Press Releases

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.

Raleigh (January 27, 2020) – Students, parents, teachers, and school leaders will celebrate educational access for all at a National School Choice Week rally in Charlotte on Friday, January 31, running from 10am to 11am at the Discovery Place in uptown. Sponsored by Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), the state’s leading voice for parental choice in education, the event will include a Student Showcase, highlighting the various talents of students in the greater Charlotte area.

Raleigh (January 27, 2020) – Applications for North Carolina’s trio of school-choice scholarship programs—the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), Children with Disabilities Grant (CWD), and Education Savings Account (ESA)—are set to open this week (applications are officially open on January 31st), reports Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), the state’s leading voice for school choice.

Major disconnect between Governor and low-income working families who rely on scholarships

Raleigh (August 5, 2019)– Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), released the following statement today in response to Governor Roy Cooper’s appearance on Education Matters over the weekend. Governor Cooper said that he vetoed the budget, in part, due to “unaccountable private-school vouchers” that “siphon money away from our public schools.” He further claimed that “we have no way of knowing if the students who are going to these private schools are getting the kind of education that they need.” The Governor also admitted that he wanted to eliminate funding for the program.

More than a trend, record enrollment in non-traditional schools continues to rise

PEFNC celebrates empowering parents through educational choice, helps 10,000+ to date in 2019

Raleigh, NC (July 24, 2019) – Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), released the following statement as new statewide figures point to another year of increased enrollment in non-traditional schools in the state. Of the 1.8 million North Carolinians enrolled in K-12 schools, just over 20 percent (around 354,000 students) are now attending public charter, private, or home schools, while attendance in traditional public schools has dipped below 80 percent, highlighting a major shift in educational choice in North Carolina.

Raleigh, NC (May 8, 2019) – Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) applauds bipartisan legislation passed today by the North Carolina Senate.Senate Bill 609, sponsored by Senators Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga), Ben Clark (D-Cumberland), and Todd Johnson (R-Union), expands access to the state’s three parental school choice K-12 programs.

Raleigh, NC (April 5, 2019) – Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) applauds a bipartisan trio of North Carolina senators—Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga), Ben Clark (D-Cumberland), and Todd Johnson (R-Union)—for introducing legislation that would expand access to the state’s three parental school choice K-12 programs.