H.R. 954

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act with respect to certain funding, testing, and evaluation requirements and to permanently authorize an appropriation for such Act.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 4, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Moolenaar · Committee: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Table of contents

• H.R. 954
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Amendments to Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the SOAR Permanent Authorization Act.

SEC. 2. Amendments to Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act

• (a) Change in accreditation requirements
  • Section 3007(a)(5)(A)(i)(I) of the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (sec. 38–1853.07(a)(5)(A)(i)(I), D.C. Official Code) is amended to read as follows:
    • is fully accredited by an accrediting body with jurisdiction in the District of Columbia or that is recognized by the Student and Visitor Exchange English Language Program administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; or
• (b) Removal of student academic assistance limit
  • (1) In general
    • Section 3007(b) of such Act (sec. 38–1853.07 (b), D.C. Official Code) is amended—
      • in the header, by striking and inserting ;
      • in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ,000,000and inserting ,200,000; and
        • The expenses of providing tutoring service to participating eligible students that need additional academic assistance. If there are insufficient funds to provide tutoring services to all such students in a year, the eligible entity shall give priority in such year to students who previously attended an elementary school or secondary school identified as one of the lowest-performing schools under the District of Columbia’s accountability system.
      • by adding at the end the following:
  • (2) Conforming amendments
    • Section 3007 of such Act (sec. 38–1853.07, D.C. Official Code) is amended—
      • by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c); and
      • in subsection (c), as so redesignated by paragraph (A)—
        • (i) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking subsections (b) and (c)and inserting subsection (b); and
        • (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking subsections (b) and (c)and inserting subsection (b).
• (c) Change in standardized testing requirements
  • Section 3008(h) of such Act (sec. 38–1853.08(h), D.C. Official Code) is amended—
    • in paragraph (1), by striking section 3009(a)(2)(A)(i)and inserting section 3009(a);
      • (2) Administration of tests
        • The Institute of Education Sciences may administer assessments to students participating in the evaluation under section 3009(a) for the purpose of conducting the evaluation under such section.
    • by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
    • in paragraph (3), by striking the nationally norm-referenced standardized test described in paragraph (2)and inserting a nationally norm-referenced standardized test.
• (d) Change in evaluation frequency and standards
  • Section 3009(a) of such Act (sec. 38–1853.09(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended—
    • in paragraph (1)(A), by striking annuallyand inserting regularly;
    • in paragraph (2)—
      • (i) is rigorous; and
      • by amending subparagraph (A)(i) to read as follows:
      • in subparagraph (B), by striking impact of the programand all that follows through the end of the subparagraph and inserting impact of the program on academic progress and educational attainment.;
    • in paragraph (3)—
      • in the header, by striking and inserting ;
      • in subparagraph (A)—
        • (i) by inserting after ; and
        • (ii) by striking in each of grades 3and all that follows through the end of the subparagraph and inserting ; and;
      • by striking subparagraph (B); and
      • by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B); and
    • in paragraph (4)—
      • in subparagraph (A)—
        • (i) by striking A comparison of the academic achievement of participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship on the measurements described in paragraph (3)(B) to the academic achievementand inserting The academic progress of participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship compared to the academic progress; and
        • (ii) by inserting after ;
      • in subparagraph (B), by striking increasing the satisfaction of such parents and students with their choiceand inserting those parents' and students' satisfaction with the program;
        • The high school graduation rates, college enrollment rates, college persistence rates, and college graduation rates of participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship compared with the rates of public school students described in subparagraph (A), to the extent practicable.
        • The college enrollment rates, college persistence rates, and college graduation rates of students who participated in the program as the result of winning the Opportunity Scholarship Program lottery compared to the enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates for students who entered but did not win such lottery and who, as a result, served as the control group for previous evaluations of the program under this division. Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to waive section 3004(a)(3)(A)(iii) with respect to any such student.
        • The safety of the schools attended by participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship compared with the schools attended by public school students described in subparagraph (A), to the extent practicable.
      • by striking subparagraphs (D) through (F) and inserting the following:
      • in subparagraph (G), by striking achievementand inserting progress.
• (e) Permanent authorization of appropriation
  • Section 3014 of such Act (sec. 38–1853.14, D.C. Official Code) is amended—
    • in subsection (a), by striking “$60,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and for each fiscal year through fiscal year 2023” and inserting ; and
    • in subsection (b), by striking $60,000,000and inserting $75,000,000.