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Enacted in 2003, Began Operation in 2004-05
| FAST FACTS |
- Voucher worth up to $7,500
- 1,800 students received vouchers in 2006-07
- 68 private schools participate
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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 fi ve-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, so each year Congress must appropriate funds for it; the number of scholarships available will depend on these appropriations.
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| Scholarship or Voucher Value: |
The Washington Scholarship Fund, the designated administrator of the program, distributes scholarships worth up to $7,500. The voucher may be used for tuition, fees and transportation. Amounts may vary depending on need. |
| Student or School Participation: |
In 2006-07, 1,800 students received the voucher. Sixty-eight private schools participated in the program. Applicant numbers far surpassed the number of vouchers available; the WSF received almost 4 new applications for each available voucher. |
| Student Eligibility: |
Any family in the District of Columbia that qualifies for free and reduced price lunch is eligible. Families may earn as much as 185 percent of the federal poverty level when they enter the program; in 2006, a family of four could earn up to $37,553. Families will lose their eligibility if their income later rises above 200 percent of the poverty level. Actual participation is limited by the amount of money appropriated to fund the program each year. Preference is given to students who are enrolled in public schools deemed failing under the No Child Left Behind Act. If more students apply to a participating private school than there are seats available at that school, admission must be decided at random. |
| Legal Status of Program: |
No legal challenges have been fi led against the program. |
| Regulations on the Program: |
Schools must be in the District of Columbia. Each year, the schools must provide a report to Congress on how the scholarship funds received were used. Schools must comply with antidiscrimination laws. |
| Research on Program: |
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| News on Program: |
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| Governing Statutes: |
House Resolution 2673, 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Title III |
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