Testimony Before the Council of the District of Columbia Committee on Health

Public Hearing on B26-0725-School Health Certificate Modernization Amendment Act of 2026 B26-0688-Student Health Care Amendment Act of 2026 and B26-0606-Vaccine Administration Protection Amendment Act of 2026

By Rachel Johnston

Chief of Staff, DC Charter School Alliance

Good morning, Chairperson Henderson and members of the Committee. My name is Rachel Johnston, and I’m a Ward 4 resident and the Chief of Staff at the DC Charter School Alliance, the local advocacy organization dedicated to supporting DC’s public charter schools who serve nearly half of the District’s public school students.

DC public charter schools are dedicated to creating healthy, supportive learning environments. That requires reliable health records and data systems, well-staffed health suites, and trained school personnel. Charter schools are committed to building this capacity – demonstrated by the more than 600 Administration of Medication-trained staff members across the sector. But gaps in DC Health’s School Health Services Program remain a significant challenge. More than 40% of participating charter school health suites do not have full-time coverage, and this year, schools received their staffing assignments less than a week before the first day of school. Now in the second year under DC Health, staffing for this program remains a persistent challenge, making it difficult for many schools to rely on it and leading some to explore alternative options for meeting their students’ health needs.

While the legislation before the Committee today does not directly address these challenges, we appreciate the Council’s continued attention to the health and safety of District’s children. Today I will focus my attention on B26-0725, the School Health Certificate Modernization Amendment Act of 2026 and B26-0688, the Student Health Care Amendment Act of 2026.

First, we strongly support the School Health Certificate Modernization Amendment Act of 2026, and thank Councilmember Henderson for her leadership on this issue. For several years, the DC Alliance has recommended the District implement a centralized, digital system for physicians to submit health certificate data. Done well, this system can simplify the process for families and schools by eliminating paper certificates, improve compliance, and give the District better information about which students are not receiving regular well-child care. As the system is developed, it will be essential to build in appropriate safeguards to protect the confidentiality and security of sensitive student health information. Successful implementation will also require health care providers to consistently use the system. Providers should receive clear training, alongside incentives for compliance and meaningful accountability when required information is not submitted. We have seen challenges with provider participation in DOCIIS, and a new system will only reduce burdens on schools and families if providers use it with fidelity.

While not explicitly addressed in this bill, we know DC Health is considering only requiring Universal Health Certificates be submitted in key grades when immunization information is collected. Under that approach, schools could go two to six years without receiving updated health information. Until the new electronic system is fully implemented, we recommend requiring families to confirm each year between required submissions that their child’s information has not changed. Schools need a reliable mechanism for maintaining current health information so they can safely and effectively meet students’ needs. A student could develop a serious food allergy, experience significant medication changes, or face other new health conditions during that time.

Lastly on this bill, we support the following two provisions:

• Prohibiting providers from charging families to complete required health certificates, an important step toward greater equity, and

• Creating tiered provider licensing fees to reduce barriers and grow the pool of health care professionals available to serve District students.

The Student Health Care Amendment Act of 2026 also addresses important aspects of student health, though we believe several provisions would benefit from further consideration before implementation. We agree that oral health care and lead testing are critical components of children’s health. Untreated dental issues and lead exposure can have serious consequences, and better information can help the District identify and connect families who are not accessing these services with needed care.

But we have concerns about incorporating these requirements into the UHC before a digital system is operational. Dental and lead information are already required through separate forms, yet submission rates remain low. If a family has completed the rest of the UHC but is missing lead testing, for example, we do not want that missing information to delay the school from receiving the other critical health information on the form. The two bills before you today are therefore closely linked: a functional digital system that allows information to be submitted and updated efficiently will be important to making changes recommended in B26-0688 workable.

If the goal is to increase the number of children receiving lead testing and dental care, we also encourage the District to focus on access to those services—not simply documentation. For example, the District could explore offering lead testing alongside its big weekend immunization clinics, which draw many families especially close to exclusion day.

Finally, we support moving EpiPen training and administration under DC Health, but are concerned that EpiPen training will now only be available through the broader AOM training. Current AOM training requirements and limited training capacity make it difficult to train as many school staff as possible. We recommend DC Health offer a shorter, web-based EpiPen-specific training, similar to what OSSE offered, that could be made broadly available to teachers and other school staff. Responding quickly and appropriately to anaphylaxis can save a student’s life. In these emergencies, there may not be time to go find an AOM-trained staff member.

In closing, strong systems and thoughtful implementation are essential to ensuring schools have the information, staffing, and resources they need to support student health. The DC Charter School Alliance appreciates the Council’s continued attention to these issues and values our partnership with DC Health and others working to strengthen student health across the District. We look forward to continuing that collaboration. Thank you for your time and attention, and I welcome your questions.