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SEC. 147. None of the funds contained in this Act
may be used by the District of Columbia Corporation
Counsel or any other officer or entity of the District gov-
ernment to provide assistance for any petition drive or civil
action which seeks to require Congress to provide for vot-
ing representation in Congress for the District of Colum-
bia.
SEC. 148. The Residency Requirement Reinstatement
Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12–340) is hereby re-
pealed.
SEC. 149. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Act, no Federal funds appropriated under this Act
shall be used to carry out any program of distributing
sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of
any illegal drug.
SEC. 150. None of the funds contained in this Act
may be used to transfer or confine inmates classified above
the medium security level, as defined by the Federal Bu-
reau of Prisons classification instrument, to the Northeast
Ohio Correctional Center located in Youngstown, Ohio.
SEC. 151. None of the funds contained in this Act
may be used to conduct any ballot initiative which seeks
to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with
the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I sub-
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stance under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.
802) or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative.
SEC. 152. None of the funds contained in this Act
may be used for any program of distributing sterile nee-
dles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal
drug, or for any payment to any individual or entity who
carries out any such program.
SEC. 153. None of the funds contained in this Act
may be used to carry out any joint adoption of a child
between individuals who are not related by blood or mar-
riage.
BANNING POSSESSION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS BY
MINORS
SEC. 154. (a) IN GENERAL.—It shall be unlawful for
any individual under 18 years of age to possess any ciga-
rette or other tobacco product in the District of Columbia.
(b) EXCEPTION FOR POSSESSION IN COURSE OF EM-
PLOYMENT.—Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect
to an individual making a delivery of cigarettes or tobacco
products in pursuance of employment.
(c) PENALTIES.—Any individual who violates sub-
section (a) shall be subject to the following penalties:
(1) For any violation, the individual may be re-
quired to perform community service or attend a to-
bacco cessation program.
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(2) Upon the first violation, the individual shall
be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $50.
(3) Upon the second and each subsequent viola-
tion, the individual shall be subject to a civil penalty
not to exceed $100.
(4) Upon the third and each subsequent viola-
tion, the individual may have his or her driving
privileges in the District of Columbia suspended for
a period of 90 consecutive days.
TITLE II—DISTRICT OF COLUM-
BIA STUDENT OPPORTUNITY
SCHOLARSHIPS
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this title—
(1) the term ‘‘Board’’ means the Board of Di-
rectors of the Corporation established under section
202(b)(1);
(2) the term ‘‘Corporation’’ means the District
of Columbia Scholarship Corporation established
under section 202(a);
(3) the term ‘‘eligible institution’’—
(A) in the case of an eligible institution
serving a student who receives a tuition scholar-
ship under section 203(c)(1), means a public,
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private, or independent elementary or secondary
school; and
(B) in the case of an eligible institution
serving a student who receives an enhanced
achievement 
scholarship 
under 
section
203(c)(2), means an elementary or secondary
school, or an entity that provides services to a
student enrolled in an elementary or secondary
school to enhance such student’s achievement
through 
instruction 
described 
in 
section
203(c)(2);
(4) the term ‘‘parent’’ includes a legal guardian
or other person standing in loco parentis; and
(5) the term ‘‘poverty line’’ means the income
official poverty line (as defined by the Office of Man-
agement and Budget, and revised annually in ac-
cordance with section 673(2) of the Community
Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) appli-
cable to a family of the size involved.
SEC. 202. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SCHOLARSHIP COR-
PORATION.
(a) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be es-
tablished a private, nonprofit corporation, to be
known as the ‘‘District of Columbia Scholarship
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Corporation’’, which is neither an agency nor estab-
lishment of the United States Government or the
District of Columbia Government.
(2) DUTIES.—The Corporation shall have the
responsibility and authority to administer, publicize,
and evaluate the scholarship program in accordance
with this title, and to determine student and school
eligibility for participation in such program.
(3) CONSULTATION.—The Corporation shall ex-
ercise its authority—
(A) in a manner consistent with maximiz-
ing educational opportunities for the maximum
number of interested families; and
(B) in consultation with the District of Co-
lumbia Board of Education or entity exercising
administrative jurisdiction over the District of
Columbia Public Schools, the Superintendent of
the District of Columbia Public Schools, and
other school scholarship programs in the Dis-
trict of Columbia.
(4) APPLICATION
OF
PROVISIONS.—The Cor-
poration shall be subject to the provisions of this
title, and, to the extent consistent with this title, to
the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act
(D.C. Code, sec. 29–501 et seq.).
