Bill · S. 487· Senate(119-S-487)
CHOICE Act
- Introduced
- 2/6/2025
- Last activity
- 2/6/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Tim Scott
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The CHOICE Act aims to expand educational opportunities through increased choice. Title I improves opportunity scholarship provisions for low-income students in the District of Columbia. Title II amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to allow states to create programs where parents can use public or private funds for private school attendance. Title III establishes a 5-year pilot program providing scholarships to military dependent students living on select military installations. These scholarships can cover tuition, fees, and transportation for public or private schools. The bill includes various provisions regarding religious organizations and school requirements.
Yes· 3 of 6
Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one?+8
The bill significantly expands school choice through scholarships for low-income students, students with disabilities, and military dependents.
Would children be better off under this?+5
The bill provides new scholarship opportunities and educational flexibility for children.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+4
The bill improves opportunity scholarship provisions specifically for low-income students in D.C.
The opposite
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?-3
The bill allows religious schools to bypass certain sex discrimination prohibitions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Scholarship Access for D.C. Students: The bill amends the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act to include students who are currently enrolled or will be enrolled in the next school year in public or private schools (Section 102).
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Educational Choice for Children with Disabilities: States may implement programs that allow parents to use funds to pay for some or all costs of attendance at a private school (Section 202 ever).
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Financial Support for Families of Children with Disabilities: Under proposed state programs, parents may receive funds for tuition, fees, and transportation costs, or receive state tax credits for donations to entities that provide these funds (Section 202(b)(3)(B)).
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Educational Flexibility for Military Families: A 5-year pilot program provides scholarships to eligible military students to attend selected public or private schools (Section 302(b)(1)).
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Financial Assistance for Military Students: Scholarships for elementary students are set at $8,000 for the first year, and secondary students at $12,000 for the first year, with adjustments for inflation (Section 302(b)(3)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limitations on Disability Education Funds: For parents using the new option, the amount of Federal funds provided cannot exceed the total amount of tuition, fees, and transportation costs for the year (Section 202(a)(viii)(I)).
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Reduced Federal Obligations for Disability Education: When a parent exercises the option to use these funds for a selected school, it fulfills the State's obligation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for that child (Section 202(a)(viii)(II)).
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Exemptions from Requirements for Schools: Schools that accept these funds are not required to carry out the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act regarding the child (Section 202(a)(viii)(III)).
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Restrictions on Scholarship Eligibility for Military Transfers: If a family is transferred to a different military installation, the student is no longer eligible for the scholarship for that installation, though they may apply for a new one at the new location (Section 302(c)(2)(B)(ii)).
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Potential for Discriminatory Practices in Religious Schools: Participating schools connected to religious organizations may have sex discrimination prohibitions that do not apply if they are inconsistent with religious tenets, and they may exercise employment rights consistent with Title VII (Section 202(b)(3)(C) and Section 202(b)(3)(D); Section 302(d)(2) and Section 302(e)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+5Good For Low Income Households+4
- Education And Technology
- Improves School Choice+8
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+2
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Small Business Taxes+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+3Improves Gender Equality-3
- 2/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi