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SOAR Act

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-195.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 26, 2011

Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act 2011or SOAR Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award five-year grants on a competitive basis to nonprofit organizations to carry out a program to provide expanded school choice opportunities to students who are District of Columbia (DC) residents and who come from households: (1) receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008; or (2) with incomes not exceeding 185% of the poverty line, except in certain grandfathered circumstances.

Prescribes special rules for funding opportunity scholarships for DC students.

Prescribes requirements for schools participating in such grant programs. Requires each participating school to administer a nationally norm-referenced standardized test in reading and mathematics to each enrolled student receiving an opportunity scholarship.

Repeals the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (title III of division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004). Deems this Act as the reauthorization of the opportunity scholarship program under such Act.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT] · ID–CT

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
8 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-195.

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S283-287)

  3. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S283)

  4. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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