Long: Give families the help and attention they deserve

Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, today released the following statement on Senate Bill 857 (Private School Families Tax Incentive), a newly introduced bill in the N.C. Senate that seeks to provide assistance to school choice families.

“As our state continues to move forward with pandemic relief and economic recovery, we must realize that North Carolinians are being impacted every day, including financial hardship for families across our state,” Long said. “During times like this, it is only right for leaders in our state to pursue appropriate means to support our state’s citizens, and that should include families who exercise school choice. We applaud Senator Rob Bryan and the co-sponsors of SB 857 for working to ensure families in our state can continue to enroll their child in the school of their choice during these trying times.”

“Our organization, Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, has heard directly from parents, families, and school leaders who are hurting, now more than ever. We recognize that the pursuit of the best education possible for children in our state includes all options. That is why we encourage leaders to advance legislative policy that lifts families up as opposed to bills like House Bill 1129, which would hurt families by abolishing the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program.”

In North Carolina, more than 100,000 children are enrolled in private school as well as an additional 100,000 plus in public charter schools across our state. That combined with an estimated 150,000 more in home schools, and North Carolina continues to be a leader on educational choice options in America.

“My hope is that our elected officials will recognize the crucial role that schools of choice play in the welfare of not just families who attend, but all North Carolinians,” Long added. “Let’s give these families the help and attention they deserve.”