Bill > HR954

This bill amends the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act to make several key changes to the District of Columbia's Opportunity Scholarship Program. The bill modifies accreditation requirements for participating schools, allowing schools accredited by DC-based bodies or recognized by certain U.S. immigration programs. It increases the funding cap from $2 million to $2.2 million and adds provisions for tutoring services, prioritizing students from low-performing schools when funds are limited. The bill also changes standardized testing requirements, giving the Institute of Education Sciences more flexibility in assessment administration. The evaluation process is modified to occur "regularly" instead of annually, with a broader focus on academic progress and educational attainment. The bill expands evaluation metrics to include high school graduation rates, college enrollment and persistence rates, and school safety comparisons. Most significantly, the bill permanently authorizes the program's appropriation, increasing the annual funding from $60 million to $75 million starting in fiscal year 2024. These changes aim to provide more comprehensive support and longitudinal tracking for students participating in the Opportunity Scholarship Program, which provides educational scholarships to students in Washington, DC.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/954/all-info