Press Releases

Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina released the following statement upon news about the $1B COVID-19 relief package enacted into law today, after passing both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly with overwhelming bi-partisan support.

A statement from PEFNC President Mike Long on proposed updates to state scholarship programs that help low-income households and families with students with special needs:

During these incredibility challenging times, amid an ongoing health pandemic through COVID-19 and major disruptions in education, it is refreshing to hear state leaders announce proposed legislation that would help more families in North Carolina obtain access to the schools of their choice.

Raleigh, NC – Today, Governor Roy Cooper continued his ongoing assault on school choice in North Carolina. The Governor, in his budget proposal, guts future funding for the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program. The Program, deemed as “an expense we should stop in our state” according to Governor Cooper, has grown from serving just over 1,200 students in 2014 to 12,284 students for the 2019-2020 school year, with 15,000 scholarships available to students to enroll in the private school of their parents’ choice this school year (2020-21). Year-in and year-out, thousands of North Carolina families apply for the scholarship program, a trend that the Governor looks to stop in its tracks with his budget proposal.

Today, Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) praised three North Carolina families for their intervention with the Institute for Justice in defense of the Opportunity Scholarship Program. The parents, who would be harmed if Opportunity Scholarships are ended, are intervening in a recent lawsuit by the NC Association of Educators (NCAE) that challenges the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP).

PEFNC releases comprehensive survey of NC parent attitudes on distance learning, school reopenings for 2020-2021 school year during COVID-19 pandemic

Parents are evenly split on return to in-person school vs. online or hybrid, while 93% are more inclined to support school choice policies during the pandemic

Raleigh (July 20, 2020) – Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), the state’s leading school-choice advocacy organization, has released the results of a new survey of 835 NC parents on their experience with distance learning—plus their comfort level with returning to school this year—during the COVID-19 pandemic. See a summary of the data or download the full report.

In a landmark victory for education freedom, today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of children and families in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue in a 5-4 decision.

Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, today released the following statement on Senate Bill 857 (Private School Families Tax Incentive), a newly introduced bill in the N.C. Senate that seeks to provide assistance to school choice families.

Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, today released the following statement regarding House Bill 1129, a newly introduced bill in the N.C. House that seeks to abolish the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP).

“Our state is embroiled in a once-in-a-century global pandemic. People’s bank accounts are being impacted every day, especially those of working-class families in North Carolina. And yet, in the middle of this crisis, a small group of House lawmakers want to take away the Opportunity Scholarship Program, which currently enables 12,283 students in our state to get the education they deserve,” Long said. “Outrageously, this effort to end Opportunity Scholarships is hidden in a broader bill that seeks to respond to recent court decisions on the Leandro case providing ‘a sound basic education’ to all NC children. Our message to sponsors of the bill: You cannot to take away educational opportunity freely chosen by thousands of families. You cannot advance Leandro policy on the backs of these students.”

Raleigh, NC (February 19, 2020) -- Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) released the following statement after the passing of North Carolina Representative Linda Johnson.

Raleigh (January 27, 2020) – North Carolina’s leading school-choice advocacy organization, Parents for Educational Freedom (PEFNC), is hosting a free film screening for “Miss Virginia” on January 28 at 6:30pm at the Cameo Art House Theater in downtown Fayetteville. Free popcorn and soda will be provided.