North Carolina Parent Shares Family’s School Choice Story at White House
Statesville father attends as Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina’s guest and highlights the life changing impact of educational choice
WASHINGTON, DC – North Carolina parent and pastor Caleb Griffith shared his family’s powerful school choice story from the White House Rose Garden on Monday. Griffith attended the event with his wife, Jocelyn, and their five children as a guest of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC).
The Griffith children attend Cornerstone Christian Academy in Statesville with support from North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program. Two of the children joined the family through foster care, and the family has experienced firsthand how access to the right school — and the services available there — can help children with autism, developmental delays, and other individual needs thrive.
“We are blessed to be from a state that offers school choice,” Griffith said. “I personally have seen the benefit of the Opportunity Scholarship for my family and the school my children attend.”
Speaking alongside President Donald Trump and US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon during the White House’s back-to-school event, Griffith also discussed what the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit could mean for his children.
“Because of you, Mr. President, and Secretary McMahon, the Education Freedom Tax Credit will give my children access to the services that they need to be successful in the most formational years of their lives,” Griffith said.
During his remarks, Griffith also recognized PEFNC for its work on behalf of North Carolina families. His family’s story reflects PEFNC’s mission to ensure parents understand and can access the educational opportunities available to their children.
“Caleb and Jocelyn’s story is exactly why PEFNC has spent more than 20 years fighting to ensure parents can choose the educational environment where their children will flourish,” said PEFNC President Mike Long. “We were honored to have the Griffith family as our guests and to see Caleb share so powerfully what school choice has made possible for his children.”
Beginning in 2027, the Education Freedom Tax Credit will provide a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions to qualified scholarship-granting organizations. Those contributions will fund scholarships for eligible students’ educational expenses, potentially expanding access to tuition assistance, tutoring, special education services, therapies, and other resources.
Watch Caleb Griffith’s remarks from the White House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gojzXw700bA
###
Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) is a statewide non-profit organization that advocates for quality educational options through parental school choice. Our mission is to engage at the grassroots level, educate North Carolinians about the options in our state, and empower families to have a voice in their children’s education. www.pefnc.org