DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP)
Helping Families Access More Educational Opportunities
The District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) provides federally funded scholarships to eligible students residing in the District of Columbia to attend participating private schools. The program helps make high-quality educational opportunities more accessible by providing tuition assistance to families seeking the learning environment that best meets their child’s needs.
What is the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP)?
The Opportunity Scholarship Program is a federally funded school choice program administered by Serving Our Children DC (SOCD) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education.
OSP scholarships help eligible District of Columbia families offset the cost of tuition, fees, and other approved educational expenses at participating private schools. Scholarships are awarded annually based on program eligibility, available funding, and continued participation requirements.
Who Can Apply?
Students may qualify for an Opportunity Scholarship if they:
- Reside in the District of Columbia.
- Meet the current household income eligibility requirements established for the program.
- Are applying to or enrolled in a participating OSP private school.
- Submit a complete application with all required supporting documentation by the application deadline.
Preference for scholarship awards may be given in accordance with current federal program requirements. Families should carefully review the annual eligibility criteria before applying, as requirements may change from year to year.
Important Dates
The Opportunity Scholarship Program operates on an annual application cycle. Families should monitor the official OSP website for the most current application timeline.
Typical annual milestones include:
- Application Opens: Early spring
- Application Deadline: Late spring
- Award Notifications: Summer
- Student Enrollment Verification: Prior to the start of the school year
Applying as early as possible is strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for application review and school enrollment.
For More Information on the Opportunity Scholarship Program and Application process:
Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP)
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Serving Our Children FAQ
Application Serving Our Children | Apply
Participating Schools Directory Serving Our Children | Find a School