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(5) RESIDENCE.—The Corporation shall have
its place of business in the District of Columbia and
shall be considered, for purposes of venue in civil ac-
tions, to be a resident of the District of Columbia.
(6) FUND.—There is established in the Treas-
ury a fund that shall be known as the District of
Columbia Scholarship Fund, to be administered by
the Secretary of the Treasury.
(7) DISBURSEMENT.—The Secretary of the
Treasury shall make available and disburse to the
Corporation, before October 15 of each fiscal year or
not later than 15 days after the date of enactment
of an Act making appropriations for the District of
Columbia for such year, whichever occurs later, such
funds as have been appropriated to the District of
Columbia Scholarship Fund for the fiscal year in
which such disbursement is made.
(8) AVAILABILITY.—Funds authorized to be ap-
propriated under this title shall remain available
until expended.
(9) USES.—Funds authorized to be appro-
priated under this title shall be used by the Corpora-
tion in a prudent and financially responsible man-
ner, solely for scholarships, contracts, and adminis-
trative costs.
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(10) AUTHORIZATION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to
be appropriated to the District of Columbia
Scholarship Fund—
(i) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
(ii) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
and
(iii) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2001 through 2003.
(B) LIMITATION.—Not more than 7.5 per-
cent of the amount appropriated to carry out
this title for any fiscal year may be used by the
Corporation for salaries and administrative
costs.
(b) ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT; BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.—
(1) BOARD OF DIRECTORS; MEMBERSHIP.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Corporation shall
have a Board of Directors (referred to in this
title as the ‘‘Board’’), comprised of seven mem-
bers with six members of the Board appointed
by the President not later than 30 days after
receipt of nominations from the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the Majority
Leader of the Senate.
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(B) HOUSE NOMINATIONS.—The President
shall appoint three of the members from a list
of nine individuals nominated by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives in consultation
with the Minority Leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives.
(C) SENATE
NOMINATIONS.—The Presi-
dent shall appoint three members from a list of
nine individuals nominated by the Majority
Leader of the Senate in consultation with the
Minority Leader of the Senate.
(D) DEADLINE.—The Speaker of the
House of Representatives and Majority Leader
of the Senate shall submit their nominations to
the President not later than 30 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(E) APPOINTEE OF MAYOR.—The Mayor
shall appoint one member of the Board not
later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
(F) POSSIBLE INTERIM MEMBERS.—If the
President does not appoint the six members of
the Board in the 30-day period described in
subparagraph (A), then the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the Majority
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Leader of the Senate shall each appoint two
members of the Board, and the Minority Lead-
er of the House of Representatives and the Mi-
nority Leader of the Senate shall each appoint
one member of the Board, from among the indi-
viduals nominated pursuant to subparagraphs
(A) and (B), as the case may be. The ap-
pointees under the preceding sentence together
with the appointee of the Mayor, shall serve as
an interim Board with all the powers and other
duties of the Board described in this title, until
the President makes the appointments as de-
scribed in this subsection.
(2) POWERS.—All powers of the Corporation
shall vest in and be exercised under the authority of
the Board.
(3) ELECTIONS.—Members of the Board annu-
ally shall elect one of the members of the Board to
be the Chairperson of the Board.
(4) RESIDENCY.—All members appointed to the
Board shall be residents of the District of Columbia
at the time of appointment and while serving on the
Board.
(5) NONEMPLOYEE.—No member of the Board
may be an employee of the United States Govern-
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ment or the District of Columbia Government when
appointed to or during tenure on the Board, unless
the individual is on a leave of absence from such a
position while serving on the Board.
(6) INCORPORATION.—The members of the ini-
tial Board shall serve as incorporators and shall take
whatever steps are necessary to establish the Cor-
poration under the District of Columbia Nonprofit
Corporation Act (D.C. Code, sec. 29–501 et seq.).
(7) GENERAL
TERM.—The term of office of
each member of the Board shall be 5 years, except
that any member appointed to fill a vacancy occur-
ring prior to the expiration of the term for which the
predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the
remainder of such term.
(8) CONSECUTIVE TERM.—No member of the
Board shall be eligible to serve in excess of 2 con-
secutive terms of 5 years each. A partial term shall
be considered as 1 full term. Any vacancy on the
Board shall not affect the Board’s power, but shall
be filled in a manner consistent with this title.
