SOAR Act Improvements Act
The SOAR Act Improvements Act would overhaul several provisions of the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR), which funds DC-area school choice scholarships. The bill broadens grant durability and renewal (extending grants up to 5 years with the possibility of another 5-year renewal without a competitive process to preserve program continuity), relaxes some admissions rules if they don’t conflict with schools’ regular processes, and expands the residency eligibility to include a broader DC metropolitan region. It also updates accreditation requirements for participating schools, expands allowable uses of funds (including pre-kindergarten), increases the maximum scholarship flexibility, and strengthens tutoring support with a priority for students from the lowest-performing DC schools, along with a modest funding increase. The bill tightens evaluation and reporting requirements through the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), expands standardized testing oversight, and directs more comprehensive reporting by recipient entities, while extending the program’s authorizations through fiscal year 2032. In short, the bill aims to make the scholarship program more stable, broader in geographic scope, more flexible in how funds are used, and more transparent and evaluative in its outcomes.
Key Points
- 1Grant duration and renewals: Grants lasting 5 years can be renewed for up to an additional 5 years without a competitive process if the Secretary deems it appropriate to maintain continuity. (Sec. 2(a))
- 2Residency and geography: Eligibility for board members shifts from “District of Columbia” to the “Washington metropolitan region,” expanding eligibility to include parts of Maryland and Virginia. Defines the region to include DC, parts of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in MD, and parts of Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria, Falls Church in VA. (Sec. 2(b))
- 3Accreditation updates: Participating schools must be accredited by a national or regional accrediting body, or by an accrediting body identified by SEVP (as administered by ICE). Non-participating schools must achieve full accreditation within 5 years of starting participation. (Sec. 3)
- 4Use of funds and tutoring: Funds can be used for pre-kindergarten (instead of just kindergarten). The grant recipient can set a maximum scholarship amount below the statutory cap. Adds a required tutoring option for students needing academic help, with priority to students from the lowest-performing DC schools if funds are limited. Increases the annual funding cap for such tutoring. (Sec. 4)
- 5Testing and evaluation enhancements: Institute of Education Sciences may administer assessments for program evaluation; evaluations occur at least every 7 years with a public report, starting no later than January 1, 2027. Evaluations must be rigorous and include dissemination of impact data. The scope includes assessing participating students’ progress (grades 3-8) and broader comparison metrics, including safety and school incidents, with adjusted reporting. (Secs. 5-6)
- 6Reporting requirements: The annual/entity report updated to include school violence incidents, suspensions, and expulsions, with revised report contents. Effective for reports beginning in school years after enactment. (Sec. 7)
- 7Funding authorization through 2032: The authorization of appropriations is extended through fiscal year 2032, with reallocation of funds (e.g., increasing certain shares to provide more funding for targeted activities). Effective starting fiscal year 2024. (Sec. 8)