,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #efd #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dija ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #i1 #bjaf,received ,july #ac1 #bjaf,read the first time ,july #ad1 #bjaf,read the second time and placed on the calendar ,,an ,,act ,to reauthorize the ,scholarships for ,opportunity and ,results ,act1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 references in ,act 7a7 ,short ,title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,scholarships for ,opportunity and ,results ,reauthorization ,act or the ,,soar ,reauthorization ,act4 7b7 ,references in ,act ,except as otherwise expressly provided1 whenever in this ,act an amendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to or repeal of a section or other provision1 the reference shall be considered to be made to that section or other provision of the ,scholarships for ,opportunity and ,results ,act 7division ,c of ,public ,law #aab-aj2 sec4 #ch-ahec4ja et seq41 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code74 #b4 ,repeal ,section #hag of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjaf 7,public ,law #aad-aac7 is repealed1 and any provision of law amended or repealed by such section is restored or revived as if such section had not been enacted into law4 #c4 ,purposes ,section #cjjc 7sec4 #ch-ahec4jc1 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended by striking particularly parents and all that follows through 1 with and inserting particularly parents of students who attend an elementary school or secondary school identified as one of the lowest-performing schools under the ,district of ,columbia's accountability system1 with4 #d4 ,prohibiting imposition of limits on types of eligible students participating in the program ,section #cjjd7;a7 7sec4 #ch-ahec4jd7;a71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,prohibiting imposition of limits on eligible students participating in the program 7,a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the program under this division1 the ,secretary may not limit the number of eligible students receiving scholarships under section #cjjg7;a71 and may not prevent otherwise eligible students from participating in the program under this division1 based on any of the following3 7i7 ,the type of school the student previously attended4 7ii7 ,whether or not the student previously received a scholarship or participated in the program1 including whether an eligible student was awarded a scholarship in any previous year but has not used the scholarship1 regardless of the number of years of nonuse4 7iii7 ,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 #cjji4 7,b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in subparagraph 7,a7 may be construed to waive the requirement under section #cjje7;b77#a77;,b7 that the eligible entity carrying out the program under this ,act must carry out a random selection process1 which gives weight to the priorities described in section #cjjf1 if more eligible students seek admission in the program than the program can accommodate4 4 #e4 ,requiring eligible entities to utilize internal fiscal and quality controls ,section #cjje7;b77#a7 7sec4 #ch-ahec4je7;b77#a71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,i71 by striking 1 except that a participating school may not be required to submit to more than #a site visit per school year2 7#b7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,k7 and 7,l7 as subparagraphs 7,l7 and 7,m71 respectively2 7#c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,j7 the following3 7,k7 how the entity will ensure the financial viability of participating schools in which #he percent or more of the total number of students enrolled at the school are participating eligible students that receive and use an opportunity scholarship2 2 7#d7 in subparagraph 7,l71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#b71 by striking and at the end2 and 7#e7 by adding at the end the following3 7,n7 how the eligible entity will ensure that it-- 7i7 utilizes internal fiscal and quality controls2 and 7ii7 complies with applicable financial reporting requirements and the requirements of this division2 and 4 #f4 ,clarification of priorities for awarding scholarships to eligible students ,section #cjjf7a7 7sec4 #ch-ahec4jf7a71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking attended and all that follows through the semicolon and inserting attended an elementary school or secondary school identified as one of the lowest-performing schools under the ,district of ,columbia's accountability system2 and2 7#b7 by striking subparagraph 7,b72 7#c7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,c7 as subparagraph 7,b72 and 7#d7 in subparagraph 7,b71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#c71 by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting 8or whether such students have1 in the past1 attended a private school204 #g4 ,modification of requirements for participating schools and eligible entities 7a7 ,criminal ,background ,checks2 ,compliance ,with ,reporting ,requirements ,section #cjjg7;a77#d7 7sec4 #ch-ahec4jg7;a77#d71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,e71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 by striking subparagraph 7,f7 and inserting the following3 7,f7 ensures that1 with