D.C. Kids Get Scholarship Shot: Private School Apps Open
Published Date: 4/23/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of Education is inviting applications for the 2025 Opportunity Scholarship Program, which helps low-income families in Washington, D.C. send their kids to private schools if their current public schools are struggling. Applications open April 28 and must be submitted by July 7, with funding decisions impacting families and schools soon after. This program offers a fresh chance for better education options with federal support.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Scholarships for low‑income DC students
The Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) gives low-income parents who live in the District of Columbia, especially those whose children attend schools identified as among the lowest performing, the chance to enroll their children in private elementary or secondary schools in DC using federally supported scholarships.
Program funding and award size
For FY 2025 the Department estimates available funds of $17,500,000 and plans to make one cooperative agreement award to administer the OSP. The project period may be up to 60 months (five 12-month budget periods).
Selection, board, and school viability rules
Applicants must describe how they will use a random selection process (with weight to statutory priorities) if more eligible students seek admission than can be accommodated. The applicant must ensure a majority of its voting board members are District of Columbia residents and must ensure participating schools are financially responsible, including ensuring the financial viability of any school in which 85 percent or more of enrolled students are scholarship recipients.
No matching funds and indirect cost rules
This competition does not require cost sharing or matching funds. The program uses an unrestricted indirect cost rate, and all administrative expenses must be reasonable and conform to 2 CFR part 200. For FY 2025, a combined limit on administrative expenses (including parental assistance and student academic assistance) is $1,750,000.
Application and review deadlines
Applications for this competition become available April 28, 2025, and must be transmitted by July 7, 2025; the deadline for intergovernmental review is September 5, 2025. Applicants must follow the Department's Common Instructions for Applicants to submit their materials.
Only nonprofits eligible to apply
To be eligible for an OSP grant, an applicant must be a nonprofit organization or a consortium of nonprofit organizations; faith‑based organizations are eligible on the same basis as other private organizations. A successful grantee may not award subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities.
Open licensing requirement for grant outputs
Unless an exception applies, grantees must openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole or in part with Department funds, and must have a plan to disseminate those public deliverables.
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