By the numbers: A fully funded school voucher program
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North Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature sent to the governor's desk yesterday a budget bill that would fully fund the state's private school voucher, or Opportunity Scholarship, program.
Why it matters: The bill's passage could unlock millions in funding for tens of thousands of students across the state whose families hope to obtain scholarships to attend private schools.
Context: Gov. Roy Cooper is all but certain to veto the legislation, but lawmakers are expected to have the votes to override that veto at some point before the end of the year.
Here's a by-the-numbers look at the education-related portions of the legislation:
$248 million: How much the legislature wants to allocate to the Opportunity Scholarship program to clear its waitlist for the 2024-2025 school year.
$100 million: The amount by which public school funding could decrease if the bill passes, per a recent Office of State Budget and Management analysis.
$95 million: The recurring amount the budget bill allocates toward public schools, based on K-12 enrollment growth.
$7,468: The maximum amount a student can receive from the Opportunity Scholarship program to attend private school this year.
13,511: The number of students offered the maximum Opportunity Scholarship amount ($7,468) to attend eligible private schools in the 2024-2025 school year.
- These students are classified as "Tier 1," in which a family of four had a maximum household income of $57,720.
2,294: The number of students in "Tier 2," meaning they were offered Opportunity Scholarships amounting close to $7,000.
53,706: The number of students who remain on the Opportunity Scholarship waitlist for the 2024-25 school year, per OSBM.
$115,440: The minimum household income for a family of four on the Opportunity Scholarship waitlist. The state no longer has an income cap for families who can receive the vouchers.
41%: The percent of adults surveyed in a recent WRAL poll who said the state should spend less on the state's private school voucher program.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the $95 million allocation is based on K-12 enrollment growth.