(9) NO BENEFIT.—No part of the income or as-
sets of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of
any Director, officer, or employee of the Corpora-
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tion, except as salary or reasonable compensation for
services.
(10) POLITICAL
ACTIVITY.—The Corporation
may not contribute to or otherwise support any po-
litical party or candidate for elective public office.
(11) NO OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES.—The mem-
bers of the Board shall not, by reason of such mem-
bership, be considered to be officers or employees of
the United States Government or of the District of
Columbia Government.
(12) STIPENDS.—The members of the Board,
while attending meetings of the Board or while en-
gaged in duties related to such meetings or other ac-
tivities of the Board pursuant to this title, shall be
provided a stipend. Such stipend shall be at the rate
of $150 per day for which the member of the Board
is officially recorded as having worked, except that
no member may be paid a total stipend amount in
any calendar year in excess of $5,000.
(c) OFFICERS AND STAFF.—
(1) EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR.—The Corporation
shall have an Executive Director, and such other
staff, as may be appointed by the Board for terms
and at rates of compensation, not to exceed level
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EG–16 of the Educational Service of the District of
Columbia, to be fixed by the Board.
(2) STAFF.—With the approval of the Board,
the Executive Director may appoint and fix the sal-
ary of such additional personnel as the Executive
Director considers appropriate.
(3) ANNUAL RATE.—No staff of the Corpora-
tion may be compensated by the Corporation at an
annual rate of pay greater than the annual rate of
pay of the Executive Director.
(4) SERVICE.—All officers and employees of the
Corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.
(5) QUALIFICATION.—No political test or quali-
fication may be used in selecting, appointing, pro-
moting, or taking other personnel actions with re-
spect to officers, agents, or employees of the Cor-
poration.
(d) POWERS OF THE CORPORATION.—
(1) GENERALLY.—The Corporation is author-
ized to obtain grants from, and make contracts with,
individuals and with private, State, and Federal
agencies, organizations, and institutions.
(2) HIRING AUTHORITY.—The Corporation may
hire, or accept the voluntary services of, consultants,
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experts, advisory boards, and panels to aid the Cor-
poration in carrying out this title.
(e) FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND RECORDS.—
(1) AUDITS.—The financial statements of the
Corporation shall be—
(A) maintained in accordance with gen-
erally accepted accounting principles for non-
profit corporations; and
(B) audited annually by independent cer-
tified public accountants.
(2) REPORT.—The report for each such audit
shall be included in the annual report to Congress
required by section 210(c).
(f) ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES.—
(1) SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION SCHEDULE AND
PROCEDURES.—Not later than 30 days after the ini-
tial Board is appointed and the first Executive Di-
rector of the Corporation is hired under this title,
the Corporation shall implement a schedule and pro-
cedures for processing applications for, and award-
ing, student scholarships under this title. The sched-
ule and procedures shall include establishing a list of
certified eligible institutions, distributing scholarship
information to parents and the general public (in-
cluding through a newspaper of general circulation),
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and establishing deadlines for steps in the scholar-
ship application and award process.
(2) INSTITUTIONAL APPLICATIONS AND ELIGI-
BILITY.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institution
that desires to participate in the scholarship
program under this title shall file an application
with the Corporation for certification for par-
ticipation in the scholarship program under this
that title shall—
(i) demonstrate that the eligible insti-
tution has operated with not less than 25
students during the 3 years preceding the
year for which the determination is made
unless the eligible institution is applying
for certification as a new eligible institu-
tion under subparagraph (C);
(ii) contain an assurance that the eli-
gible institution will comply with all appli-
cable requirements of this title;
(iii) contain an annual statement of
the eligible institution’s budget; and
(iv) describe the eligible institution’s
proposed program, including personnel
qualifications and fees.
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(B) CERTIFICATION.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided
in subparagraph (C), not later than 60
days after receipt of an application in ac-
cordance with subparagraph (A), the Cor-
poration shall certify an eligible institution
to participate in the scholarship program
under this title.
(ii) CONTINUATION.—An eligible insti-
tution’s certification to participate in the
scholarship program shall continue unless
such eligible institution’s certification is re-
voked in accordance with subparagraph
(D).
