Bill Passed by NC Senate to Clear Opportunity Scholarship Waitlist

The North Carolina state Senate has passed House Bill 10 in a move to clear the waitlists for Opportunity Scholarships and the Education Savings Account program. The bill allocates additional funds to provide scholarships for families seeking private school education. Around 55,000 students are waiting for Opportunity Scholarships, while 2,015 students wait for the ESA+ program for special needs students. The bill includes retroactive funding for eligible families, allowing them to receive tuition reimbursement. Each Opportunity Scholarship is valued between $3,360 and $7,468 annually. The demand for the program is high, with 72,000 applications received in February. Lawmakers are taking action to provide educational options for all students in North Carolina, including private school, traditional public school, charter school, and home school. Despite opposition, the Senate believes in fulfilling the commitment to these families. Governor Roy Cooper and others oppose the expansion of school choice, advocating for more investment in public schools. The bill also includes funding for community college and K-12 enrollment growth. The House is set to vote on HB10, with the possibility of facing a veto from Cooper. Parents and advocacy groups are urging legislators to fulfill their promise of universal school choice in North Carolina.

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