DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (2026-27): Amounts, Eligibility, How to Apply and DC Homeschool Rules

Last updated: November 1, 2026. We checked the Serving Our Children pages for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and how to apply, plus OSSE’s Apply to Homeschool and local homeschool requirements pages. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Washington, DC has one private school choice program: the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, usually shortened to OSP. It is unusual because Congress, not the DC Council, created and funds it, under the federal SOAR Act. A nonprofit called Serving Our Children runs it day to day.

OSP gives need-based scholarships to DC children so they can attend a participating private school. There is no DC education savings account, no DC tax credit for tuition and no public money for homeschooling families. Here is what the program pays, who qualifies, how the application works and what DC requires if you homeschool instead.

This guide is part of our series on state education funding, which starts with the hub guide, State Education Funding Programs for Parents. If you are brand new to the idea, our step-by-step guide to starting homeschooling covers the basics that apply in every state.

Quick answer: The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program pays up to $10,000 a year for elementary and middle school and up to $15,000 for high school at participating private schools for 2026-27. First-time applicants must be DC residents who receive SNAP or have household income at or below 185% of the income threshold (300% for renewing families). The 2027-28 application opened on September 8, 2026, and the cycle usually runs into April or May. DC has no state-funded homeschool program. To homeschool, you file a Notification of Intent with OSSE at least 15 business days before you start, then renew by August 15 each year.

DC’s Programs at a Glance

Here is how the options line up for DC families as of November 1, 2026.

Program	What it is	Who it serves	Amount
D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP)	Federally funded private school scholarship	DC residents in K-12 who receive SNAP or meet income limits	Up to $10,000 (elementary and middle) or $15,000 (high school) for 2026-27
Homeschooling through OSSE	Legal option to teach at home	Any DC family that meets OSSE rules	No public funding
Federal Scholarship Tax Credit	Federal tax credit for donors to scholarship groups, starting 2027	Only in states that opt in	DC was not on the IRS list as of October 22, 2026

Serving Our Children says scholarships can pay for tuition, uniforms, books, transportation and other school-related fees, up to the annual maximum. You must apply to and be accepted by a participating private school on your own. The scholarship application and the school application are separate processes.

How the Opportunity Scholarship Program Works

According to Serving Our Children, OSP awards need-based scholarships each year to eligible DC children for a participating private elementary, middle or high school. For school year 2026-27, the maximum award is $10,000 for elementary and middle school and $15,000 for high school.

The award follows the student to any participating school, but only up to the annual maximum. If tuition is higher, the family or the school covers the difference, so ask each school how it handles the gap before you commit.

If more families apply than there are seats

For first-time applicants, Serving Our Children says scholarships may be awarded by lottery when more eligible students apply than there are slots or funds. Students who are not picked go on a wait list. Lottery dates are posted on the OSP calendar. Returning students get an eligibility notice that explains their next step.

Who Qualifies and How to Apply

Serving Our Children’s Apply page lists these eligibility rules:

• The child must be a current DC resident.
• The child must be 5 years old or older by September 30 to enter kindergarten through 12th grade for the coming school year.
• The family must receive SNAP benefits or have income at or below 185% of the income threshold for first-time applicants. Renewing families may have income up to 300% of the threshold.

The application steps

• Create a family account on the OSP Parent Portal and verify your email.
• Fill out the scholarship application online, or at the Serving Our Children office at 1707 L Street NW, Suite 300.
• Upload proof of DC residency and proof of income for every adult in the household, such as a signed federal tax return with W-2s or a current SNAP benefits letter.
• Wait for document approval and your eligibility notice. First-time applicants may then be entered into a lottery.
• Apply separately to the participating private school you want, and do it early.

The OSP calendar shows the 2027-28 application opened on September 8, 2026. Serving Our Children says the cycle runs from September to April or May, and staff hold application events at libraries and recreation centers from October through April. Individual private schools set their own admission deadlines, which are listed on the calendar too.

Recent Changes and Status (as of November 2026)

• Federal authorization: OSP depends on Congress. On January 28, 2026, Sen. Ron Johnson announced a bill to permanently authorize the program. As of November 1, 2026, we did not find that bill enacted, so funding still depends on regular federal appropriations.
• Federal Scholarship Tax Credit: starting January 1, 2027, the IRS says donors can claim a federal credit of up to $1,700 for gifts to approved scholarship groups, but only in states and DC if they opt in. The IRS participating list dated October 22, 2026 does not include DC.
• Program research: the U.S. Department of Education’s research arm published a report on OSP participation since the 2017 reauthorization if you want background on who uses the program.

Homeschooling in DC: OSSE Notification Rules

Homeschooling is legal in DC, but it gets no public money, and OSP cannot be used for it. OSSE’s local requirements page says the rules apply to DC residents ages 5 to 18.

• File a Notification of Intent to Homeschool online with OSSE at least 15 business days before the first day of home instruction (Apply to Homeschool).
• If your child is leaving a public or charter school, give the school the verification letter OSSE sends you and follow its exit process. Until the withdrawal is official, the student keeps getting unexcused absences.
• Submit a Notification of Homeschool Continuation by August 15 for every year you continue.
• To stop homeschooling, file a Notification to Discontinue at least 15 business days ahead.
• Teach language arts, math, science, social studies, art, music, health and physical education, with thorough and regular instruction.
• Keep a portfolio of your child’s current work for at least one year, and show it to OSSE if asked.
• The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalent, or a waiver from OSSE.

OSSE also notes that students who received special education services in public school stop receiving them once they withdraw. For the bigger picture, see our guide to homeschool laws by state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the DC Opportunity Scholarship?

For 2026-27, up to $10,000 for elementary and middle school and up to $15,000 for high school, according to Serving Our Children.

Who runs the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program?

Serving Our Children, a DC nonprofit, administers it. The money comes from Congress under the federal SOAR Act.

Can I still apply for 2027-28?

Yes. The 2027-28 application opened on September 8, 2026, and Serving Our Children says the cycle runs into April or May. Apply early, because first-time awards may be made by lottery.

Can I use OSP to homeschool?

No. OSP pays for participating private schools only. DC has no public funding for homeschooling.

How do I start homeschooling in DC?

File OSSE’s Notification of Intent to Homeschool at least 15 business days before you start, then file a continuation notice by August 15 each year.

Sources

We checked each of these official pages on November 1, 2026. Rules and dates change, so confirm anything important with the agency before you rely on it.

• Serving Our Children: For Parents (OSP amounts and uses)
• Serving Our Children: Apply (eligibility and steps)
• Serving Our Children: OSP calendar
• OSSE: Apply to Homeschool
• OSSE: Homeschooling in the District, local requirements
• IRS: Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
• IRS: FSTC participating states for 2027
• Sen. Ron Johnson: SOAR permanent authorization bill (Jan. 28, 2026)
• Institute of Education Sciences: OSP participation since the 2017 reauthorization

Looking for another state? Go back to the State Education Funding Programs for Parents hub for the full list of state guides.