NC School Voucher Program = $675 million to serve 16% of our kids

a few seconds ago
4 min read

You may be aware of the dismal state of North Carolina Public School funding: 43rd in teacher pay and 50th in public school per capita funding. The Republican assault on our public schools began when they gained the majority in the NCGA (the state legislature) in 2010. Then the voucher program, originally called Opportunity Scholarships, became the centerpiece of the Republican drive to shift school funding from the public school system to private, primarily religious- affiliated, schools.

A Short Voucher History

Launched in 2014, the program was initially designed to encourage low-income students to attend private schools.
Currently a majority of private school students in North Carolina are receiving these vouchers.
The program now includes all private school students, regardless of family income.
The program widened its focus and funding leading into the '23-'24 school year.
In 2024-'25, North Carolina had 642 voucher-receiving private schools that enrolled 80,470 voucher recipients at a total cost of more than $432 million.
Since the program’s launch, Grace Christian School in Sanford has received more than $13 million in tuition payments from the state.
Voucher funding for the 2026-'27 school year is already written into law. The General Assembly has appropriated a staggering $675 million for vouchers.

What Comes Next?

So, we have a guaranteed, year-over-year increase for private school vouchers while we also have the perennial struggle to adequately fund our public schools. Bear in mind the public schools are also educating the vast majority of North Carolina’s children (84% in 2024-'25).

Class sizes in public schools are ballooning, support staff positions remain unfilled, and competitive teacher pay is a constant battle, all while millions of dollars are allocated for a program that ignores the state’s constitutional obligation to public education. This financial paradox is a direct result of legislative priorities that elevate the voucher program above the comprehensive needs of neighborhood public schools.

(It is well worth delving into the state’s complicated attempts to correct inadequate school funding. The primary effort, popularly referred to as Leandro, was recently dealt a near-death blow by the Republican-leaning NC Supreme Court. Since Leandro is a bit outside the focus of this report, please check out the subject if it is of interest.)

Concerns and Criticism

The voucher program diverts essential funding from public schools, potentially harming the quality of public education.
Many schools benefiting from vouchers are predominantly white, raising concerns about segregation. (The genesis of vouchers does have roots in previous attempts to use vouchers to address the inequities of segregation.)
There are long-term effects on public school resources and educational equity.
The race/ethnicity of voucher recipients has changed sharply since Opportunity Scholarship vouchers were launched. The proportion of Black or African American students has steadily dropped while the proportion of White students has grown. In the first year, the program had 51% Black or African American recipients and 27% White recipients. By 2024-'25, the percentages had reversed.
Several forms of discrimination are not expressly prohibited in NC state laws guiding private schools. As a result, many private schools have policies that discriminate against groups based on religion, disability, gender, LGBTQ+, academics, and lifestyle.
A review of admissions policies and practices of schools receiving more than $100,000 in Opportunity Scholarship voucher funds in 2022-'23 found 88% (295 of the 366 schools examined) had at least one of the six types of discriminatory policies.
Studies have shown vouchers do not improve student outcomes.
No publicly reported metrics are required in North Carolina to ensure students receive a sound, basic education in private schools (metrics are required for all public schools).
The loss of tax dollars impacts academic programs, operating costs, and teacher allotments at traditional public schools.
Unlike public schools where all staff must pass a criminal background check, in North Carolina only one person at a private school is required to pass a criminal background check—the person with the highest decision-making responsibility.
Private schools are not required to serve free/reduced cost lunch, offer transportation, or provide English language instruction or special education services. By limiting services, private schools become inaccessible to low-income families and those whose students require extra support.
Private schools receiving voucher funds are not subject to financial oversight by the NC State Board of Education. (Public schools are subject to mandatory oversight.)
Voucher recipients have no curriculum requirements and do not participate in the state testing program. As a result, there is no way to meaningfully evaluate the academic impact of vouchers. In addition, only 6% of student voucher applicant schools are audited each year, leaving many opportunities for fraud.

Bottom Line

Families wishing to access voucher help are limited in more rural counties by the number of available privates schools.
Many private schools receiving voucher funds have consistently raised tuition costs as the voucher fund allocation has increased.
87% of students receiving voucher funding (data from the most recent year available) were not previously enrolled in public school, meaning that the family could already afford private school.

Conclusion

NC vouchers overwhelmingly go to wealthy families.
NC vouchers are Welfare for the already wealthy.

What to Do

In November, it will be pretty simple:

Vote for Doyle Brown to replace Tim Moffitt in the NC state Senate.
Vote for Lynne Russo to replace Jennifer Balkcom in the NC House.

Moffitt and Balkcom have voted repeatedly in Raleigh (NCGA) to funnel hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to the private school voucher program.

Moffitt and Balkcom have repeatedly ignored the crucial needs of the North Carolina Public Schools.

Moffitt and Balkcom have contributed their silence as the NCGA failed to pass a budget due July 1, 2025.

As a result, public school teachers (as well as state employees) have been denied pay raises promised starting July 1, 2025. The teacher raises were scheduled to be an insulting 2.5%.

Moffitt and Balkcom have consistently refused to address the fall of North Carolina to 43rd in teacher pay and 50th in state public school funding.