More NC families would qualify for private school vouchers under massive program in state budget
The expansion to hundreds of millions of dollars would make it one of the largest education line items in the state's budget.
Posted — UpdatedThat would make it one of the largest education line items in the state’s budget. Families already paying to send their children to private school would be eligible to apply for the funding.
Supporters have argued families want more private school options and that schools don’t need money for the students they’re losing.
North Carolina’s proposed expansion would still prioritize the lowest-income families before the highest-income families. The first 50% of funds would be reserved for the lowest-income families, who would retain priority even once that threshold is reached.
Higher-income families would receive scholarships in lesser dollars amounts, down to 45% of the maximum scholarship.
The maximum scholarship amount would also rise from just above $6,000 to $7,213. The amount available to the highest-income families would be $3,246.
The proposed expansion would about double the current funding available for the program, from $133 million last year to $263.5 million this year. Next year, it would be $354.5 million. It would top $400 million the year after that and rise above $500 million by the end of the decade.
Because the scholarships can amount to less than what the state spends on each public school student, the state can actually save money by sending children to private school instead. However, the budget bill would give public schools the savings beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Public schools would still lose funding overall for the loss of the students.
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