Enacted 2004 • Launched 2004–05 • Authorized through 2015–16
To give parents in the District of Columbia the ability to select the educational setting that best serves their child’s interests and needs, the U.S. Congress passed the D.C. School Choice Incentive Act of 2003. This five-year pilot program was part of the omnibus spending bill passed in 2004 and became the first voucher program to be overseen by the U.S. Department of Education. The program is funded separately from District of Columbia public schools. In April 2011, the program was re-authorized through 2016.
Latest Stats (2011)
- Students Participating: 1,615
- Schools Participating (2010–11): 41
- Maximum Voucher Value: $8,000 for students in grades K–8; $12,000 for students in grades 9–12
Program Details
Program Type
Voucher
Scholarship/Voucher Value
The designated administrator of the program distributes scholarships worth up to $8,000 for students entering kindergarten through eighth grade; $12,000 for students entering grades 9 through 12. These amounts will rise with the Consumer Price Index starting in 2012-13. The voucher may be used for tuition, fees, and transportation. Amounts may vary depending on tuition expenses.
Participation
In 2011–12, 1,615 students received a scholarship; 41 private schools participated in the program.
Student Eligibility
Most families in the District of Columbia 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; in 2010, a family of four could earn up to about $41,000. 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 designated as in need of improvement, or if they or their siblings are already 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
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