District of Columbia: Financial and Program Management Improvements Needed for Tuition Assistance Grant Program

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Congress created the District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) program in 1999 to provide D.C. college-bound residents with greater choices among institutions of higher education by affording them the benefits of in-state tuition at state colleges and universities outside the District of Columbia. Congress appropriated $17 million annually for fiscal years 2000 through 2004 and $25.6 million for fiscal year 2005. GAO was asked to assess whether (1) adequate controls exist over the use of federal funds, including processes to determine institution and student eligibility, manage the cash needs of the program, and pay administrative expenses; (2) funds for the DCTAG program are accounted for separately from the District's general fund; and (3) administrative expenses for the program charged against federal funds are within the 7 percent limit of the total amount appropriated for the program.