SOAR Permanent Authorization Act

To amend the SOAR Act. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the SOAR Permanent Authorization Act 2. Amendments to the SOAR Act The Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (division C of Public Law 112–10 (1) in section 3007 (sec. 38–1853.07 D.C. Official Code)— (A) in subsection (a)(5)(A)(i), by striking subclause (I) and inserting the following: (I) is fully accredited by an accrediting body with jurisdiction in the District of Columbia or that is recognized by the Student and Visitor Exchange English Language Program administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; or ; (B) by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c); (C) in subsection (b)— (i) in the subsection heading, by striking and Parental Assistance , Parental Assistance, and Student Academic Assistance (ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking $2,000,000 $2,200,000 (iii) by adding at the end the following: (3) The expenses of providing tutoring service to participating eligible students that need additional academic assistance. If there are insufficient funds to provide tutoring services to all such students in a year, the eligible entity shall give priority in such year to students who previously attended an elementary school or secondary school identified as one of the lowest-performing schools under the District of Columbia’s accountability system. ; and (D) in subsection (c), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)— (i) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking subsections (b) and (c) subsection (b) (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking subsections (b) and (c) subsection (b) (2) in section 3008(h) (sec. 38–1853.08(h) D.C. Official Code)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking section 3009(a)(2)(A)(i) section 3009(a) (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) Administration of tests The Institute of Education Sciences may administer assessments to students participating in the evaluation under section 3009(a) for the purpose of conducting the evaluation under such section. ; and (C) in paragraph (3), by striking the nationally norm-referenced standardized test described in paragraph (2) a nationally norm-referenced standardized test (3) in section 3009(a) (sec. 38–1853.09(a) D.C. Official Code)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking annually regularly (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) and inserting the following: (i) is rigorous; and ; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking impact of the program impact of the program on academic progress and educational attainment. (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking on Education of Education (ii) in subparagraph (A)— (I) by inserting the academic progress of assess (II) by striking in each of grades 3 ; and (iii) by striking subparagraph (B); and (iv) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B); and (D) in paragraph (4)— (i) in subparagraph (A)— (I) by striking A comparison of the academic achievement of participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship on the measurements described in paragraph (3)(B) to the academic achievement The academic progress of participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship compared to the academic progress (II) by inserting , which may include students students with similar backgrounds (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking increasing the satisfaction of such parents and students with their choice those parents' and students' satisfaction with the program (iii) by striking subparagraph (D) through (F) and inserting the following: (D) The high school graduation rates, college enrollment rates, college persistence rates, and college graduation rates of participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship compared with the rates of public school students described in subparagraph (A), to the extent practicable. (E) The college enrollment rates, college persistence rates, and college graduation rates of students who participated in the program as the result of winning the Opportunity Scholarship Program lottery compared to the enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates for students who entered but did not win such lottery and who, as a result, served as the control group for previous evaluations of the program under this division. Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to waive section 3004(a)(3)(A)(iii) with respect to any such student. (F) The safety of the schools attended by participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship compared with the schools attended by public school students described in subparagraph (A), to the extent practicable. ; and (iv) in subparagraph (G), by striking achievement progress (4) in section 3014 (sec. 38–1853.14, D.C. Official Code)— (A) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “$60,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and for each fiscal year through fiscal year 2019” and inserting $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and for each succeeding fiscal year (B) in subsection (b), by striking $60,000,000 $75,000,000

Summary: SOAR Permanent Authorization Act This bill permanently reauthorizes and amends the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Program, which provides education funding for the District of Columbia, including for private school vouchers, public schools, and public charter schools. The bill requires participating private schools to be fully accredited by (1) an accrediting body with jurisdiction in the District that is recognized by the Student and Visitor Exchange English Language Program administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or (2) any international accrediting body designated by the Department of Education (ED). The bill revises the manner in which tutoring services provided under the program are funded. The bill revises several requirements concerning SOAR evaluations, including concerning (1) frequency; (2) ED's and the Institute of Education Sciences' duties; and (3) the issues to be evaluated, including high school and college performance measurements.