SOAR Permanent Authorization Act

House Votes

This bill updates the District of Columbia’s school scholarship (voucher) program and its rules. It makes the program’s funding permanent and raises the authorized amount to $75 million. It also lets more schools qualify by allowing accreditation either from a D.C. accreditor or one recognized by the Student and Visitor Exchange English Language Program run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The program’s testing and evaluation shift to focus on student progress and long‑term results, not just yearly test scores. The Institute of Education Sciences may give tests for the evaluation, and the program can use any nationally norm‑referenced test. Evaluations will be done regularly and must look at graduation, college enrollment and completion, school safety, and parent and student satisfaction. Program funds can also cover tutoring for students who need extra help, with priority for those who came from the lowest‑performing schools when money is limited.

Key points

• Who is affected: D.C. students and families using the scholarship program, the private schools that accept them, and the researchers who evaluate the program.
• What changes: Permanent funding at $75 million; broader school accreditation options; permission for IES to administer tests; regular evaluations focused on progress, graduation and college outcomes, school safety, and satisfaction; clearer ability to use funds for tutoring with priority for students from the lowest‑performing schools when funds are tight.
• When: Would take effect if enacted into law (the text makes the funding authorization permanent going forward).