As Mayor, I will make opportunity a central priority for Washington, DC. Every resident should have the chance to live safely, receive a world class education, and access meaningful work. But too many communities still face barriers that limit potential and disconnect people from the pathways that allow them to succeed.

Opportunity means building systems that support people at every stage of life. That starts with safer neighborhoods, strong schools, and an economy that creates real jobs and career pathways.

Safety

Safety is the foundation of opportunity. When people feel safe in their neighborhoods, children can focus on learning, businesses can grow, and communities can thrive.

My administration will strengthen both public safety and community trust. We will support law enforcement while expanding community based violence prevention and intervention programs that stop crime before it starts. Through initiatives like the Public Safety Support branch of the Capital Corps, residents will be able to work alongside first responders and community organizations to build trust, strengthen prevention efforts, and create safer neighborhoods across every ward.

Public safety is about building communities where opportunity can take root.

Education

Washington, DC has everything it needs to lead the nation in public education. We have the resources, the talent, and families who show up every day believing our schools can do better. A Goodweather administration will make that belief real.

Every student accounted for. Every child reading by third grade. Every teacher supported. Every neighborhood connected to opportunity. That is the future we will build together.

Every Student Accounted For

When students are in the building, everything else becomes possible. A Goodweather administration will treat attendance as the foundation of student success and build systems that make showing up easier, safer, and expected.

Real time attendance tracking will allow schools to identify struggling students in weeks, not months. Safe Passages will expand to every school where students need safer routes to class. The ONSE Leadership Academy will scale from three high schools to ten, providing mentorship and leadership opportunities for young people. Principals will have greater flexibility to direct at risk funding where it is needed most, and Fare Free DC transit will ensure transportation is never a barrier to getting to school.

Every Child Reads by Third Grade

Through third grade, students learn to read. After third grade, students read to learn. If we want our students to succeed in every subject, literacy must come first.

In 2013, Mississippi decided every child would read by third grade. They implemented mandatory screening, Individual Reading Plans, and intensive intervention. By 2019, they posted the largest NAEP reading gains of any state in the country, with a ten point increase.

DC has more resources, more talent, and more reason to lead. We will.

We will fully implement the Science of Reading across DC schools with evidence based instruction focused on phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Every K through third grade student will receive universal literacy screening multiple times per year so struggling readers are identified early.

Students who need additional help will receive Individual Reading Plans, with parents notified within ten days. We will introduce a Third Grade Reading Gate with retests, summer reading programs, and appropriate exemptions for English language learners and students with individualized education programs. Universal dyslexia screening will begin by first grade, and free one on one tutoring will be available for students in grades one through twelve.

“Every child who walks into a DC school deserves to walk out able to read, able to think critically, and able to see a future. That’s the standard.”
— Gary Goodweather

Invest in the People Who Show Up Every Day

Education does not end at the school door. Students need safe spaces, strong mentors, and clear pathways to opportunity.

A Goodweather administration will expand after school and summer programs with tutoring, enrichment, and safe spaces for young people. Late night recreation centers will provide supervised spaces staffed by mentors. Every school will have a full time nurse and a mental health clinician so students receive the care they need to succeed.

Through the Capital Corps Youth Track, high school students will gain access to structured civic service, job training, and career development opportunities that connect education directly to the workforce. Career and Technical Education will expand, including the creation of an Advanced Technical Center in every ward.

Employment

Opportunity must continue beyond the classroom. DC should be a city where residents can build careers, start businesses, and participate in the industries shaping the future.

The Capital Corps will create a new pathway into service, education, and employment. Residents will commit to structured weekly service while receiving training, mentorship, and education benefits that prepare them for careers in healthcare, education, technology, public safety, infrastructure, and community development.

At the same time, the Responsible Innovation Security and Employment initiative will ensure that DC leads responsibly in the age of artificial intelligence and emerging technology. Workers will receive advance notice and transition support when automation changes jobs, while residents gain access to free or low cost AI tools and training. Small businesses will receive support to modernize and compete, and new career pathways will open in high demand technology sectors.

This approach ensures that innovation benefits everyone. Technology should create opportunity, not eliminate it.

A City Where Opportunity Lives

Opportunity means safety in our neighborhoods, excellence in our schools, and an economy that creates pathways to exceptional jobs.

When we invest in people, support our students, and prepare residents for the future of work, Washington, DC becomes a city where everyone has the chance to succeed.

Because when opportunity exists in every neighborhood, our entire city moves forward, together.

DC Lives Here. Expect More.