Enacted 2004 • Launched 2004 • Voucher
The District of Columbia’s Opportunity Scholarship Program provides vouchers to lowincome
students. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the program is funded
separately from D.C. public schools. It is authorized through 2016, with $20 million in total
available funding.
Latest Stats (2012-13)
- Students participating: 1,584
- Schools participating: 45
- Average voucher value: $8,483 (2011-12)
Program Details
Average voucher value as a percentage of
D.C.’s total per-student spending ($20,910)
Student Funding
Vouchers are worth up to $8,000 for K-8 students and $12,000 for students in grades 9-12.
Those amounts rise with the Consumer Price Index. Amounts may vary depending on tuition
expenses.
Student Eligibility
Most D.C. families who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch are eligible. Families may
earn as much as 185 percent of the federal poverty level when they enter the program ($42,643
for a family of four in 2013). Families lose their eligibility if their income later rises above 200
percent of the poverty level. Students are given priority if they come from public schools in
need of improvement, or if they or their siblings already are participating in the program.
Legal Developments
No legal challenges have been filed against the program.
Rules & Regulations
- Income Limit: 100% x FRL
- Geographic Limit: District (D.C.)
- Enrollment Cap: None
- Voucher Cap: $8,000 (K-8) / $12,000 (9-12)
- Testing Mandates: Yes-National
Governing Statutes
House Resolution 2673, 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act; House Resolution 1105, 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act; House Resolution 471, 2011 Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act
Friedman Contact
Leslie Hiner | leslie@edchoice.org
Additional Links
