Proposals to Establish a K-12 Scholarship or Voucher Program in the District of Columbia: Policy Issues and Analysis

Publication Date: December 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Education

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Abstract:

In the 108th Congress, numerous proposals have been made to establish federal programs designed to increase parents' opportunities to choose the elementary and secondary schools their children attend. A few of these proposals would create new school choice programs specifically designed to serve parents and students in the District of Columbia.

On December 8, 2003, the House agreed to the conference report (H.Rept. 108401) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 (H.R. 2673) which among other things would authorize the establishment of a scholarship program in the District of Columbia under the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003. The bill would create a competitive grant program under which the Secretary of Education would award grants to eligible entities for the operation of one or more scholarship programs in the District of Columbia. Grantees would award scholarships (also commonly referred to as school vouchers) of up to $7,500 per academic year to elementary and secondary school students, who are residents of the District of Columbia and whose family income does not exceed 185% of the poverty level, to enable them to attend private schools located in the District of Columbia. For FY2004, $14 million would be provided to fund and administer the program. At present, the Senate has not voted on the conference report. Previously, the House and Senate considered establishing a scholarship program in the District of Columbia as part of FY2004 appropriations bills for the District of Columbia (H.R. 2765, S. 1583, and S.Amdt. 1783) or a separate bill reported by a House Committee (H.R. 2556).

This report identifies and briefly discusses some of the issues that have led to a new federally funded school choice program being considered as a policy option for elementary and secondary education in the District of Columbia. It provides a brief description of the proposed scholarship program. The report then identifies and analyzes a number of policy issues that the 108th Congress may consider as it debates the proposal. Significant policy issues discussed in the report include: the potential effect of the proposed program on school choice in the District of Columbia; the potential of the program to affect the distribution of federal and local education funding in the District of Columbia; how nondiscrimination and civil rights laws might apply to grantees and participating schools; and how accountability of the program would be assured.

This report will be updated consistent with significant legislative activity.