{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-2704","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 38-2704","heading":"Private school program.","body":"(a)\n(1)\nFrom amounts appropriated under subsection (f) the Mayor shall award grants to eligible institutions that enroll eligible students to pay the cost of tuition and fees at the eligible institutions on behalf of each eligible student enrolled in an eligible institution. The Mayor may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.\n(2)\nAn eligible student shall have paid on the student’s behalf under this section:\n(A)\nNot more than $3,750 for any 1 award year (as defined in section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1088)); and\n(B)\nA total of not more than $18,750.\n(3)\nThe Mayor shall prorate payments under this section for students who attend an eligible institution on less than a full-time basis.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nIf the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (f) for any fiscal year are insufficient to award a grant in the amount determined under subsection (a) on behalf of each eligible student enrolled in an eligible institution, then the Mayor shall:\n(A)\nFirst, ratably reduce the amount of the tuition and fee payment made on behalf of each eligible student who has not received funds under this section for a preceding year;\n(B)\n[A]fter making reductions under subparagraph (A), ratably reduce the amount of the tuition and fee payment of each eligible student who receives more than $2,500 for the award year; and\n(C)\nAfter making reductions under subparagraph (B), ratably reduce the amount of the tuition and fee payments made on behalf of all other eligible students.\n(2)\nThe Mayor may adjust the amount of tuition and fee payments made under paragraph (1) based on:\n(A)\nThe financial need of the eligible students to avoid undue hardship to the eligible students; or\n(B)\nUndue administrative burdens on the Mayor.\n(3)\nNotwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Mayor may prioritize the making or amount of tuition and fee payments under this subsection based on the income and need of eligible students.\n\n(c)\nIn this section:\n(1)\nThe term “eligible institution” means an institution that:\n(A)\n(i)\nIs a private, nonprofit, associate or baccalaureate degree-granting, institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1001(a)), the main campus of which is located:\n(I)\nIn the District of Columbia;\n(II)\nIn the city of Alexandria, Falls Church, or Fairfax, or the county of Arlington or Fairfax, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia located within any such county; or\n(III)\nIn the county of Montgomery or Prince George’s in the State of Maryland, or a political subdivision of the State of Maryland located within any such county;\n(ii)\nIs eligible to participate in the student financial assistance programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1070 et seq.); and\n(iii)\nEnters into an agreement with the Mayor containing such conditions as the Mayor may specify, including a requirement that the institution use the funds made available under this section to supplement and not supplant assistance that otherwise would be provided to eligible students from the District of Columbia; or\n(B)\nIs a private historically Black college or university (for purposes of this subparagraph such term shall have the meaning given the term “part B institution” in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1061(2)).\n(2)\nThe term “eligible student” means an individual who meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (G) of § 38-2702(c)(2).\n(3)\nThe term “Mayor” means the Mayor of the District of Columbia.\n(4)\nThe term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education.\n\n(d)\nEach eligible student desiring a tuition and fee payment under this section shall submit an application to the eligible institution at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the eligible institution may require.\n\n(e)\n(1)\nThe Mayor shall carry out the program under this section in consultation with the Secretary. The Mayor may enter into a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement with another public or private entity to  administer the program under this section if the Mayor determines that doing so is a more efficient way of carrying out the program.\n(2)\nThe Mayor, in consultation with institutions of higher education eligible for participation in the program authorized under this section, shall develop policies and procedures for the administration of the program.\n(3)\nThe Mayor and the Secretary shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement that describes:\n(A)\nThe manner in which the Mayor shall consult with the Secretary with respect to administering the program under this section; and\n(B)\nAny technical or other assistance to be provided to the Mayor by the Secretary for purposes of administering the program under this section.\n\n(f)\nThere are authorized to be appropriated to the District of Columbia to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and (subject to § 38-2706) such sums as may be necessary for each of the 12 succeeding fiscal years. Such funds shall remain available until expended.\n\n(g)\nThis section shall take effect with respect to payments for periods of instruction that begin on or after January 1, 2000.","path":["Title 38. Educational Institutions.","Chapter 27. College Access Assistance."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/38-2704","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"1a325b63579ccdef2f2d0a16fc297243298dd6faaa0795c4e7474836ff47aad4","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-2703","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-2705"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}