House Bill 10, which passed with a 27-17 vote, comes months after a stalled budget bill in the previous legislative session in June. This "mini-budget," backed by Republicans, allocates $463 million to address a backlog of 55,000 students awaiting Opportunity Scholarships. The surge in applications last year followed lawmakers' decision to eliminate income caps on the scholarships. However, funding at that time was insufficient, leaving tens of thousands of students on the waitlist. “As North Carolina families grapple with rising costs and economic uncertainty thanks to the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration, it is our responsibility as lawmakers to remain committed to responsible spending and economic growth,” North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore said in a statement. The budget agreement will “fund our K-12 and community college enrollment growth [and] clear the Opportunity Scholarship waitlist to expand school choice to all NC families,” he added. Senate leader Phil Berger echoed his support, emphasizing the legislation's focus on empowering parents. “The emphasis that we have placed on Opportunity Scholarships is in giving parents more of a say in their child’s education,” he said during remarks cited by The News & Observer. “And every bill that we’ve had that addresses those kinds of issues that Democrats have been opposed to, whether it was the Parents’ Bill of Rights, whether it’s the Opportunity Scholarships, they seem to be more inclined to be supportive of bureaucracies, as opposed to parents and students.” Opponents argue that the bill diverts essential resources from public schools. “If we had a fully funded public education system, we could consider providing extra for families who are able to make the choice to send their children to private schools,” Keegan Storrs, a teacher at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, told the Observer. “But until our public schools are fully funded, we have no business talking about vouchers.” Storrs added that teachers are “enraged” by the growing trend of funding school choice programs nationwide. Earlier this year, Governor Roy Cooper called for a moratorium on private school vouchers until public schools are “fully funded.”The North Carolina Senate has passed legislation to increase funding for the state’s private school voucher program.
We need to put a moratorium on destructive private school vouchers until North Carolina’s public schools are fully funded. pic.twitter.com/UYtWin8HgN Despite concerns from educators, activists, and Democratic lawmakers, North Carolina's per-pupil expenditures have increased. In the 2018-2019 school year, per-pupil spending was approximately $9,500, and by the 2022-2023 school year, it had risen to around $12,200, according to state data. However, federal data highlights a significant disparity in how this money is spent. While pay for principals and administrative staff has increased exponentially, teacher salaries have largely remained stagnant. This suggests that the issue may not be a lack of funding but rather a misallocation of existing resources. Cooper and Democratic legislators continue to oppose the voucher program, asserting that it takes money from public schools to fund private institutions that lack accountability. “Private school vouchers will cause a budget crisis,” Cooper said. “I know these Republican legislators representing rural counties — I know they are smart enough to know that this is not good for their constituents.” Despite Cooper’s objections, the bill is expected to be enacted, as Republicans hold a veto-proof majority in both chambers of the legislature.
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) March 27, 2024
