NC Senate Passes Bill to Expand Funding For North Carolina School Choice Programs

Raleigh, NC (September 9, 2024) -- Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, released the following statement to celebrate the state Senate passing a conference report that would fully fund the Opportunity Scholarship Program waitlist and add funds to the Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Program.

We are thrilled that our state's Senate has passed a conference report that would expand funding for North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program and Special Needs Scholarship. We now await its passage through the state House.

Thanks to the General Assembly's efforts last year, the eligibility for the Opportunity Scholarship Program was expanded, leading to a record number of new applications from families. However, a funding gap left over 55,000 families unable to participate at the start of this school year.

Families and students let their voices be heard, and the legislature is now poised to make good on a promise to expand the scholarship programs and send another clear message that in North Carolina, we are committed to funding students over systems. We applaud the Senate for taking action and now call on the House to pass this expansion this week.

Parental school choice in North Carolina has much to be thankful for. While there is more work to be done, we have made significant strides in the last ten years. We eagerly anticipate further advancements in our state that prioritize students over systems.