DC Opportunity Scholarship Program

 

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.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
84.370
Federal Agency/Office
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2017 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2019 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2020 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2021 FY 2021 funding supported more than 1,800 scholarship recipients in school year 2021-2022.
Fiscal Year 2022 FY 2022 funding supported approximately 1,700 scholarship recipients in school year 2022-2023.
Authorization
Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act, (Division C of Public Law 112-10, as amended
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
An educational entity of the District of Columbia Government; 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.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. An environmental impact assessment is not required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. This program is subject to the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants must submit the following by the designated deadline: (1) The applicant must provide a written narrative, which addresses the selection criteria (and the required application content) that reviewers use in evaluating their applications. (2) Required forms to be submitted with the application include SF424; Sections A, B, and C of ED Form 524; Assurance - Non Construction Programs; Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Disclosure of Lobbying Activity; Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions. (3) Applicants for grants under this program are required to submit applications electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-Application) available through the Department's e-GRANTS system. Specific instructions for submitting applications electronically are included in the application notice.
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.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Approximately 60 days.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Applicants may apply for a project period of up to 12 months. Continuation awards are subject to the availability of appropriations.
How are proposals selected?
The selection criteria are contained in the NIA.
How may assistance be used?
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.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.
Records
In accordance with the General Education Provisions Act and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), certain financial records must be maintained for a period of 3 years.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
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. Electronic transfer
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Beth Yeh
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20202 USA
beth.yeh@ed.gov
Phone: (202) 205-5798
Website Address
https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/school-choice-improvement-programs/district-of-columbia-opportunity-scholarship-program/
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0204-0-1-501
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 22$17,000,000.00; FY 23 est $17,000,000.00; FY 24 est $17,000,000.00; FY 21$17,000,000.00; FY 20$17,000,000.00; FY 19$17,000,000.00; FY 18$13,939,394.00; FY 17$13,000,000.00; FY 16$13,000,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Average new awards: $17,000,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
The Department will publish the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) in the Federal Register. Contact the Program Office for more information.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2017 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2019 No Current Data Available.

 



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