In the News

By David Mildenberg

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

By Michael Perchick

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.

By Michael Perchick

Published September 11, 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The House voted to pass HB 10 on Wednesday afternoon, a wide-reaching measure that will provide money for Opportunity Scholarships and require local sheriff's to honor ICE detainment requests in certain situations.

Supporters of school choice applauded the move, as the bill provides 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.

"I think what our legislature is doing here is choosing to invest in students regardless of where they go," said Brian Jodice, Executive Vice President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina.

By T. Keung Hei

Originally Published September 7, 2024

A state budget deal that will help 55,000 families pay for private school tuition this year is drawing both cheers and anger among North Carolinians. Republican legislative leaders announced Friday that they have reached a deal to provide $463 million in additional taxpayer funding to clear the 55,000-student backlog in the Opportunity Scholarship program. It’s welcome news for families who’ve been waiting for months to find out if they’d get any state help to cover private school costs.

“This is great news for working class families who are trying to make ends meet given inflation,” Rachel Brady, a Wake County parent on the voucher waiting list, said in an interview Friday.

By Patrick Thomas

Originally Published September 5, 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. — Funding in the state budget for the opportunity scholarship program ran out quickly this year with many people left on a waitlist hoping for more dollars to be added.

Gov. Roy Cooper and other Democratic leaders said no more taxpayer dollars should be designated to fund this initiative.

The argument is about whether taxpayer money should fund private school education.

The North Carolina General Assembly will meet on Monday. The possibility of a vote to expand funding to the opportunity scholarship program looms.

Brian Jodice is a father of two girls who were once in public school but now attend private schools in the Triangle area.

“School choice programs like this are investing in students,” Jodice said.