DC Opportunity Scholarship Program

To provide low-income parents residing in the District of Columbia with expanded options for the education of their children. This program is part of a broader school improvement effort in the District of Columbia.

An educational entity of the District of Columbia Government; a nonprofit organization; or a consortium of nonprofit organizations.

To receive an award under this program, an applicant must ensure that a majority of the members of its voting board or governing organization are residents of the District of Columbia. As required by the program statute, the Secretary gives priority to applications from eligible entities that will most effectively (1) in awarding scholarships under section 3007(a), give priority to—(A) eligible students who, in the school year preceding the school year for which the eligible students are seeking a scholarship, attended an elementary school or secondary school identified as one of the lowest-performing schools under the District of Columbia’s accountability system; and (B) students whose household includes a sibling or other child who is already participating in the program of the eligible entity under this division, regardless of whether such students have, in the past, been assigned as members of a control study group for the purposes of an evaluation under section 3009(a); or whether such students have, in the past, attended a private school; (2) target resources to students and families that lack the financial resources to take advantage of available educational options; and (3) provide students and families with the widest range of educational options.

Applicants must submit the following by the designated deadline: (1) The applicant must provide a written narrative, which addresses the selection criteria (and the required application content) that reviewers use in evaluating their applications. (2) Required forms to be submitted with the application include SF424; Sections A, B, and C of ED Form 524; Assurance - Non Construction Programs; Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Disclosure of Lobbying Activity; Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions. (3) Applicants for grants under this program are required to submit applications electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-Application) available through the Department's e-GRANTS system. Specific instructions for submitting applications electronically are included in the application notice.

The Department of Education awards this grant on a competitive basis. The program office notifies the successful applicant of the award, negotiates the final budget, and awards the grant. Contact the program office for more information.

Approximately 60 days.