Councilmember Henderson Introduces Legislation to Engage Middle School Youth

June 29, 2023

Councilmember Henderson Introduces Legislation to Engage Middle School Youth

The District’s Out of School Time (OST), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and DOES programs are popular, but there are gaps in opportunities for middle-school aged youth. Middle school is a critical time in children’s exploration of and exposure to opportunities, and it is critical that youth have a broad array of hands-on experiences and opportunities to develop new and existing skills during the summer. Additionally, exposing middle school-aged students to careers and fields inside and outside their interests allows for them to visualize themselves as contributing members of our city and community, reducing the poor choices that may be available to them. While DOES currently offers middle schoolers the Middle School Exploration program, the program has only 3 providers, offers a total of 225 spots, and does not compensate or reward the students. Currently, there are approximately 17,000 middle schoolers enrolled in both DCPS and Charter schools in the District. While the youth targeted by the bill cannot be paid wages, the bill would allow for DOES to provide a reward for participants at the conclusion of the summer pilot as an incentive to participate.

For Immediate Release
June 29, 2023
Contact: Chantal Fuller, Communications Director
202-355-8431
cfuller@dccouncil.gov

Councilmember Henderson Introduces Legislation to EngageMiddle School Youth

Washington, DC—Today, Councilmember Henderson introduced the Middle School Exploration Pilot Amendment Act of 2023. This legislation would establish a Middle School Youth Career Exploration Pilot administered by the Department of Employment Services (DOES) that would launch a summer pilot program for middle school youth. The pilot would provide occupational skills, academic enrichment, life skills, career exploration, work readiness, or youth development trainings for middle school youth ages 9-13.

TheDistrict’s Out of School Time (OST), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR),and DOES programs are popular, but there are gaps in opportunities for middle-school aged youth. “Exposing middle school-aged students to careers and fields inside and outside their interests allows for them to visualize themselves as contributing members of our city and community, while also reducing the poor choices that may be available to them in the community,” explained Councilmember Henderson.

While DOES currently offers middle schoolers the Middle School Exploration program, the program has only 3 providers, offers a total of 225 spots, and does not compensate or incentivize participants. Currently, there are approximately 17,000 middle schoolers enrolled in both DCPS and Charter schools in the District. Although the youth targeted by the bill cannot be paid wages, the bill would allow for DOES to provide an incentive for participants at the conclusion of the summer pilot. Additionally, the legislation gives the agency the ability to sponsor a year-round version of the program. This provides an avenue for middle school youth to gain invaluable volunteer experience and enhance their soft skills prior to starting high school, when they would be eligible to participate in the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program.

“Investing in the comeback of the District should include empowering and resourcing the next generation of professionals our youth. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation that would benefit an impressionable age group by expanding their horizons about possibilities in their city during the summer,” said Councilmember Henderson.

The Middle School Career Exploration Pilot Amendment Act of2023 was co-introduced by Councilmembers Janeese Lewis-George, Robert C. White,Jr., Zachary Parker, Charles Allen, Matthew Frumin, and Brooke Pinto.

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