PEFNC Newsletter - Historic School Choice Expansion

In this monthly newsletter:

• HB10 Becomes Law: What happened and what's next?
• AFC Sharing the Voices of North Carolina Parents

And more!

Time to Be Thankful

We extend our warmest wishes for a joyful Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones! This is a time to express gratitude for numerous blessings, and we are thankful to have the freedom to select the educational path that best suits our children's needs.

HB10 is Now Law: What Happened?

Despite a veto from Governor Cooper, the NC General Assembly has voted to override HB10. This move expands funding for OSP and ESA+, providing scholarships for students who sit on one or both waitlists.

We are incredibly thankful for each and every person who contacted their legislator to urge them to consider this vote. Your voices were heard! We hope that as you advocated for your children, you felt more empowered by the active role you've taken in your child's education. This is a historic win!

Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, released the following statement regarding the veto override. 

"A historic expansion of parental school choice is now a reality in North Carolina. By overriding Governor Cooper’s veto of HB10, the legislature sends a clear message that our state will continue to invest in students over systems.  

Earlier this year, a record number of families applied for Opportunity Scholarships, creating a waitlist of over 50,000 students. Today, students and families need to wait no further, and while we know that thousands of families in our state will benefit from this historic expansion, we have more work to do to ensure that everyone in North Carolina can send their child to the school of their choice.

A special thank you is in order for Senator Phil Berger, Speaker Tim Moore, Representative Destin Hall, and leaders throughout the General Assembly for seeing this over the finish line.

We celebrate with the families who, because of this critical veto override, will receive an Opportunity Scholarship or Special Needs ESA this school year, and we stand ready to help those who missed out this time around apply for and receive a scholarship in 2025.  

While Governor Roy Cooper and Governor-elect Josh Stein continue to discount the idea that parents should be empowered to enroll their child in the learning environment that fits their needs, we believe the opposite. Students' needs should be the focus of North Carolina's education policy, with funding following those students. With this override, the North Carolina General Assembly has listened to the overwhelming demand by parents, and they have officially shifted the paradigm on how quality education can be delivered to students in our state."

Leading up to and after the veto override, PEFNC was in the media, championing the Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+.

"We should be finding ways to fund students over systems," said Brian Jodice, Executive Vice President of PEFNC, to WRAL News.

HB10 is Now Law: What’s Next?

With HB10 becoming law, additional funding for the Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ Programs for the 2024-25 school year is now available. 

During the first week of December, SEAA will notify eligible students of their award offers. Eligible students include those who applied during the 2024-25 priority period (February 1 – March 1, 2024), who have not previously been awarded.    

To be up-to-date with further information and developments, visit NCSEAA’s Special Announcements page and their document, Frequently Asked Questions: Additional Funding Approved for Waitlisted Students.    

If you need additional help, please contact Kwan Graham, PEFNC’s Director of Community Engagement, at 919.760.7167 or [email protected].

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Parents Championing the Opportunity Scholarship

Congratulations to the North Carolina parents who’ve had their stories highlighted by the American Federation of Children’s (AFC) Voices For Choice! Parental school choice is something to be celebrated and we always love hearing how it has helped so many families!

“After one semester at Westchester Country Day School, a private school, she was reading road signs as we drove around town, sounding out any word she saw, and wanted to go to school. She is in her second year and we, nor, she never wants to go to any other school. My child is on level for her grade because of the NC Opportunity Scholarship!”

“The minute he set foot in that school he was so comfortable being there. It was like he was saying to us through his actions “this is my school, I belong here.” We loved it as well so we enrolled him.”

“The NC Opportunity Scholarship has opened this door and made school choice a wonderful experience for our family. Our son is in 5th grade and went from a “C” grade average to “A/B” honor roll. The curriculum is demanding and the expectations to succeed are clear. They make learning a priority and fun as well. God is expanding this vision, and we are grateful to be a part of it.”

• NC House overrides veto of $463.5M increase for private-school vouchers

• Private school voucher bill could soon become law. Which NC families will it help?

• General Assembly overrides veto of the mini budget, adds additional funds for vouchers

• North Carolina Republicans complete a veto override of voucher, immigration bill

• NC legislature completes veto override of school voucher, immigration bill HB 10

• House Bill 10 override, $5.5 million in private school vouchers spark mixed reaction

• NC GOP expected to push through private school vouchers bill before supermajority ends

• NC Republicans make final push to fully fund school choice

• I’m a school-choice advocate and am thankful for public schools

• NC House overrides veto of $436.5 million for private school vouchers

• Ask & Answer | What parents need to know about additional funding approved for students waitlisted for vouchers