DC Opportunity Scholarship Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 84.370
- Agency
-
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Education
- Grant awards
- 29 $737,368,316 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 91-0204-0-1-501
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education awards grants under the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (CFDA 84.370) to administer private school scholarships for low-income K–12 students in Washington, D.C., with the most recent awards disbursed on October 1, 2025, and an application opportunity posted April 23, 2025 with a corrected due date of June 2, 2025.
The program funds the operational administration of the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program, which distributes scholarships enabling low-income parents—particularly those with children in lowest-performing schools under the District's accountability system—to enroll their children in private schools of their choice within the District. Recent awards show the program funds both the core scholarship administration function and supplemental activities under the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act. All 29 grants in the portfolio are Project Grants, making the program entirely project-based. The Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education dominates the program, awarding 24 of 29 grants totaling $540.3 million in federal dollars obligated; the Office of Innovation and Improvement awarded 4 grants worth $182 million. Over the past five years, the program has averaged approximately two awards per year, with three awards in 2025.
Combined federal dollars obligated total $737.4 million since the program's inception in 2006. Recent awards cluster around $17.5 million for individual SOAR Act components, while larger program-administration awards exceed $30 million. The October 2025 award for administering the core scholarship program (Project Grant S370A250002) obligated $34.6 million with a completion date of September 30, 2027. Two concurrent SOAR Act awards (Project Grants S370B250001 and S370C250001) each obligated $17.5 million with completion dates extending to 2028–2029.
The April 2025 solicitation (ED-GRANTS-042325-001) sought applications from nonprofit organizations and consortia of nonprofits to administer the program, with a corrected application deadline of June 2, 2025. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations or consortia of nonprofit organizations.
Objective and description
- Objective
To provide low-income parents residing in the District of Columbia with expanded options for the education of their children. This program is part of a broader school improvement effort in the District of Columbia.
- Description
The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program expands education choice in Washington, D.C., by providing scholarships that enable students to attend a private school of their choice.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
A nonprofit organization; or a consortium of nonprofit organizations.
- Beneficiary eligibility
To receive an award under this program, an applicant must ensure that a majority of the members of its voting board or governing organization are residents of the District of Columbia. As required by the program statute, the Secretary gives priority to applications from eligible entities that will most effectively (1) in awarding scholarships under section 3007(a), give priority to-(A) eligible students who, in the school year preceding the school year for which the eligible students are seeking a scholarship, attended an elementary school or secondary school identified as one of the lowest-performing schools under the District of Columbia's accountability system; and (B) students whose household includes a sibling or other child who is already participating in the program of the eligible entity under this division, regardless of whether such students have, in the past, been assigned as members of a control study group for the purposes of an evaluation under section 3009(a); or whether such students have, in the past, attended a private school; (2) target resources to students and families that lack the financial resources to take advantage of available educational options; and (3) provide students and families with the widest range of educational options.
- Uses of assistance
These scholarships of up to approximately $10,000 per student per school year for grades K-8 and approximately $15,000 per student per school year for grades 9-12 enable students to attend a participating nonpublic District of Columbia elementary and secondary school of their choice and may be used to pay tuition and fees and transportation.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Applicants may apply for a project period of up to 12 months. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
This program is subject to the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
The selection criteria are contained in the NIA.
- Award procedure
The Department of Education awards this grant on a competitive basis. The program office notifies the successful applicant of the award, negotiates the final budget, and awards the grant. Contact the program office for more information.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Approximately 60 days.
- Renewals
Applicants may apply for a project period of up to 12 months. Continuation awards are subject to the availability of appropriations.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 29 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District Of Columbia Public Schools | $217,453,880 | 29% |
| 2 | Serving Our Children | $209,990,872 | 28% |
| 3 | District Of Columbia, Government Of | $201,003,880 | 27% |
| 4 | DC Children And Youth Investment Trust Corporation | $67,245,848 | 9% |
4 of 5 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $17,624,913 |
| FY2025 | $52,000,000 |
| FY2024 | $52,000,000 |
| FY2023 | $52,000,000 |
| FY2022 | $52,000,000 |
| FY2021 | $52,000,000 |
| FY2020 | $51,998,600 |
| FY2019 | $67,000,000 |
| FY2018 | $56,939,394 |
| FY2017 | $50,229,167 |
| FY2016 | $37,773,341 |
| FY2015 | $60,398,800 |
| FY2014 | $49,563,946 |
| FY2013 | -$10,100,000 |
| FY2011 | $32,698,108 |
| FY2010 | $21,568,215 |
| FY2009 | $4,171,236 |
| FY2008 | $25,048,400 |
| FY2006 | $12,454,200 |
Show all 19
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 84.370?
Assistance Listing 84.370 is DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, a federal grant program run by Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department of Education).
What is the CFDA number for DC Opportunity Scholarship Program?
Its CFDA number is 84.370: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 84.370 awarded?
29 grant awards under 84.370 have obligated $737,368,316 in federal funds to 5 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 84.370?
The recipients obligated the most under DC Opportunity Scholarship Program are District Of Columbia Public Schools ($217,453,880), Serving Our Children ($209,990,872) and District Of Columbia, Government Of ($201,003,880).
How much did 84.370 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 84.370 obligated $52,000,000 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 84.370?
No opportunity listed under 84.370 is open now. The latest, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program CFDA Number 84.370A, was posted on April 23, 2025.
On GovTribe
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