H. R. 4850—6
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
For a Federal payment to the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer of the District of Columbia, $32,500,000: Provided, That
these funds shall be available for the projects and in the amounts
specified in the statement of the managers on the conference report
accompanying this Act: Provided further, That each entity that
receives funding under this heading shall submit to the Office
of the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia and
the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and Senate a report on the activities to be carried out with such
funds no later than March 15, 2005.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
For a Federal payment for a school improvement program
in the District of Columbia, $40,000,000, to be allocated as follows:
for the District of Columbia Public Schools, $13,000,000 to improve
public school education in the District of Columbia; for the State
Education Office, $13,000,000 to expand quality public charter
schools in the District of Columbia, to remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2006; for the Secretary of the Department of Education,
$14,000,000 to provide opportunity scholarships for students in
the District of Columbia in accordance with division C, title III
of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law
108–199; 118 Stat. 126), of which up to $1,000,000 may be used
to administer and fund assessments: Provided, That of the
$13,000,000 for the District of Columbia Public Schools, not less
than $2,000,000 shall be for a new incentive fund to reward high
performing or significantly improved public schools; not less than
$2,000,000 shall be to support the Transformation School Initiative
directed to schools in need of improvement: Provided further, That
of the remaining amounts, the Superintendent of the District of
Columbia Public Schools shall use such sums as necessary to pro-
vide grants to schools which are not eligible for other programs
referenced under this heading, and to contract for management
consulting services and implement recommended reforms: Provided
further, That the Comptroller General shall conduct a financial
audit of the District of Columbia Public Schools: Provided further,
That of the $13,000,000 provided for public charter schools in the
District of Columbia, $2,000,000 shall be for the City Build Initiative
to create neighborhood-based charter schools; $2,750,000 shall be
for the Direct Loan Fund for Charter Schools; $150,000 shall be
for administrative expenses of the Office of Charter School
Financing and Support to expand outreach and support of charter
schools; $100,000 shall be for the D.C. Public Charter School
Association to enhance the quality of charter schools; $4,000,000
shall be for the development of an incubator facility for public
charter schools; $2,000,000 shall be for a charter school college
preparatory program; and $2,000,000 shall be for a new incentive
fund to reward high performing or significantly improved public
charter schools: Provided further, That the District of Columbia
government shall establish a dedicated account for the Office of
Charter School Financing and Support (the Office) that shall consist
of the Federal funds appropriated in this Act, any subsequent
appropriations, any unobligated balances from prior fiscal years,
any additional grants, and any interest and principal derived from