I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1387 
To reauthorize the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 7, 2017 
Mr. CHAFFETZ (for himself, Mr. MEADOWS, Ms. FOXX, Mr. MESSER, Mr. 
FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. ROKITA, Mr. HARRIS, and Mr. 
DESANTIS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Oversight and Government Reform 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results 
Act, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES IN ACT. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Reauthoriza-
tion Act’’ or the ‘‘SOAR Reauthorization Act’’. 
(b) REFERENCES IN ACT.—Except as otherwise ex-
pressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment is 
expressed in terms of an amendment to or repeal of a sec-
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tion or other provision, the reference shall be considered 
to be made to that section or other provision of the Schol-
arships for Opportunity and Results Act (division C of 
Public Law 112–10; sec. 38–1853.01 et seq., D.C. Official 
Code). 
SEC. 2. REPEAL. 
Section 817 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2016 (Public Law 114–113) is repealed, and any provision 
of law amended or repealed by such section is restored 
or revived as if such section had not been enacted into 
law. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
Section 3003 (sec. 38–1853.03, D.C. Official Code) 
is amended by striking ‘‘particularly parents’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘, with’’ and inserting ‘‘particularly par-
ents of students who attend an elementary school or sec-
ondary school identified as one of the lowest-performing 
schools under the District of Columbia’s accountability 
system, with’’. 
SEC. 4. PROHIBITING IMPOSITION OF LIMITS ON TYPES OF 
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE 
PROGRAM. 
Section 3004(a) (sec. 38–1853.04(a), D.C. Official 
Code) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(3) PROHIBITING IMPOSITION OF LIMITS ON 
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the 
program under this division, the Secretary may 
not limit the number of eligible students receiv-
ing scholarships under section 3007(a), and 
may not prevent otherwise eligible students 
from participating in the program under this 
division, based on any of the following: 
‘‘(i) The type of school the student 
previously attended. 
‘‘(ii) Whether or not the student pre-
viously received a scholarship or partici-
pated in the program, including whether 
an eligible student was awarded a scholar-
ship in any previous year but has not used 
the scholarship, regardless of the number 
of years of nonuse. 
‘‘(iii) Whether or not the student was 
a member of the control group used by the 
Institute of Education Sciences to carry 
out previous evaluations of the program 
under section 3009. 
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‘‘(B) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing 
in subparagraph (A) may be construed to waive 
the requirement under section 3005(b)(1)(B) 
that the eligible entity carrying out the program 
under this Act must carry out a random selec-
tion process, which gives weight to the priorities 
described in section 3006, if more eligible stu-
dents seek admission in the program than the 
program can accommodate.’’. 
SEC. 5. REQUIRING ELIGIBLE ENTITIES TO UTILIZE INTER-
NAL FISCAL AND QUALITY CONTROLS. 
Section 3005(b)(1) (sec. 38–1853.05(b)(1), D.C. Of-
ficial Code) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘‘, except 
that a participating school may not be required to 
submit to more than 1 site visit per school year’’; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (K) and 
(L) as subparagraphs (L) and (M), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(K) how the entity will ensure the finan-
cial viability of participating schools in which 
85 percent or more of the total number of stu-
dents enrolled at the school are participating el-
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igible students that receive and use an oppor-
tunity scholarship;’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (L), as redesignated by 
paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(N) how the eligible entity will ensure 
that it— 
‘‘(i) utilizes internal fiscal and quality 
controls; and 
‘‘(ii) complies with applicable financial 
reporting requirements and the require-
ments of this division; and’’. 
SEC. 6. CLARIFICATION OF PRIORITIES FOR AWARDING 
SCHOLARSHIPS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS. 
Section 3006(1) (sec. 38–1853.06(1), D.C. Official 
Code) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘attended’’ 
and all that follows through the semicolon and in-
serting ‘‘attended an elementary school or secondary 
school identified as one of the lowest-performing 
schools under the District of Columbia’s account-
ability system; and’’; 
(2) by striking subparagraph (B); 
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (B); and 
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(4) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by 
paragraph (3), by striking the semicolon at the end 
and inserting ‘‘or whether such students have, in the 
past, attended a private school;’’. 
SEC. 7. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICI-
PATING SCHOOLS AND ELIGIBLE ENTITIES. 
