SOAR Permanent Authorization Act

S. 3710 would amend the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act, which provides education funding for the District of Columbia. The bill would permanently authorize federal funding for the program, which currently serves low-income students through private school vouchers, public schools, and public charter schools. If enacted, the bill would increase authorized funding levels and modify how the program operates.

The bill would make several operational changes to the SOAR program. These include adjusting accreditation requirements for participating private schools, increasing funding available for student tutoring services, and modifying how the program is evaluated and monitored. The bill would also extend grant periods for organizations administering the program. These changes are intended to provide greater flexibility and stability for the education scholarship program serving District of Columbia families.

The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.