserting a semicolon inits place. (3)Thesecondparagraph(10)isredesignatedasparagraph(11). (4) Paragraph(11)is amended by strikingthe periodandinsertingthe phrase"; and"initsplace. (5)Anewparagraph(12) isaddedtoread as follows: (12)Duringeach school year: "(A) Provideafreeappropriatepublic educationunderthe IDEA and Districtlaw,to individuals withdisabilitieswhoarein itscustodyanddetainedin its secure facilitiesfromtheageof 18 throughthe endoftheindividual's eligibility forspecial educationand related servicesundertheIDEA and Districtlaw; and ENROLLED ORIGINAL "(B) Following arequest forevaluation by the individual oraperson authorized torequest an evaluationpursuantto 5-A DCMR § 3004,shall evaluate individuals in its custody anddetained in its secure facilities, who are age 18 throughthe endofthe individual's eligibility for special education and related services under the IDEA andDistrictlaw,and who 'werenotpreviously assessed forspecial education services, to determineifthe individual isachild withadisability.". (b) New sections 11a, 11b, and 11care addedtoreadas follows: "Sec. 11a. Educationservices. "(a) The DepartmentofCorrections, asthe agency responsible for ensuring a free appropriate public education, shall make a free appropriate public education available to all students witha disability from age 18 throughthe endofthe individual's eligibility for special educationandrelated services underthe IDEAand District …