respect to core subject matter1 participating students are taught by a teacher who has a baccalaureate degree or equivalent degree1 whether such degree was awarded in or outside of the ,united ,states2 2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,g7 conducts criminal background checks on school employees who have direct and unsupervised interaction with students2 and 7,h7 complies with all requests for data and information regarding the reporting requirements described in section #cjaj4 4 7b7 ,accreditation ,section #cjjg7;a7 7sec4 #ch-ahec4jg7;a71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code71 as amended by subsection 7a71 is further amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 and inserting paragraphs 7#b71 7#c71 and 7#e72 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#e7 ,accreditation requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,none of the funds provided under this division for opportunity scholarships may be used by a participating eligible student to enroll in a participating private school unless the school-- 7i7 in the case of a school that is a participating school as of the date of enactment of the ,,soar ,reauthorization ,act-- 7,i7 is fully accredited by an accrediting body described in any of subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,g7 of section #bbjb7af7 of the ,district of ,columbia ,school ,reform ,act of #aiie 7,public ,law #ajd-acd2 sec4 #ch-ahjb4jb7af77;,a7-7,g71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code72 or 7,,ii7 if such participating school does not meet the requirements of subclause 7,i7-- 7aa7 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjaf 7,public ,law #aad-aac71 the school is pursuing full accreditation by an accrediting body described in subclause 7,i72 and 7bb7 is fully accredited by such an accrediting body not later than #e years after the date on which that school began the process of pursuing full accreditation in accordance with item 7aa72 and 7ii7 in the case of a school that is not a participating school as of the date of enactment of the ,,soar ,reauthorization ,act1 is fully accredited by an accrediting body described in clause 7i77,i7 before becoming a participating school under this division4 7,b7 ,reports to eligible entity ,not later than #e years after the date of enactment of the ,,soar ,reauthorization ,act1 each participating school shall submit to the eligible entity a certification that the school has been fully accredited in accordance with subparagraph 7,a74 7,c7 ,assisting students in enrolling in other schools ,if a participating school fails to meet the requirements of this paragraph1 the eligible entity shall assist the parents of the participating eligible students who attend the school in identifying1 applying to1 and enrolling in another participating school under this division4 7#f7 ,treatment of students awarded a scholarship in a previous year ,an eligible entity shall treat a participating eligible student who was awarded an opportunity scholarship in any previous year and who has not used the scholarship as a renewal student and not as a new applicant1 without regard as to-- 7,a7 whether the eligible student has used the scholarship2 and 7,b7 the year in which the scholarship was previously awarded4 4 7c7 ,requiring ,use of ,funds ,remaining ,unobligated ,from ,previous ,fiscal ,years 7#a7 ,in general ,section #cjjg 7sec4 #ch-ahec4jg1 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,requiring ,use of ,funds ,remaining ,unobligated ,from ,previous ,fiscal ,years 7#a7 ,in general ,to the extent that any funds appropriated for the opportunity scholarship program under this division for any fiscal year remain available for subsequent fiscal years under section #cjad7;c71 the ,secretary shall make such funds available to eligible entities receiving grants under section #cjjd7;a7 for the uses described in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 in the case of any remaining funds that were appropriated before the date of enactment of the ,,soar ,reauthorization ,act1 beginning on the date of enactment of such ,act2 and 7,b7 in the case of any remaining funds appropriated on or after the date of enactment of such ,act1 by the first day of the first subsequent fiscal year4 7#b7 ,use of funds ,if an eligible entity to which the ,secretary provided additional funds under paragraph 7#a7 elects to use such funds during a fiscal year1 the eligible entity shall use-- 7,a7 not less than #ie percent of such additional funds to provide additional scholarships for eligible students under section #cjjg7;a71 or to increase the amount of the scholarships1 during such year2 and 7,b7 not more than a total of #e percent of such additional funds for administrative expenses1 parental assistance1 or tutoring1 as described in subsections 7b7 and 7c71 during such year4 7#c7 ,special rule ,any amounts made available for administrative expenses1 parental assistance1 or tutoring under paragraph 7#b77;,b7 shall be in addition to any other amounts made available for such purposes in accordance with subsections 7b7 and 7c74 4 7#b7 ,effective date ,the amendment made by paragraph 7#a7 shall take effect on the date of enactment of this ,act4 7d7 ,use of ,funds for ,administrative ,expenses and ,parental ,assistance ,section #cjjg 7sec4 #ch-ahec4jg1 