(C) NEW ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institu-
tion that did not operate with at least 25
students in the 3 years preceding the year
for which the determination is made may
apply for a 1-year provisional certification
to participate in the scholarship program
under this title for a single year by provid-
ing to the Corporation not later than July
1 of the year preceding the year for which
the determination is made—
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(I) a list of the eligible institu-
tion’s board of directors;
(II) letters of support from not
less than 10 members of the commu-
nity served by such eligible institution;
(III) a business plan;
(IV) an intended course of study;
(V) assurances that the eligible
institution will begin operations with
not less than 25 students;
(VI) assurances that the eligible
institution will comply with all appli-
cable requirements of this title; and
(VII) a statement that satisfies
the requirements of clauses (ii) and
(iv) of subparagraph (A).
(ii) CERTIFICATION.—Not later than
60 days after the date of receipt of an ap-
plication described in clause (i), the Cor-
poration shall certify in writing the eligible
institution’s provisional certification to
participate in the scholarship program
under this title unless the Corporation de-
termines that good cause exists to deny
certification.
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(iii) RENEWAL OF PROVISIONAL CER-
TIFICATION.—After receipt of an applica-
tion under clause (i) from an eligible insti-
tution that includes a statement of the eli-
gible institution’s budget completed not
earlier than 12 months before the date
such application is filed, the Corporation
shall renew an eligible institution’s provi-
sional certification for the second and third
years of the school’s participation in the
scholarship program under this title unless
the Corporation finds—
(I) good cause to deny the re-
newal, including a finding of a pattern
of violation of requirements described
in paragraph (3)(A); or
(II) consistent failure of 25 per-
cent or more of the students receiving
scholarships under this title and at-
tending such school to make appro-
priate progress (as determined by the
Corporation) in academic achieve-
ment.
(iv) DENIAL
OF
CERTIFICATION.—If
provisional certification or renewal of pro-
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visional certification under this subsection
is denied, then the Corporation shall pro-
vide a written explanation to the eligible
institution of the reasons for such denial.
(D) REVOCATION OF ELIGIBILITY.—
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Corporation,
after notice and hearing, may revoke an el-
igible institution’s certification to partici-
pate in the scholarship program under this
title for a year succeeding the year for
which the determination is made for—
(I) good cause, including a find-
ing of a pattern of violation of pro-
gram requirements described in para-
graph (3)(A); or
(II) consistent failure of 25 per-
cent or more of the students receiving
scholarships under this title and at-
tending such school to make appro-
priate progress (as determined by the
Corporation) in academic achieve-
ment.
(ii) EXPLANATION.—If the certifi-
cation of an eligible institution is revoked,
the Corporation shall provide a written ex-
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tution as a condition for participation in the
scholarship program under this title, other than
requirements established under this title.
SEC. 203. SCHOLARSHIPS AUTHORIZED.
(a) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.—The Corporation is au-
thorized to award tuition scholarships under subsection
(c)(1) and enhanced achievement scholarships under sub-
section (c)(2) to students in kindergarten through
grade 12—
(1) who are residents of the District of Colum-
bia; and
(2) whose family income does not exceed 185
percent of the poverty line.
(b) SCHOLARSHIP PRIORITY.—
(1) FIRST.—The Corporation first shall award
scholarships to students described in subsection (a)
who—
(A) are enrolled in a District of Columbia
public school or preparing to enter a District of
Columbia public kindergarten, except that this
subparagraph shall apply only for academic
years 1998–1999, 1999–2000, and 2000–2001;
or
(B) have received a scholarship from the
Corporation for the academic year preceding
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the academic year for which the scholarship is
awarded.
(2) SECOND.—If funds remain for a fiscal year
for awarding scholarships after awarding scholar-
ships under paragraph (1), the Corporation shall
award scholarships to students who are described in
subsection (a), not described in paragraph (1), and
otherwise eligible for a scholarship under this title.
(3) LOTTERY
SELECTION.—The Corporation
shall award scholarships to students under this sub-
section using a lottery selection process whenever the
amount made available to carry out this title for a
fiscal year is insufficient to award a scholarship to
each student who is eligible to receive a scholarship
under this title for the fiscal year.
(c) USE OF SCHOLARSHIP.—
(1) TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS.—A tuition schol-
arship may be used for the payment of the cost of
the tuition and mandatory fees for, and transpor-
tation to attend, an eligible institution located within
the geographic boundaries of the District of Colum-
bia; Montgomery County, Maryland; Prince Georges
County, Maryland; Arlington County, Virginia; Alex-
andria City, Virginia; Falls Church City, Virginia;
Fairfax City, Virginia; or Fairfax County, Virginia.
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(2) ENHANCED ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP.—
An enhanced achievement scholarship may be used
only for the payment of the costs of tuition and
mandatory fees for, and transportation to attend, a
program of instruction provided by an eligible insti-
tution which enhances student achievement of the
core curriculum and is operated outside of regular
school hours to supplement the regular school pro-
gram.
