In the News
As the source for parental school choice in our state, PEFNC is often asked to provide commentary on educational choice.
General Assembly overrides veto of the mini budget, adds additional funds for vouchers
Published November 20, 2024
The Republican-led General Assembly successfully overrode the governor’s veto of its mini budget on Wednesday, pushing forward $95 million in enrollment growth funds for public schools and an additional $463.5 million toward private school vouchers for this fiscal year.
The mini budget does not include any new raises for teachers and school employees.
The new money for vouchers — the largest share of the mini budget’s funding — will effectively clear the waitlist the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program, retroactive to the beginning of the school year. The bill also includes $24.7 million in recurring funds to clear the Education Student Accounts (ESA+) waitlist for students with disabilities.
“Thousands of North Carolina families who applied and qualified for school choice programs have been in limbo because Gov. Cooper thinks school choice should be limited to a select few,” Senate Education Committee Chairs Sens. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, and Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, said in a Wednesday press release. “…Republicans are proud to provide the funding so those students can attend the school that best fits their needs. School choice will always be an option in North Carolina and no obstruction from Democrats will change that.”
North Carolina Republicans complete a veto override of voucher, immigration bill
The Republican-dominated North Carolina legislature has completed its override of Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of legislation that addresses both private school scholarship grants and immigration
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Republican-dominated North Carolina legislature completed on Wednesday its override of Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of legislation that both approves more funds for private school scholarship grants for recipients of all incomes and directs local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration agents’ requests to detain certain inmates.
The Senate voted to enact the bill despite Cooper's objections, one day after the House voted for a similar result. Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in each chamber.
The bill, which is now law, means that a large windfall of funding — about $463 million — will be provided to the Opportunity Scholarship program in part to eliminate a waitlist of families who otherwise qualified beginning in the fall for grants to attend private or religious K-12 schools.
“A historic expansion of parental school choice is now a reality in North Carolina,” Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina President Mike Long said after Wednesday’s vote, adding that that legislature sent “a clear message that our state will continue to invest in students over systems.”
Private school voucher bill could soon become law. Which NC families will it help?
By T. Keung Hui
Published November 18, 2024
Thousands of North Carolina families who made too much money to qualify for private school vouchers before are poised to get an Opportunity Scholarship for the first time. Republican lawmakers plan to approve an additional $463.5 million in voucher funding this week over Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto. The funding would clear a wait list of more than 52,000 families — the majority of whom would not have been eligible before the program’s income limits were removed. The veto override vote on House Bill 10 is expected on Tuesday. The legislation also includes a provision requiring North Carolina sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration officials.
Upfront: Governor Cooper tackles vouchers
Published October 1, 2024
Among the world’s most powerful impulses is a parent’s desire that their child receive a great education, which can help lead to a fulfilling, positive life.
A driving force in my life was to help our son attend terrific schools. I’ve never met a parent who didn’t want the best for their child. So making the case against efforts that support a parent in that quest is an interesting challenge.
But in his final months as governor, Roy Cooper is pushing back against a movement that has enormous momentum. His reasoning is that liberalizing school choice by subsidizing private schools with public funds is creating an emergency for traditional public schools. He terms the actions of school-choice proponents a “scheme” that is driven by Raleigh lobbyists connected to for-profit private school operators.
WAKE COUNTY SCHOOL LEADERS RALLY AGAINST HB 10, CALL FOR VETO SUPPORT AMID VOUCHER CONTROVERSY
By Talia Wren
Published September 27, 2024
he veto of House Bill 10, a piece of legislation set to funnel significant state funds into private school vouchers, has stirred a potent defense from Wake County Public School leaders. Governor Roy Cooper's veto of the controversial bill, cited by critics as a potential underminer of public school stability, is now in the limelight as local educational figures call for bipartisan support to uphold it. According to ABC 11, Wake County School Board Chair Chris Heagarty expressed sharp resistance to HB 10, terming it a "raw deal for families."
Supporters of the bill, such as Mike Long with Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, advocate the idea that "Parents know what's best for their child," asserting that HB 10 is intended to "invest in students more than systems," according to a statement he gave to ABC 11.
Wake County Public Schools discusses impact of House Bill 10 on the district
By Akilah Davis
Published September 26, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Wake County Public School leaders are urging North Carolina lawmakers to reach across party lines and support Governor Cooper's veto of House Bill 10. The largest school district in the state called it a "bad policy" and a "raw deal for families."
"It has potentially disastrous impacts for Wake County," said Wake County School Board Chair Chris Heagarty. "We strongly believe that public funds should first be used to support public education. House Bill 10 doesn't do that."
Wake school leaders take a stance against private school voucher expansion bill
Published September 26, 2024
Wake County school leaders say a bill that would expand funding for private schools ignores public school needs.
Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill last week, but Republicans have a supermajority, and they have overridden his vetoes in the past.
On Thursday, Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert P. Taylor and school board Chairman Chris Heagarty and Vice Chairwoman Monika Johnson-Hostler hosted a press conference stating their opposition to the expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship program.
“We can’t let this bill become law and destabilize our already underfunded schools without speaking out,“ Heagarty said.
Wake County system officials say they don’t have enough data yet to estimate the potential impact, but the Office of State Budget and Management estimates the school system could lose several million dollars and public schools across the state could lose more than $70 million. That would happen as the result of public school students leaving for private schools — and their state dollars going with them.
Cooper vetoes bill expanding private school vouchers, require sheriffs' ICE cooperation
By Emily Walkenhorst
Published September 20, 2024
Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed a bill that would increase private school voucher funding by $463.5 million over this year and next year.
House Bill 10 would also force sheriffs to work with federal immigration officials to detain people who are in the U.S. illegally in some circumstances.
The bill passed through both the North Carolina House and Senate last week, largely along party lines. Lawmakers will need a three-fifths majority of votes to override the veto, and Republican lawmakers have overridden some Cooper vetoes since obtaining a supermajority last year. Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene in November, where they plan to vote.
Gov. Roy Cooper vetoes funding for NC school vouchers, ICE cooperation requirement
By LUCIANA PEREZ URIBE GUINASSI and DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN
Published September 20m 2024
North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper announced Friday he has vetoed a bill sent by the Republican-controlled General Assembly that would fund private school vouchers and require sheriffs to cooperate with requests from federal immigration authorities. “We’re here today because we know that private school vouchers are the biggest threat to public schools in decades,” Cooper told reporters.
Republicans have enough votes to overturn Cooper’s vetoes. “That veto can be upheld if enough legislators in both parties tell Republican leaders that they don’t want to vote on the veto override this year,” Cooper said. House Bill 10 would spend about $500 million of taxpayer money on private school vouchers, known as the Opportunity Scholarship Program. The legislature opened the voucher program to everyone regardless of income, creating a waitlist of about 55,000 families.
Gov. Roy Cooper officially vetoes House Bill 10 on school vouchers, ICE detainment requests
Published September 20, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper officially vetoed the controversial House Bill 10 on Friday.
The wide-reaching measure focused on school vouchers and cooperation between ICE and local sheriff's offices among other points:
- HB10 would provide funding to clear the backlog of 55,000 Opportunity Scholarship applicants who attend private schools. It calls for $248 million in nonrecurring funds for Opportunity Scholarships for all students attending private schools. Then, an additional $215 million in recurring funds.
- The bill states that in the event of an ICE detainment request, sheriffs will need to hold people who are undocumented and charged with certain crimes for at least 48 hours before they can be released.