On April 8, 2025, Mayor Muriel Bowser requested the Council of the District of Columbia to reprogram $146,923.55 within the Fiscal Year 2025 Local Funds allocated to the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), specifically for Ellington High School. The reprogramming seeks to transfer funds from custodial and general education salary/benefits to enhance academic and testing support by investing in additional staff and programming. This includes establishing a Writing Center, hiring a Testing Coordinator and Data Specialist, and covering costs for essential software programs that are no longer funded by DCPS.

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) has reviewed the request and confirmed that the reprogramming will not negatively impact the DCPS budget or the District's financial plan. Although the amount is below the $500,000 threshold that typically requires Council approval, a previous reprogramming from DCPS has already been approved, resulting in a cumulative change that exceeds this threshold. The OCFO has indicated that the funds are available due to vacant custodial positions, and the reallocation is intended to better align resources with academic priorities without restoring any budget cuts or establishing new programs.