Gov. Cooper and other Democratic state leaders push to stop expansion of North Carolina’s voucher program

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Gov. Roy Cooper joined Democratic state leaders Thursday hoping to send the message to keep tax dollars in public schools and stop the expansion of North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship program.

The press conference at the Albemarle Building in downtown Raleigh comes as the Republican-led General Assembly plans to reconvene next week and possibly vote on increasing funding.

Last year, the General Assembly eliminated income caps for the vouchers, allowing all families to be eligible for funding and send their child to a private institution. The new rules included scholarships ranging from $3,360 per child for families with the highest income to $7,468 per child for families with lower income.

Republicans announced plans to expand the program and said families should have the choice to use their tax dollars for the school of their choice.

Back in February, families had the opportunity to start applying for the state’s newly-expanded school voucher program. The demand led to around 55,000 students on a waitlist. Many of those families rallied in July to share their frustrations when the North Carolina House and Senate adjourned without coming to an agreement to pay for more vouchers after the program was expanded.

Cooper said Republican legislators plan to fully fund private school voucher expansion with up to $625 million in new funding just this year. He said those millions of dollars in taxpayer money should prioritize public schools and their current needs.

“I’m not against private schools, I’m not against parents making that choice,” Cooper said. “Many of them are meeting the needs of students and families. But I am against taking taxpayer money out of the public schools and giving it the private schools when our public schools already have so many needs.”

Cooper said the state has fallen behind nationally in teacher pay and ranks 38th in the nation. With ongoing challenges, he said 84% of students attend public schools and families are still satisfied with the choice. “The success of our families and our workforce relies on strong public schools,” the governor said. “Private school vouchers will destroy that goal.”

State Sen. Dan Blue believes every child should have the right to quality education and the path to a bright future, but believes low-income and rural families will be penalized the most with the expansion of the program.

“In 13 counties in the state, there’s only one voucher school for students. And in 15 counties, there are no voucher schools available,” said Blue, who explained 50% of applicants for the scholarship come from just 10 counties.

State Rep. Robert Reives added, “We’re not giving these kids options. We’re taking that money from their schools and giving it to a couple children that might live in that area. When Republicans talk about the opportunity, you’ve got to ask, the opportunity for whom?”

Democratic leaders said there’s a lack of accountability that should also be questioned. A press release from the governor’s office stated, “Private schools that receive vouchers are not regulated and are not accountable to taxpayers, despite receiving taxpayer money. Vouchers cover tuition for schools that don’t have to report how students are performing, don’t have to serve all students regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or religious beliefs, or don’t have to hire licensed teachers.”

Tamika Walker Kelly, the president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, issued a statement in response to the proposed voucher expansion. “While the majority of North Carolinians believe in the value of our public schools, some state lawmakers are planning to undermine those schools with a massive expansion of taxpayer-funded private school vouchers,” she said in her statement. “The plan is dangerously irresponsible for the financial health of our state government and threatens the future of local school budgets statewide.

“If this plan goes through, North Carolina schools will continue to be outpaced by states like Virginia and South Carolina and we risk our students falling further behind,” Walker continued in her statement. “Our students deserve better. They deserve an excellent teacher in every classroom and high-quality schools that will continue to prepare them for the future.”

If a vote happens, Cooper’s veto could delay a final decision.

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