Bill > S487

This bill, called the "CHOICE Act," is comprehensive legislation focused on expanding educational opportunities through three main titles. First, it modifies the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act to improve opportunity scholarships for low-income students in Washington, D.C. by expanding eligibility criteria. Second, the bill amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide more educational choices for students with disabilities, allowing states to create programs where parents can use public or private funds to pay for private school tuition, with federal funds potentially supplementing these costs. The bill ensures participating schools cannot discriminate and allows religious schools to maintain their religious character while participating. Third, the bill establishes a 5-year pilot military scholarship program that will provide scholarships to military dependent students living on selected military installations, allowing them to attend public or private schools of their parents' choice. Scholarships will range from $8,000 for elementary students to $12,000 for secondary students, with amounts adjusted annually for inflation. The program aims to improve educational options for military families and help the Armed Forces retain personnel by addressing school choice limitations. The bill includes provisions for random scholarship selection, non-discrimination, and annual reporting to Congress, with $10 million authorized annually from fiscal years 2025-2029.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/487/all-info