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We are thrilled to announce that Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina has been selected for National School Choice Week’s first-ever Impact Award! PEFNC is honored with this award and, more importantly, thankful to our parents and schools for making a difference in the school choice movement in North Carolina!

PEFNC’s Vice President of External Affairs, Allison Guenther, accepted the award on behalf of PEFNC.

In September, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a conference report (a budget bill), House Bill 10 (HB10), that would clear the OSP and ESA+ waitlists. This was a major step forward for expanded school choice in North Carolina and a massive relief for families who are on the waitlist. We are thankful to each parent and supporter who advocated for advancing this legislation. It is a huge accomplishment getting it through its first hurdle!

Unfortunately, we are disappointed that HB10 was vetoed by Governor Cooper. The Governor continues to oppose the Opportunity Scholarship Program, and his veto impacts special needs students by saying “no” to ESA+ funding, too.

Shortly after the Governor’s veto, PEFNC President, Mike Long, spoke to ABC11 about the situation and championed our state’s school choice programs. 

"I feel that state funds, when it comes to education, should follow the child. That's why I applaud this legislature’s leadership who believes the same thing. Instead of investing in systems, we're investing in children, and we're allowing parents the economic freedom to make decisions as to what works best for them," said Long.

North Carolina students have benefited from the steadily growing success of the parental school choice movement for over ten years. 

From removing caps on our public charter schools to creating innovative programs that help students with special needs, we have had much to celebrate.

So, it feels all the more disappointing when all of that positive momentum hits a roadblock. There is currently the largest waitlist ever of families seeking an Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) or Education Student Accounts (ESA+). A remarkable 55,000 students sit waiting, without the state funding necessary to secure their scholarships.

Earlier this year, we were optimistic that more funding would be made available during a short legislative session. However, the North Carolina Senate and House have yet to reach a mutual agreement, while we continue to urge leaders to see HB 823 over the finish line. The bill currently awaits movement in the House.

Last week was a beautiful gathering of parents, school leaders, legislators, educators, and supporters of parental school choice. We came together for Legislative Advocacy Day to encourage the expansion of parental school choice through programs like North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program and the Personal Education Student Accounts (ESA+). 

American Federation for Children (AFC) is launching its initial Hispanic Leadership Program. This program continues the success AFC has had in the past with their Future Leaders Fellowship, School Leadership Fellowship, and other outreach efforts. AFC sought nominations for leaders who wanted to get involved in helping their communities gain access to educational opportunities through school choice.

As you may know, the Opportunity Scholarship is facing a lawsuit brought on by the teacher's union. We want to provide an update on a motion recently filed to protect private schools from legal tactics of the teacher's union.

Defenders of the scholarship program filed an appeal to the Court of Appeals asking the court to rule about whether the teacher's union challenge is appropriate and what type of hearing it should receive.