Soar act funding

The District of Columbia Public Schools received a $17.5 million Project Grant from the Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education under the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (CFDA 84.370) awarded October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2028. This three-year grant funds the administration of an educational scholarship program designed to provide low-income families in Washington, D.C. with expanded school choice options, particularly for students attending low-performing schools. The program delivers comprehensive support services including scholarship administration, student academic instruction, professional development for educators, special education services, after-school programming, student nutrition initiatives, and parental assistance services.

The funded activities are implemented through a combination of direct administration by District of Columbia Public Schools and sub-awards to local educational organizations, public charter schools, and community-based entities throughout Washington, D.C. This funding mechanism supports the Department of Education's broader school improvement initiative in the District by enabling eligible students to access private school enrollment while maintaining robust support systems to enhance educational outcomes and address educational disparities across the region's student population.