The Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) is administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education within the U.S. Department of Education. It aims to enhance educational options for low-income families residing in the District of Columbia. Established in 2004 through the DC School Choice Incentive Act and reauthorized in 2017, the OSP provides parents, particularly those whose children attend underperforming public schools, the chance to enroll their children in private educational institutions within the District of Columbia.

For the fiscal year 2025, one cooperative agreement will be awarded to an eligible nonprofit organization or consortium of nonprofits to manage the OSP. The grant will total $17,500,000, with a project duration of up to five years, structured into annual budget periods. Of this amount, up to $1,750,000 may be allocated to administrative costs, including parental and student academic assistance. All such expenditures must comply with federal cost principles outlined in the Uniform Guidance.

Eligible applicants must be nonprofit entities, as defined by federal regulations, and must provide documentation verifying their nonprofit status. Faith-based organizations may also apply on equal footing with other private entities. Applications must detail the organization’s plan for addressing the priorities of the SOAR Act, ensuring fair selection processes for students and schools, notifying parents about available opportunities, supporting participating schools, and maintaining robust internal fiscal and quality controls. Importantly, participating schools must be located in the District of Columbia and demonstrate financial responsibility and viability.

The application process begins on April 28, 2025, and ends on July 7, 2025. Intergovernmental review is due by September 5, 2025. Applications must adhere to formatting and submission guidelines, and applicants are encouraged to respect a recommended narrative limit of 25 pages. Submissions may include proprietary business information, which should be clearly identified if confidentiality is requested.

Evaluation of proposals will be based on project design, resource adequacy, and the quality of the management plan, with a total of 100 points distributed across these criteria. Selection will also take into account applicants’ past performance and compliance with civil rights laws. Awardees will be required to openly license all grant deliverables and comply with extensive reporting and monitoring requirements throughout the grant period.

For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact Beth Yeh at the U.S. Department of Education via telephone at (202) 205-5798 or email at beth.yeh@ed.gov.