The SOAR Permanent Authorization Act makes several changes to Washington D.C.'s Scholarships for Opportunity and Results program, which provides tax-funded scholarships for low-income D.C. students to attend private schools. The bill expands eligibility by allowing schools accredited by certain English language programs to participate, increases the annual funding cap from $2 million to $2.2 million to support tutoring for students needing academic help (prioritizing those from low-performing public schools), and relaxes standardized testing and evaluation requirements by changing from annual to regular assessments and broadening the types of metrics used to measure program success. The bill permanently authorizes funding at $75 million per fiscal year beginning in 2024, replacing the previous temporary authorization that expired in 2023. The changes streamline program administration while maintaining oversight of academic outcomes and student satisfaction.
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