(e) NOT SCHOOL AID.—A scholarship under this title
shall be considered assistance to the student and shall not
be considered assistance to an eligible institution.
SEC. 204. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.
(a) AWARDS.—From the funds made available under
this title, the Corporation shall award a scholarship to a
student and make scholarship payments in accordance
with section 205.
(b) NOTIFICATION.—Each eligible institution that re-
ceives the proceeds of a scholarship payment under sub-
section (a) shall notify the Corporation not later than 10
days after—
(1) the date that a student receiving a scholar-
ship under this title is enrolled, of the name, ad-
dress, and grade level of such student;
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(2) the date of the withdrawal or expulsion of
any student receiving a scholarship under this title,
of the withdrawal or expulsion; and
(3) the date that a student receiving a scholar-
ship under this title is refused admission, of the rea-
sons for such a refusal.
(c) TUITION SCHOLARSHIP.—
(1) EQUAL TO OR BELOW POVERTY LINE.—For
a student whose family income is equal to or below
the poverty line, a tuition scholarship may not ex-
ceed the lesser of—
(A) the cost of tuition and mandatory fees
for, and transportation to attend, an eligible in-
stitution; or
(B) $3,200 for fiscal year 1999, with such
amount adjusted in proportion to changes in
the Consumer Price Index for all urban con-
sumers published by the Department of Labor
for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2003.
(2) ABOVE
POVERTY
LINE.—For a student
whose family income is greater than the poverty line,
but not more than 185 percent of the poverty line,
a tuition scholarship may not exceed the lesser of—
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(A) 75 percent of the cost of tuition and
mandatory fees for, and transportation to at-
tend, an eligible institution; or
(B) $2,400 for fiscal year 1999, with such
amount adjusted in proportion to changes in
the Consumer Price Index for all urban con-
sumers published by the Department of Labor
for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2003.
(d) ENHANCED ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP.—An
enhanced achievement scholarship may not exceed the
lesser of—
(1) the costs of tuition and mandatory fees for,
and transportation to attend, a program of instruc-
tion at an eligible institution; or
(2) $500 for 1999, with such amount adjusted
in proportion to changes in the Consumer Price
Index for all urban consumers published by the De-
partment of Labor for each of fiscal years 2000
through 2003.
SEC. 205. SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENTS.
(a) PAYMENTS.—The Corporation shall make schol-
arship payments to the parent of a student awarded a
scholarship under this title.
(b) DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS.—Schol-
arship funds may be distributed by check, or another form
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of disbursement, issued by the Corporation and made pay-
able directly to a parent of a student awarded a scholar-
ship under this title. The parent may use the scholarship
funds only for payment of tuition, mandatory fees, and
transportation costs as described in this title.
(c) PRO RATA AMOUNTS
FOR STUDENT WITH-
DRAWAL.—If a student receiving a scholarship under this
title withdraws or is expelled from an eligible institution
after the proceeds of a scholarship is paid to the eligible
institution, then the eligible institution shall refund to the
Corporation on a pro rata basis the proportion of any such
proceeds received for the remaining days of the school
year. Such refund shall occur not later than 30 days after
the date of the withdrawal or expulsion of the student.
SEC. 206. CIVIL RIGHTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institution participat-
ing in the scholarship program under this title shall not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,
or sex in carrying out the provisions of this title.
(b) APPLICABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION WITH RE-
SPECT TO DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX.—
(1) APPLICABILITY.—With respect to discrimi-
nation on the basis of sex, subsection (a) shall not
apply to an eligible institution that is controlled by
a religious organization if the application of sub-
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section (a) is inconsistent with the religious tenets of
the eligible institution.
(2) CONSTRUCTION.—With respect to discrimi-
nation on the basis of sex, nothing in subsection (a)
shall be construed to require any person, or public
or private entity to provide or pay, or to prohibit any
such person or entity from providing or paying, for
any benefit or service, including the use of facilities,
related to an abortion. Nothing in the preceding sen-
tence shall be construed to permit a penalty to be
imposed on any person or individual because such
person or individual is seeking or has received any
benefit or service related to a legal abortion.
(3) SINGLE-SEX SCHOOLS, CLASSES, OR ACTIVI-
TIES.—With respect to discrimination on the basis
of sex, nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed
to prevent a parent from choosing, or an eligible in-
stitution from offering, a single-sex school, class, or
activity.
