H944 - Opportunity Scholarship Act

• Creates scholarship grants of up to $4,200 for eligible low-income students to attend nonpublic schools meeting state requirements, with first awards beginning in 2013-2014 school year.

• Establishes eligibility criteria including household income at or below federal free/reduced lunch program levels, with priority given to prior scholarship recipients and students from public schools, plus new provisions for kindergarten/first grade entry and foster care/adopted children starting in 2014-2015.

• Requires nonpublic schools accepting scholarship students to conduct criminal background checks, administer standardized tests annually, provide progress reports, maintain financial reviews, and cannot charge additional fees to scholarship recipients.

• Appropriates $10 million for 2013-2014 and $40 million for 2014-2015, with intent to appropriate $50 million annually beginning in 2015-2016; allows Authority to retain up to 1% for administrative costs.

• Requires annual reporting to Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on scholarship recipients' demographics, funded schools, and learning outcomes through independent research organization analysis comparing nonpublic school students to public school students with similar backgrounds.