SEF opposes school voucher expansion in NC
STATEMENT FROM SEF – Sept. 11, 2024
Contact: Alan Richard, arichard@southerneducation.org, (202) 641-1300
The Southern Education Foundation opposes the major expansion of school vouchers in North Carolina, a move that could send hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to private schools. We urge lawmakers to reconsider this decision and strengthen the public education system that serves most of the state’s students.
North Carolina lawmakers have voted to gradually increase funding for the Opportunity Scholarship, the state’s main school voucher program, over the next 10 years. The program currently provides up to $7,500 for each student based on family income. Lawmakers also expanded the separate voucher program that provides students with disabilities up to $17,000 for private school tuition.
Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to veto the legislation, but lawmakers are likely to override his veto.
By focusing on school vouchers, North Carolina lawmakers are failing to address many critical education issues in the state — including teacher shortages, inequitable school funding levels, and the limited availability of high-quality early childhood programs. The state should invest in efforts to strengthen public schools by funding the policy recommendations outlined in the Leandro Plan.
School vouchers have a long history in the South and began when states provided white families with tuition for the many all-white private schools that opened in response to federal desegregation orders.
Today, private schools are not obligated to admit all applicants and can deny admission based on families’ religious beliefs and many other reasons. They can also require families to waive their civil rights under federal law for services such as those for students with disabilities.
Research shows that vouchers do not positively impact student achievement — and can contribute to lower achievement for some students. Voucher programs also often lack public accountability, and North Carolina’s voucher programs provide fewer safeguards than programs in many other states.
We urge lawmakers in North Carolina to change course and strengthen the public education system by investing in more teachers, teacher pay raises, and increased numbers of school nurses and counselors.
A leader in improving public education in the South since 1867, SEF joins Every Child NC, the North Carolina Justice Center, and other advocates in calling for North Carolina lawmakers to stop the voucher expansion and invest in a brighter future for all families — not just a privileged few.
See SEF’s fact sheets on school vouchers and other education topics, and additional SEF news and updates.
SEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by partners and donors committed to advancing equitable education policies and practices that elevate learning for low-income students and students of color in the South. We develop and disseminate research-based solutions for policymakers and grow the capacity of education leaders and influencers to create systemic change. We envision a world where every student, regardless of background, enjoys an education that propels them toward the opportunity-rich life they deserve.