(c) 
REVOCATION.—Notwithstanding 
section
202(f)(2)(D), if the Corporation determines that an eligi-
ble institution participating in the scholarship program
under this title is in violation of subsection (a), then the
Corporation shall revoke such eligible institution’s certifi-
cation to participate in the program.
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SEC. 207. CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
Nothing in this title shall affect the rights of stu-
dents, or the obligations of the District of Columbia public
schools, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).
SEC. 208. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this title shall be con-
strued to prevent any eligible institution which is operated
by, supervised by, controlled by, or connected to, a reli-
gious organization from employing, admitting, or giving
preference to, persons of the same religion to the extent
determined by such institution to promote the religious
purpose for which the eligible institution is established or
maintained.
(b) SECTARIAN PURPOSES.—Nothing in this title
shall be construed to prohibit the use of funds made avail-
able under this title for sectarian educational purposes,
or to require an eligible institution to remove religious art,
icons, scripture, or other symbols.
SEC. 209. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institution participat-
ing in the scholarship program under this title shall report
to the Corporation not later than July 30 of each year
in a manner prescribed by the Corporation, the following
data:
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(1) Student achievement in the eligible institu-
tion’s programs.
(2) Grade advancement for scholarship stu-
dents.
(3) Disciplinary actions taken with respect to
scholarship students.
(4) Graduation, college admission test scores,
and college admission rates, if applicable for scholar-
ship students.
(5) Types and amounts of parental involvement
required for all families of scholarship students.
(6) Student attendance for scholarship and
nonscholarship students.
(7) General information on curriculum, pro-
grams, facilities, credentials of personnel, and dis-
ciplinary rules at the eligible institution.
(8) Number of scholarship students enrolled.
(9) Such other information as may be required
by the Corporation for program appraisal.
(b) CONFIDENTIALITY.—No personal identifiers may
be used in such report, except that the Corporation may
request such personal identifiers solely for the purpose of
verification.
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SEC. 210. PROGRAM APPRAISAL.
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 4 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
enter into a contract, with an evaluating agency that has
demonstrated experience in conducting evaluations, for an
independent evaluation of the scholarship program under
this title, including—
(1) a comparison of test scores between scholar-
ship students and District of Columbia public school
students of similar backgrounds, taking into account
the students’ academic achievement at the time of
the award of their scholarships and the students’
family income level;
(2) a comparison of graduation rates between
scholarship students and District of Columbia public
school students of similar backgrounds, taking into
account the students’ academic achievement at the
time of the award of their scholarships and the stu-
dents’ family income level;
(3) the satisfaction of parents of scholarship
students with the scholarship program; and
(4) the impact of the scholarship program on
the District of Columbia public schools, including
changes in the public school enrollment, and any im-
provement in the academic performance of the public
schools.
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(b) PUBLIC REVIEW OF DATA.—All data gathered in
the course of the study described in subsection (a) shall
be made available to the public upon request except that
no personal identifiers shall be made public.
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than Septem-
ber 1 of each year, the Corporation shall submit a progress
report on the scholarship program to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress. Such report shall include a review
of how scholarship funds were expended, including the ini-
tial academic achievement levels of students who have par-
ticipated in the scholarship program.
(d) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated for the study described in subsection (a),
$250,000, which shall remain available until expended.
SEC. 211. JUDICIAL REVIEW.
(a) JURISDICTION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The United States District
Court for the District of Columbia shall have juris-
diction in any action challenging the constitutional-
ity of the scholarship program under this title and
shall provide expedited review.
(2) STANDING.—The parent of any student eli-
gible to receive a scholarship under this title shall
have standing in an action challenging the constitu-
tionality of the scholarship program under this title.
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(b) APPEAL TO SUPREME COURT.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, any order of the United States
District Court for the District of Columbia which is issued
pursuant to an action brought under subsection (a) shall
be reviewable by appeal directly to the Supreme Court of
the United States.
SEC. 212. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title shall be effective for each of the fiscal years
1999 through 2003.
SEC. 213. APPROPRIATION OF INITIAL FEDERAL CON-
TRIBUTION TO FUND.
There are hereby appropriated, out of any money in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $5,400,000 for
the District of Columbia Scholarship Fund.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘District of Columbia
Appropriations Act, 1999’’.
Passed the House of Representatives August 7 (leg-
islative day, August 6), 1998.
Attest:
ROBIN H. CARLE,
Clerk.