Press Releases

Raleigh, NC – Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, released the following statement regarding Governor Roy Cooper’s proposed budget:

“Once again, Governor Roy Cooper has proposed a state budget that fails to meet the growing demand and need from families seeking equal access to the school of their choice. By cutting funding for North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, Cooper is holding firm on his belief that the scholarship program (which currently provides support to over 16,000 students from lower income households) is “an expense we should stop in our state.” (Governor Cooper in his own words)

The Opportunity Scholarship Program, and the thousands of students the program serves, is an investment not an expense. 

PEFNC President Mike Long on announcement that Darrell Allison is named 12th Chancellor of Fayetteville State University:

"I want to offer a congratulations to my friend, colleague, and founding President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, Darrell Allison on this exciting news. The UNC System Board of Governors could not have picked a more dedicated leader to education; I know that Darrell will bring the same commitment to excellence to Fayetteville State University that he has at every step in his time serving students and families in our state. The PEFNC family wishes him and Fayetteville State University well. Our state has a storied tradition of HBCU pride, and there is no doubt that Darrell will embody that Bronco Pride in this new role."

As we look forward to 2021, check out the stats that defined parental school choice in 2020!

U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Joins Parents, Elected Officials at PEFNC Event in Raleigh

Event underscores the growth and importance of parental school choice in the Tar Heel State

Raleigh, NC (October 5, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos joined a panel of North Carolina families at an event in Raleigh today. Also joining the Education Secretary were NC Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and state Senators Deanna Ballard and Joyce Krawiec.

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.