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Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George
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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Charles Allen
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Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember Christina Henderson
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Councilmember Brooke Pinto
A BILL 1
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 7
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To require the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to develop a model curriculum to 12
develop students’ conflict resolution skills in accordance with the health education 13
standards; to require local education agencies to adopt, for each academic level, the 14
model curriculum or an alternative conflict resolution education program; and to require 15
the District of Columbia Public Schools to receive input from local school advisory teams 16
on the adequacy of resources for conflict resolution education at each school. 17
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 18
act may be cited as the “Conflict Resolution Education Amendment Act of 2023”. 19
Sec. 2. Section 402 of the Healthy Schools Act of 2010, effective July 27, 2010 (D.C. 20
Law 18-209; D.C. Official Code § 38-824.02(b-2)(2)(B)), is amended as follows: 21 2
(a) The lead-in clause of subsection 402(b-2)(2) is amended by striking the word 22
“subsection” and inserting the word “section” in its place. 23
(b) A new subsection (b-3) is added to read as follows: 24
“(b-3)(1) By December 31, 2024, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education 25
shall publish a model curriculum to develop students’ conflict-resolution skills in accordance 26
with relevant health education standards. 27
“(2) For each academic level, the model curriculum shall include one or more 28
alternative options to teach conflict resolution skills through workshops (including peer 29
mediation and restorative practices), sample lesson plans for incorporation into health 30
instructional time, and a special-subject course in conflict resolution, emotional health, peace 31
studies, alternatives to violence, or a similar field. The content of each option shall be designed 32
to meet or exceed the health education standards relating to conflict resolution. 33
“(3) By September 1, 2025, each local education agency shall certify to the Office 34
of the State Superintendent of Education that it has adopted the model curriculum or an 35
alternative program of conflict resolution education that meets or exceeds the relevant portion of 36
the health education standards. A local education agency may implement its conflict resolution 37
program through employees, contractors, non-governmental organizations, or volunteers. 38
“(4) During the budget development process for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 39
school years, the District of Columbia Public Schools shall provide an opportunity for each local 40
school advisory team to comment on whether additional financial or non-financial resources are 41
necessary to provide conflict-resolution education meeting the school’s needs.”. 42
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 43 3
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 44
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 45
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 46
Sec. 4. Effective date. 47
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 48
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 49
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 50
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 51
Columbia Register. 52