(a) CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS; COMPLIANCE 
WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Section 3007(a)(4) 
(sec. 38–1853.07(a)(4), D.C. Official Code) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) by striking subparagraph (F) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(F) ensures that, with respect to core 
subject matter, participating students are 
taught by a teacher who has a baccalaureate 
degree or equivalent degree, whether such de-
gree was awarded in or outside of the United 
States;’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) conducts criminal background checks 
on school employees who have direct and unsu-
pervised interaction with students; and 
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‘‘(H) complies with all requests for data 
and information regarding the reporting re-
quirements described in section 3010.’’. 
(b) ACCREDITATION.—Section 3007(a) (sec. 38– 
1853.07(a), D.C. Official Code), as amended by subsection 
(a), is further amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘paragraphs 
(2) and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (2), (3), and 
(5)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—None of the funds 
provided under this division for opportunity 
scholarships may be used by a participating eli-
gible student to enroll in a participating private 
school unless the school— 
‘‘(i) in the case of a school that is a 
participating school as of the date of en-
actment of the SOAR Reauthorization 
Act— 
‘‘(I) is fully accredited by an ac-
crediting body described in any of 
subparagraphs (A) through (G) of 
section 2202(16) of the District of 
Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 
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(Public 
Law 
104–134; 
sec. 
38– 
1802.02(16)(A)–(G), 
D.C. 
Official 
Code); or 
‘‘(II) if such participating school 
does not meet the requirements of 
subclause (I)— 
‘‘(aa) not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of 
the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2016 (Public Law 114– 
113), the school is pursuing full 
accreditation by an accrediting 
body described in subclause (I); 
and 
‘‘(bb) is fully accredited by 
such an accrediting body not 
later than 5 years after the date 
on which that school began the 
process of pursuing full accredi-
tation in accordance with item 
(aa); and 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a school that is not 
a participating school as of the date of en-
actment of the SOAR Reauthorization Act, 
is fully accredited by an accrediting body 
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described in clause (i)(I) before becoming a 
participating school under this division. 
‘‘(B) REPORTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—Not 
later than 5 years after the date of enactment 
of the SOAR Reauthorization Act, each partici-
pating school shall submit to the eligible entity 
a certification that the school has been fully ac-
credited in accordance with subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) ASSISTING STUDENTS IN ENROLLING 
IN OTHER SCHOOLS.—If a participating school 
fails to meet the requirements of this para-
graph, the eligible entity shall assist the parents 
of the participating eligible students who attend 
the school in identifying, applying to, and en-
rolling in another participating school under 
this division. 
‘‘(6) TREATMENT OF STUDENTS AWARDED A 
SCHOLARSHIP IN A PREVIOUS YEAR.—An eligible en-
tity shall treat a participating eligible student who 
was awarded an opportunity scholarship in any pre-
vious year and who has not used the scholarship as 
a renewal student and not as a new applicant, with-
out regard as to— 
‘‘(A) whether the eligible student has used 
the scholarship; and 
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‘‘(B) the year in which the scholarship was 
previously awarded.’’. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 
AND PARENTAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 3007 (sec. 38– 
1853.07, D.C. Official Code) is amended— 
(A) by striking subsections (b) and (c) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
AND PARENTAL 
ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall make $2,000,000 of 
the amount made available under section 3014(a)(1) for 
each fiscal year available to eligible entities receiving a 
grant under section 3004(a) to cover the following ex-
penses: 
‘‘(1) The administrative expenses of carrying 
out its program under this division during the year, 
including— 
‘‘(A) determining the eligibility of students 
to participate; 
‘‘(B) selecting the eligible students to re-
ceive scholarships; 
‘‘(C) determining the amount of the schol-
arships and issuing the scholarships to eligible 
students; 
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‘‘(D) compiling and maintaining financial 
and programmatic records; 
‘‘(E) conducting site visits as described in 
section 3005(b)(1)(I); and 
‘‘(F)(i) conducting a study, including a 
survey of participating parents, on any barriers 
for participating eligible students in gaining ad-
mission to, or attending, the participating 
school that is their first choice; and 
‘‘(ii) not later than the end of the first full 
fiscal year after the date of enactment of the 
SOAR Reauthorization Act, submitting a report 
to Congress that contains the results of such 
study. 