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code71 as amended by this section1 is further amended-- 7#a7 by striking subsections 7b7 and 7c7 and inserting the following3 7b7 ,administrative ,expenses and ,parental ,assistance ,the ,secretary shall make #b1jjj1jjj of the amount made available under section #cjad7;a77#a7 for each fiscal year available to eligible entities receiving a grant under section #cjjd7;a7 to cover the following expenses3 7#a7 ,the administrative expenses of carrying out its program under this division during the year1 including-- 7,a7 determining the eligibility of students to participate2 7,b7 selecting the eligible students to receive scholarships2 7,c7 determining the amount of the scholarships and issuing the scholarships to eligible students2 7,d7 compiling and maintaining financial and programmatic records2 7,e7 conducting site visits as described in section #cjje7;b77#a77;,i72 and 7,f7 7i7 conducting a study1 including a survey of participating parents1 on any barriers for participating eligible students in gaining admission to1 or attending1 the participating school that is their first choice2 and 7ii7 not later than the end of the first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of the ,,soar ,reauthorization ,act1 submitting a report to ,congress that contains the results of such study4 7#b7 ,the expenses of educating parents about the eligible entity's program under this division1 and assisting parents through the application process under this division1 including-- 7,a7 providing information about the program and the participating schools to parents of eligible students1 including information on supplemental financial aid that may be available at participating schools2 7,b7 providing funds to assist parents of students in meeting expenses that might otherwise preclude the participation of eligible students in the program2 and 7,c7 streamlining the application process for parents4 2 and 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7d71 and subsection 7e7 7as added by subsection 7c77#a771 as subsections 7c7 and 7d71 respectively4 7e7 ,clarification of ,use of ,funds for ,student ,academic ,assistance ,section #cjjg7;c7 7sec4 #ch-ahec4jg7;c71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code71 as redesignated by subsection 7d77#b71 is amended by striking previously attended and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting previously attended an elementary school or secondary school identified as one of the lowest-performing schools under the ,district of ,columbia's accountability system44 #h4 ,program ,evaluation 7a7 ,revision of ,evaluation ,procedures and ,requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,section #cjji7;a7 7sec4 #ch-ahec4ji7;a71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended to read as follows3 7a7 ,in ,general 7#a7 ,duties of the ,secretary and the ,mayor ,the ,secretary and the ,mayor of the ,district of ,columbia shall-- 7,a7 jointly enter into an agreement with the ,institute of ,education ,sciences of the ,department of ,education to evaluate annually the opportunity scholarship program under this division2 7,b7 jointly enter into an agreement to monitor and evaluate the use of funds authorized and appropriated for the ,district of ,columbia public schools and the ,district of ,columbia public charter schools under this division2 and 7,c7 make the evaluations described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 public in accordance with subsection 7c74 7#b7 ,duties of the ,secretary ,the ,secretary1 through a grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement1 shall-- 7,a7 ensure that the evaluation under paragraph 7#a77;,a7-- 7i7 is conducted using an acceptable quasi-experimental research design for determining the effectiveness of the opportunity scholarship program under this division that does not use a control study group consisting of students who applied for but did not receive opportunity scholarships2 and 7ii7 addresses the issues described in paragraph 7#d72 and 7,b7 disseminate information on the impact of the program-- 7i7 in increasing academic achievement and educational attainment of participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship2 and 7ii7 on students and schools in the ,district of ,columbia4 7#c7 ,duties of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences ,the ,institute of ,education ,sciences of the ,department of ,education shall-- 7,a7 assess participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship in each of grades #c through #h1 as well as one of the grades at the high school level1 by supervising the administration of the same reading and mathematics assessment used by the ,district of ,columbia public schools to comply with section #aaaa7;b7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b772 7,b7 measure the academic achievement of all participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship in the grades described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,c7 work with eligible entities receiving a grant under this division to ensure that the parents of each student who is a participating eligible student that uses an opportunity scholarship agrees to permit their child to participate in the evaluations and assessments carried out by the ,institute of ,education ,sciences under this subsection4 7#d7 ,issues to be