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119-hr-954119th CongressWALLET

SOAR Permanent Authorization Act

Sponsored By: Representative Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

Introduced

Summary

Would permanently authorize and raise annual funding for the District of Columbia's SOAR scholarship program to $75 million. It would also relax some accreditation rules, expand tutoring priority for high‑need students, and require broader, regular evaluations that measure progress and college outcomes.

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  • Students and families: Gives scholarship recipients more funding stability by authorizing $75 million per year, which would support continued access to private school options and related assistance.
  • High‑need students and tutors: Raises the Student Academic Assistance cap to $2.2 million and creates a tutoring priority for students who previously attended DC schools identified as lowest‑performing, so tutoring goes first to the neediest students when funds are limited.
  • Program operators and researchers: Adds an alternate accreditation pathway for participating entities, broadens testing to any "nationally norm‑referenced standardized test," allows the Institute of Education Sciences to run assessments, and replaces annual reviews with rigorous, regular evaluations that track progress, graduation, college enrollment, persistence, and safety outcomes.

*Would increase authorized federal funding to $75 million per year, about $15 million more annually than the prior $60 million cap.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Larger annual scholarship funding

If enacted, the Opportunity Scholarship Program would be authorized to receive $75,000,000 each year starting in fiscal year 2024. That replaces the prior $60,000,000 level. The money would remain subject to annual appropriation and could allow more scholarships or services for participating families.

Broader provider accreditation options

If enacted, more types of accreditation would qualify a school or provider to participate. Providers could qualify by accreditation with jurisdiction in the District of Columbia or by recognition through the Student and Visitor Exchange English Language Program administered by ICE. The change would take effect upon enactment and may increase provider choices for families.

More student aid and tutoring

If enacted, a referenced student assistance amount would rise from $2,000,000 to $2,200,000. The bill would also make tutoring an explicitly allowable reimbursable expense for students who need extra help. If funds are insufficient in a year, programs must prioritize students who previously attended D.C. schools identified as lowest‑performing. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Stronger program evaluation rules

If enacted, program evaluations would be done regularly rather than only annually and must be rigorous. The bill would shift focus to student progress and educational attainment. Required measures would include graduation, college enrollment, persistence and graduation comparisons, lottery winner versus non-winner college outcomes, safety outcomes, and parent and student satisfaction where practicable. The Institute of Education Sciences could administer assessments using a nationally norm‑referenced standardized test for evaluation purposes.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

MI • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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