In the News
As the source for parental school choice in our state, PEFNC is often asked to provide commentary on educational 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.
National School Choice Week begins next week
By A.P. Dillon
January 17, 2024
RALEIGH — National School Choice Week this year will be held from Jan. 21 through Jan. 27.
According to National School Choice Week’s (NSCW) official website, over 27,000 events are planned across all 50 states. Additionally, 70 flagship events in 46 states will be held this year.
Notable annual events being held in North Carolina include:
Jan. 24 – Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina will hold an event that includes a student showcase, student performances and remarks from legislative leaders from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its office in Raleigh. NSCW considers this a “flagship” event. Registration for the event is requested: https://www.pefnc.org/schoolchoiceweek2024
Where do NC students go to school? Trends show decline at traditional public schools
December 28, 2023
The share of North Carolina students attending traditional public schools has fallen as more students move to public charter schools, private schools and home schools.
Back in 2013, about 85% of North Carolina students attended their local K-12 public school. Last school year, that percentage fell to fewer than 77%, because more students have moved to other methods of schooling.
Enrollment at charter schools and private schools has grown steadily year-over-year for the past decade. The share of students being homeschooled grew annually until it peaked in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If these trends continue, it will have financial consequences for the public school districts that still serve a large majority of students and are required to accept all students regardless of their needs.