evaluated ,the issues to be evaluated under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a comparison of the academic achievement of participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship on the measurements described in paragraph 7#c77;,b7 to the academic achievement of a comparison group of students with similar backgrounds in the ,district of ,columbia public schools4 7,b7 ,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 choice4 7,c7 ,the reasons parents of participating eligible students choose for their children to participate in the program1 including important characteristics for selecting schools4 7,d7 ,a comparison of the retention rates1 high school graduation rates1 college enrollment rates1 college persistence rates1 and college graduation rates of participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship with the rates of students in the comparison group described in subparagraph 7,a74 7,e7 ,a comparison of the college enrollment rates1 college persistence rates1 and college graduation rates of students who participated in the program in #bjjd1 #bjje1 #bjaa1 #bjab1 #bjac1 #bjad1 and #bjae as the result of winning the ,opportunity ,scholarship ,program lottery with such enrollment1 persistence1 and graduation rates for students who entered but did not win such lottery in those years and who1 as a result1 served as the control group for previous evaluations of the program under this division4 ,nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to waive section #cjjd7;a77#c77;,a77iii7 with respect to any such student4 7,f7 ,a comparison of the safety of the schools attended by participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship and the schools in the ,district of ,columbia attended by students in the comparison group described in subparagraph 7,a71 based on the perceptions of the students and parents4 7,g7 ,an assessment of student academic achievement at participating schools in which #he percent of the total number of students enrolled at the school are participating eligible students who receive and use an opportunity scholarship4 7,h7 ,such other issues with respect to participating eligible students who use an opportunity scholarship as the ,secretary considers appropriate for inclusion in the evaluation1 such as the impact of the program on public elementary schools and secondary schools in the ,district of ,columbia4 7#e7 ,prohibiting disclosure of personal information 7,a7 ,in general ,any disclosure of personally identifiable information obtained under this division shall be in compliance with section #ddd of the ,general ,education ,provisions ,act 7commonly known as the #8,family ,educational ,rights and ,privacy ,act of #aigd'7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #abcb;g74 7,b7 ,students not attending public schools ,with respect to any student who is not attending a public elementary school or secondary school1 personally identifiable information obtained under this division shall only be disclosed to-- 7i7 individuals carrying out the evaluation described in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 for such student2 7ii7 the group of individuals providing information for carrying out the evaluation of such student2 and 7iii7 the parents of such student4 4 7#b7 ,transition of evaluation 7,a7 ,termination of previous evaluations ,the ,secretary of ,education shall-- 7i7 terminate the evaluations conducted under section #cjji7;a7 of the ,scholarships for ,opportunity and ,results ,act 7sec4 #ch-ahec4ji7;a71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code71 as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this ,act1 after obtaining data for the #bjaf-bjag school year2 and 7ii7 submit any reports required for the #bjaf-bjag school year or preceding years with respect to the evaluations in accordance with section #cjji7;b7 of such ,act4 7,b7 ,new evaluations 7i7 ,in ,general ,effective beginning with respect to the #bjag-bjah school year1 the ,secretary shall conduct new evaluations in accordance with the provisions of section #cjji7;a7 of the ,scholarships for ,opportunity and ,results ,act 7sec4 #ch-ahec4ji7;a71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code71 as amended by this ,act4 7ii7 ,most recent evaluation ,as a component of the new evaluations described in clause 7i71 the ,secretary shall continue to monitor and evaluate the students who were evaluated in the most recent evaluation under such section prior to the date of enactment of this ,act1 including by monitoring and evaluating the test scores and other information of such students4 7b7 ,duty of ,mayor ,to ,ensure ,institute ,has ,all ,information ,necessary ,to ,carry ,out ,evaluations ,section #cjaa7;a77#a7 7sec4 #ch-ahec4aa7;a77#a71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended to read as follows3 7#a7 ,information necessary to carry out evaluations ,ensure that all ,district of ,columbia public schools and ,district of ,columbia public charter schools make available to the ,institute of ,education ,sciences of the ,department of ,education all of the information the ,institute requires to carry out the assessments and perform the evaluations required under section #cjji7;a74 4 #i4 ,funding for ,district of ,columbia ,public ,schools and ,public ,charter ,schools 7a7 ,mandatory withholding of funds for failure ,to comply with conditions ,section #cjaa7;b7 7sec4 #ch-ahec4aa7;b71 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended to read as follows3 7b7 ,enforcement ,if1 after reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing1 the ,secretary determines that the ,mayor has failed to comply with any of the requirements of subsection 7a71 the ,secretary may withhold from the ,mayor1 in whole or in part-- 7#a7 the funds otherwise authorized to be appropriated under section #cjad7;a77#b71 if the failure to comply relates to the ,district of ,columbia public schools2 7#b7 the funds otherwise authorized to be appropriated under section #cjad7;a77#c71 if the failure to comply relates to the ,district of ,columbia public charter schools2 or 7#c7 the funds otherwise authorized to be appropriated under both paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 of section #cjad7;a71 if the failure relates to both the ,district of ,columbia public schools and the ,district of ,columbia public charter schools4 4 7b7 ,rules for ,use of ,funds ,provided for ,support of ,public ,charter ,schools ,section #cjaa 7sec4 #ch-ahec4aa1 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code71 as amended by section #g7;b7 and section #h7;a71 is further amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7c7 as subsection 7d72 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7b7 the following new subsection3 7c7 ,specific ,rules ,regarding ,funds ,provided for ,support of ,public ,charter ,schools ,the following rules shall apply with respect to the funds provided under this division for the support of ,district of ,columbia public charter schools3 7#a7 ,the ,secretary may direct the funds provided for any fiscal year1 or any portion thereof1 to the ,office of the ,state ,superintendent of ,education of the ,district of ,columbia4 7#b7 ,the ,office of the ,state ,superintendent of ,education of the ,district of ,columbia may transfer the funds to subgrantees that are-- 7,a7 specific ,district of ,columbia public charter schools or networks of such schools2 or 7,b7 ,district of ,columbia-based nonprofit organizations with experience in successfully providing support or assistance to ,district of ,columbia public charter schools or networks of such schools4 7#c7 ,the funds provided under this division for the support of ,district of ,columbia public charter schools shall be available to any ,district of ,columbia public charter school in good standing with the ,district of ,columbia ,charter ,school ,board1 and the ,office of the ,state ,superintendent of ,education of the ,district of ,columbia and the ,district of ,columbia ,charter ,school ,board may not restrict the availability of such funds to certain types of schools on the basis of the school's location1 governing body1 or the school's facilities4 4 #aj4 ,revision of current ,memorandum of ,understanding ,not later than the beginning of the #bjag-bjah school year1 the ,secretary of ,education and the ,mayor of the ,district of ,columbia shall revise the memorandum of understanding which is in effect under section #cjab7;d7 of the ,scholarships for ,opportunity and ,results ,act as of the day before the date of the enactment of this ,act to address the following3 7#a7 ,the amendments made by this ,act4 7#b7 ,the need to ensure that participating schools under the ,scholarships for ,opportunity and ,results ,act meet fire code standards and maintain certificates of occupancy4 7#c7 ,the need to ensure that ,district of ,columbia public schools and ,district of ,columbia public charter schools meet the requirements under such ,act to comply with all reasonable requests for information necessary to carry out the evaluations required under section #cjji7;a7 of such ,act4 #aa4 ,definitions ,section #cjac 7sec4 #ch-ahec4ac1 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#aj7 as paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#aa71 respectively2 7#b7 by inserting before paragraph 7#b71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#a71 the following3 7#a7 ,core subject matter ,the term core subject matter means-- 7,a7 mathematics2 7,b7 science2 and 7,c7 ,english1 reading1 or language arts4 2 and 7#c7 in paragraph 7#d77;,b77ii71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#a71 by inserting household with a before student4 #ab4 ,extension of authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,section #cjad 7sec4 #ch-ahec4ad1 ,d4,c4 ,official ,code7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking and for each of the #d succeeding fiscal years and inserting and for each fiscal year through fiscal year #bjba2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7c7 ,availability ,amounts appropriated under subsection 7a77#a71 including amounts appropriated and available under such subsection before the date of enactment of the ,,soar ,reauthorization ,act1 shall remain available until expended4 4 7b7 ,effective date ,the amendment made by subsection 7a77#b7 shall take effect on the date of enactment of this ,act4 #ac4 ,effective date ,except as otherwise provided1 the amendments made by this ,act shall apply with respect to school year #bjag-bjah and each succeeding school year4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,april #bi1 #bjaf4,karen ,l4 ,haas1,clerk ,july #ad1 #bjaf,read the second time and placed on the calendar