‘‘(2) The expenses of educating parents about 
the eligible entity’s program under this division, and 
assisting parents through the application process 
under this division, including— 
‘‘(A) providing information about the pro-
gram and the participating schools to parents 
of eligible students, including information on 
supplemental financial aid that may be available 
at participating schools; 
‘‘(B) providing funds to assist parents of 
students in meeting expenses that might other-
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wise preclude the participation of eligible stu-
dents in the program; and 
‘‘(C) streamlining the application process 
for parents.’’; 
(B) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (c); and 
(C) by redesignating subsection (e), as 
added by section 162(b) of the Continuing Ap-
propriations Act, 2017 (division C of Public 
Law 114–223, as amended by section 101(3) of 
the Further Continuing and Security Assistance 
Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114– 
254)), as subsection (d). 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
3007(d) (sec. 38–1853.07(d), D.C. Official Code), as 
redesignated by paragraph (1)(C), is amended by 
striking ‘‘subsections (b), (c), and (d)’’ each place it 
appears in paragraphs (2)(B) and (3) and inserting 
‘‘subsections (b) and (c)’’. 
(d) CLARIFICATION OF USE OF FUNDS FOR STU-
DENT ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE.—Section 3007(c) (sec. 38– 
1853.07(c), D.C. Official Code), as redesignated by sub-
section (c)(1)(B), is amended by striking ‘‘previously at-
tended’’ and all that follows through the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘previously attended an elementary school 
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or secondary school identified as one of the lowest-per-
forming schools under the District of Columbia’s account-
ability system.’’. 
SEC. 8. PROGRAM EVALUATION. 
(a) REVISION OF EVALUATION PROCEDURES AND 
REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3009(a) (sec. 38– 
1853.09(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) DUTIES
OF
THE
SECRETARY
AND
THE 
MAYOR.—The Secretary and the Mayor of the Dis-
trict of Columbia shall— 
‘‘(A) jointly enter into an agreement with 
the Institute of Education Sciences of the De-
partment of Education to evaluate annually the 
opportunity scholarship program under this di-
vision; 
‘‘(B) jointly enter into an agreement to 
monitor and evaluate the use of funds author-
ized and appropriated for the District of Co-
lumbia public schools and the District of Co-
lumbia public charter schools under this divi-
sion; and 
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‘‘(C) make the evaluations described in 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) public in accord-
ance with subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—The Sec-
retary, through a grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement, shall— 
‘‘(A) ensure that the evaluation under 
paragraph (1)(A)— 
‘‘(i) is conducted using an acceptable 
quasi-experimental research design for de-
termining the effectiveness of the oppor-
tunity scholarship program under this divi-
sion that does not use a control study 
group consisting of students who applied 
for but did not receive opportunity scholar-
ships; and 
‘‘(ii) addresses the issues described in 
paragraph (4); and 
‘‘(B) disseminate information on the im-
pact of the program— 
‘‘(i) on academic achievement and 
educational attainment of participating eli-
gible students who use an opportunity 
scholarship; and 
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‘‘(ii) on students and schools in the 
District of Columbia. 
‘‘(3) DUTIES
OF
THE
INSTITUTE
ON
EDU-
CATION
SCIENCES.—The Institute of Education 
Sciences of the Department of Education shall— 
‘‘(A) assess participating eligible students 
who use an opportunity scholarship in each of 
grades 3 through 8, as well as one of the grades 
at the high school level, by supervising the ad-
ministration of the same reading and mathe-
matics assessment used by the District of Co-
lumbia public schools to comply with section 
1111(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)); 
‘‘(B) measure the academic achievement of 
all participating eligible students who use an 
opportunity scholarship in the grades described 
in subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(C) work with eligible entities receiving a 
grant under this division to ensure that the par-
ents of each student who is a participating eli-
gible student that uses an opportunity scholar-
ship agrees to permit their child to participate 
in the evaluations and assessments carried out 
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by the Institute of Education Sciences under 
this subsection. 
‘‘(4) ISSUES TO BE EVALUATED.—The issues to 
be evaluated under paragraph (1)(A) shall include 
the following: 
‘‘(A) 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 of a comparison 
group of students with similar backgrounds in 
the District of Columbia public schools and the 
District of Columbia public charter schools. 
‘‘(B) The success of the program under 
this division in expanding choice options for 
parents of participating eligible students and 
increasing the satisfaction of such parents and 
students with their choice. 
‘‘(C) The reasons parents of participating 
eligible students choose for their children to 
participate in the program, including important 
characteristics for selecting schools. 
‘‘(D) A comparison of the retention rates, 
high school graduation rates, college enrollment 
rates, college persistence rates, and college 
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