Education and Youth Affairs, As Explored by Some Democratic At-Large Council Candidates

May 19, 2026

Nine candidates are competing for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council previously held by Anita Bonds, with several emphasizing youth-centered approaches to education and public safety. Former DCPS principal Dwight Davis advocates for directly engaging young people in policy decisions, drawing from his experience improving school attendance by listening to students' concerns about cafeteria food. Lisa Raymond, a former State Board of Education representative, is running on a platform of education accountability and outcome improvements, while Leniqua'dominique Jenkins criticizes the recently approved youth curfew as punitive and targeted toward specific communities.

Who is affected

District youth and students in DCPS and public charter schools
Parents of students and curfew-breakers facing potential prosecution by the Trump administration
D.C. families struggling with education quality, housing affordability, and child care
Small businesses in Washington D.C.
The 119,000 adults in D.C. struggling with literacy at a third-grade reading level
Formerly incarcerated women (whom Raymond previously served)
Caregivers needing workplace flexibility and aging-in-place services
Asian-American residents (Hill would be the first Asian-American D.C. council member)
Advisory neighborhood commissioners and single-member district residents
Current D.C. Council at-large member Anita Bonds (whose seat is being contested)

What action is being taken

The D.C. Council recently approved permanent youth curfew legislation
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro is preparing to prosecute parents of youth curfew breakers
The D.C. Council is currently reviewing Mayor Muriel Bowser's final budget proposal
The Bowser administration is operating an AI pilot program to facilitate collaboration with residents
Jenkins is actively fulfilling her role as a teacher, including reading her book "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" to virtual audiences during Reading Awareness Month in March and visiting child care centers
Jenkins is executing a pen-pal program connecting D.C. schools with a school she has in Kenya
All nine candidates are participating in campaign forums and speaking with community members about their visions

Why it matters

This election is taking place during what's described as "one of the most consequential election seasons in the Home Rule Era," with threats to D.C. autonomy from the Republican-dominated Congress and the Trump administration. The outcome will determine the District's approach to youth policy at a critical juncture—whether officials will pursue punitive measures like curfews and parent prosecution or adopt holistic approaches addressing root causes through education, economic opportunity, and community engagement. Education outcomes remain inadequate, particularly for the bottom 10% of students, while 119,000 adults struggle with basic literacy. The candidates' differing philosophies on youth engagement, housing development, education accountability, and community-police relations will shape how the District addresses interconnected challenges of public safety, economic development, and quality of life. Protecting home rule is identified as the most important priority, since without local control, locally passed legislation and elected leaders cannot effectively serve residents' needs.

What's next

The permanent youth curfew legislation must navigate the congressional approval process (creating a gap in curfew declaration powers in the interim)
Hill states that if elected, he would ask questions about AI curriculum implementation during the interview process for the DCPS chancellor position
Davis aims to create a standalone education committee if elected
Raymond plans to guide discussions about programmatic effectiveness and investments in workforce development and early childhood education before budget season
Hill would work with the Office of Planning to expand housing options with more three-or-more bedroom units for families
Hill would facilitate meetings between police department and advisory neighborhood commissions if elected

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer