The Opportunity Scholarship Program was intended to serve low-income families whose needs could not be met in public schools. Recent expansions have completely diverted from that mission and now allow for the wealthiest families in the state to receive taxpayer dollars to subsidize their child’s education, even if that child has never attended a public school. The private schools receiving these public funds do so with no responsibility. There are minimum reporting requirements in place to ensure the quality of education students receive using vouchers; private schools can and often do discriminate based on religion, disability, or sexual orientation; and the vast majority of private schools do not require that teachers be certified.
Resources and Analysis
In September 2024 WRAL conducted a poll concluding that most adults in North Carolina do not support private school voucher expansion. In November 2024 voters in three states (Nebraska, Colorado and Kentucky) rejected private school voucher measures on their ballots. However, despite their unpopularity North Carolina lawmakers continue pushing to expand tax-payer private school vouchers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about school vouchers in North Carolina.
What are school vouchers?
A voucher is a term used to describe tax-sponsored funding provided to families to send their children to nonpublic schools.
Are voucher schools held accountable?
Private schools receiving taxpayer dollars are not held to the same accountability and reporting requirements as public schools. Accountability requirements in NC are weaker than in other states. NC private schools receiving voucher funding must issue a nationally-normed exam, but it need not be the state assessment nor a common test across schools. Results are not reported publicly, making it very difficult to meaningfully understand how they are performing. To learn more about our recommendations for accountability, read Six Recommendations to Bring Accountability and Transparency to North Carolina’s School Voucher Program.
Do vouchers improve academic outcomes?
Overall, research findings on the impact of vouchers are mixed and there is no conclusive evidence that vouchers improve student achievement. It is impossible to meaningfully evaluate North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program because students receiving vouchers are not required to take the same exams as students in public schools and other private schools.
What voucher programs are in NC?
There are two school voucher programs in North Carolina. The Education Savings Account Plus Program provides funding to cover private educational expenses for students with disabilities. The Opportunity Scholarship Program, which was previously reserved for low-income families, is now open to any family enrolling their children in private schools accepting vouchers regardless of income or prior public school enrollment.
What is the history of vouchers in the United States?
The modern concept of school vouchers was introduced in the U.S. in the mid 1950s by economist Milton Friedman, framed as a way to spark competition and improve public school performance. In some southern states, including North Carolina, vouchers were established as a way for white families to avoid school desegregation after Brown v. Board of Education. Two years after the Brown ruling, the NC General Assembly passed and voters approved the Pearsall Plan, which allowed state funds to be allocated toward tuition grants for children assigned to desegregated public schools to attend segregated private schools.
What does NC spend on vouchers?
In the 2024-25 school year, North Carolina spent nearly $400 million on school vouchers for 80,000 students across the state.
Who receives vouchers in NC?
In 2024-25, 70% of voucher recipients lived in urban or suburban counties, and 42% came from families making over $115,000 annually. 74% of students receiving vouchers were White.
How many private schools receive vouchers?
In 2024-25, North Carolina sent public taxpayer funds to 642 private schools across the state. To learn more about these schools, read Opportunity Scholarships and the Schools that Receive Them.
Can a student use a voucher at any private school?
Not all private schools accept vouchers. For the ones that do, tuition costs are often much higher than the amount the voucher provides. Unlike public schools, private schools choose which students to admit, and can deny entry or discriminate against students based on a number of factors such as religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity.