In the News
As the source for parental school choice in our state, PEFNC is often asked to provide commentary on educational choice.
Thousands of families seek school vouchers in North Carolina as program expands
February 22, 2024
The deadline is approaching for families to apply for the newly-expanded Opportunity Scholarship program in North Carolina.
It provides thousands of dollars to students to attend private schools in the state. Supporters tout the expansion as a victory for parent choice when it comes to education. Opponents believe it has the potential to harm public schools.
The program was initially intended for low-income families, but last year, the North Carolina General Assembly made all school-age students eligible for scholarships or vouchers beginning in the fall of 2024.
So far at least 51,000 families have applied ahead of a March 1 deadline, which is far more than the 32,341 students already in the program.
The money is available on a sliding scale based on income from $7,468 for families with lower incomes to $3,360 for families with higher incomes. That money is then directly paid to the schools.
Demand for Opportunity Scholarships sets record in first week
February 6, 2024
More than 32,000 new applications for the Opportunity Scholarship Program came in during the first week of priority enrollment, setting a new record in demand for the program and tripling the number of applications submitted in February 2023.
The numbers were first reported by the school-choice advocacy organization Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), and they are based on data from the North Carolina Education Assistance Authority, the state agency that administers the program.
“I am thrilled and yet not at all surprised by the overwhelming enthusiasm from new applicant families and students,” said PEFNC president Mike Long in a statement. “Demand for the Opportunity Scholarship Program continues to rise, and the expansion of the scholarship now means more families across our state will be empowered by parental school choice.”
With new rules, record number of NC families applying for private school vouchers
February 5, 2024
North Carolina families are applying at a record-setting pace for state funding to help them pay for the cost of attending a K-12 private school.
The application period opened Thursday under new rules that allow any North Carolina family to apply for a private school voucher. As of Monday afternoon, there have been 31,603 complete Opportunity Scholarship applications, according to Kathy Hastings, a spokesperson for the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority.
The applications received during the first five days this year is well above the 11,617 completed applications that the NCSEAA received in all of February 2023. It’s also nearly as many as the 32,341 students who are receiving an Opportunity Scholarship this school year.
NC school voucher application opens; How to apply
February 1, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Families can now start applying for the state’s newly-expanded school voucher program.
The Opportunity Scholarship was expanded through the state budget so now, every family will become eligible for funding to send their children to private schools. The State Education Assistance Authority will review applications they receive and get the funds to the school that parents choose.
School choice advocates say it gives families more options.
“Now it doesn’t matter if you’re rich, poor, black, white, male, female, opportunity scholarship and education is for all,” said Mike Long, president of Parents for Educational Freedom in NC.
BIG TIME for SCHOOL CHOICE in 2024
Celebrating National School Choice Week! |
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Last week we held our National School Choice Week event at the Halifax Mall, right in the heart of the North Carolina General Assembly. There was plenty to celebrate with the expansion of school choice in North Carolina through the Opportunity Scholarship program and other advancements in parental school choice that happened right there in Raleigh just a few months ago. |
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Student enrollment in county private, homeschools outpaces public schools
By Cheryl Burke
January 29, 2024
MOREHEAD CITY — Student enrollment in county private and homeschools outpaced an increase in traditional public and charter schools in 2022-23, according to state reports.
Overall, there were 10,060 students enrolled in county schools in 2022-23, up from 9,608 in 2021-22, a nearly 5% increase.
Statistics from the NC Department of Non-Public Education show that the number of county students enrolled in private schools increased from 507 in 2021-22 to 605 in 2022-23, a 19% increase.
Advocates rally for scholarship expansion during ‘School Choice Week’ in Raleigh
January 24, 2023
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — School choice advocates celebrated “School Choice Week” outside the state legislative building Wednesday.
A popular topic at Wednesday’s rally was the expansion of the state’s opportunity scholarships, which provide families with thousands of dollars to put toward a private school education. As part of the state budget, all students could now be eligible for those vouchers.
The group, Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), is hosting seminars to help people understand the application process.
Republican leaders celebrate school choice and expansion of private vouchers
January 24, 2024
Legislative leaders and private school educators, parents, and students celebrated National School Choice Week and the expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship program in last year’s budget at a rally at the legislature Wednesday.
Applications for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program, which provides state-funded vouchers for students to attend private schools, are set to open next week as Gov. Roy Cooper calls for a moratorium on the program.
Following Cooper’s declaration on Tuesday of 2024 as the “Year of Public Schools,” Republican legislative and state leaders at the rally lifted up the importance of parental choice in their children’s education.
Cooper, a Democrat, called for the suspension of private vouchers until public schools are “fully funded” on Tuesday. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said Wednesday the program will start accepting applications next week for the 2024-25 school year without income eligibility requirements, which were removed in last year’s budget.
NC celebrates National School Choice Week
January 24, 2024
Advocates gathered in downtown Raleigh Jan. 24 to celebrate National School Choice Week during a year when universal school choice is coming to the Tar Heel State.
Held this year from Jan. 21-27, National School Choice Week is a nationwide celebration of diversity in educational options. There are a total of 27,112 school choice events planned across the 50 states for this week.
The event on Halifax Mall in Raleigh, sponsored by Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, included remarks from several key lawmakers who have been instrumental in bringing greater school choice to the state.
Student Showcase to Celebrate Newly Expanded School Scholarship
By PR Newswire
January 17, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to the historic expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship, North Carolina students have a new chance to find success in school. Join families in celebrating the scholarship and learning how to apply at a student showcase on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
Hosted by Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, the celebratory event will take place 10 a.m. to noon at Halifax Mall, behind the North Carolina Legislative Building. All are welcome to attend and show their enthusiasm for the state-run private school scholarship. North Carolina's budget, passed in 2023, made every K-12 student in the state eligible to apply for the Opportunity Scholarship.