Bills · HR 954
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 954Academic performance and assessmentsState and local government operations
SOAR Permanent Authorization Act
INTRO FEB 4· LAST ACTION FEB 4
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
0
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
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- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it solidifies and expands a federal program providing school choice for low-income students in Washington, D.C. If this bill becomes law, the SOAR Act will have a guaranteed, increased funding stream of $75 million annually, removing the need for regular re-authorization debates and offering long-term stability for families relying on these scholarships. This means more students could potentially receive scholarships, and those already in the program would have more assurance that it will continue.
Furthermore, the bill introduces a specific focus on academic support, like tutoring, for scholarship recipients, particularly targeting students from the District's lowest-performing schools. This could lead to improved academic outcomes for some of D.C.'s most vulnerable students. The changes to how the program is evaluated mean a more comprehensive look at its long-term impact on students' lives, including college success and school safety, offering better data on the program's effectiveness beyond just test scores.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Permanently authorizes and increases funding for the SOAR Act from $60 million to $75 million annually starting in fiscal year 2024.
This provides long-term financial stability and an increase in resources for the scholarship program, ensuring its continuation for D.C. students.
PROVISION 02
Adds specific funding for tutoring services for scholarship students, prioritizing those from low-performing D.C. public schools.
This directly addresses academic needs by providing targeted support to students who may be struggling, helping them succeed in their chosen schools.
PROVISION 03
Changes the frequency of program evaluations from "annually" to "regularly" and expands the scope of what is evaluated.
This allows for more flexibility in evaluation timing while requiring more comprehensive assessments of long-term student outcomes, including college success and school safety.
PROVISION 04
Adjusts accreditation requirements for participating schools, potentially allowing more types of schools to accept scholarship students.
This could broaden the options available to scholarship recipients by recognizing additional accrediting bodies.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 0
R· Michigan
YRS IN OFFICE
11
BILLS LED
49
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 4
Introduced in House
FEB 4
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 954
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 4, 2025
Last actionFeb 4, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 4, 2025
House BillHR 954Academic performance and assessmentsState and local government operations
SOAR Permanent Authorization Act
INTRODUCED FEB 4, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 4, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
0
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
