Families push NC lawmakers to expand private school voucher program

Families are pushing North Carolina lawmakers to decide on a proposal to add nearly $500 million over the next two years to the state's private school voucher program, which uses state funds and taxpayer dollars to send students to private schools.

Dozens of families gathered at Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh on Wednesday, urging lawmakers to reach a deal, as members of the North Carolina House of Representatives held a voting session on separate matters.

State lawmakers removed the income limit for private school vouchers last year to make private school accessible for more families and to make current private school students eligible. Since then, the waiting list has swelled to around 55,000 students, although it’s unclear how many of those children are currently attending a private school.

Earlier this year, state Senate leaders sent the House a proposal to add $500 million to the program to cover the waiting list for the next two years, but House leaders refused to vote, saying it needed to include money for public education, too.