Old North News

The North Carolina House has passed a measure centered around expanding school choice, known as House Bill 823. 

“BREAKING: North Carolina House just passed a bill to fund students instead of systems,” Corey DeAngelis, senior fellow with the American Federation for Children, wrote in a May 17 Twitter post. “The vote was 65-45. It now goes to the Senate. All families would be eligible. This is the way.”

The Carolina Journal reports the legislation will enable North Carolina students from kindergarten to 12th grade, regardless of age, to receive scholarship vouchers based on their household income.

After weeks of debates, the bill underwent a lengthy three-hour discussion during a recent meeting and was ultimately approved. Democrats, predominantly, expressed their opposition to the bill, asserting it would divert crucial funding away from public schools. The majority of the votes backing the bill were from Republicans, with only one Democrat voting in favor, according to Fox 8.

According to the bill, eligible students from households meeting the federal free and reduced-price lunch program criteria will receive 100% of the scholarship amount, around $7,426 in 2022. 

Students from households below 200% of the threshold will qualify for 90%, approximately $6,683. Those from households between 200% and 450% of the threshold will be eligible for 60%, equivalent to $4,456. Finally, students from households exceeding the 450% threshold will receive 45%, approximately $3,346, according to Fox 8.

“This is a wildly popular program, and it is about putting children first,” said Rep. Tricia Cotham (R-Charlotte), according to The Carolina Journal. “All children are different. You all know that if you’re a parent, a grandparent. 

"If I’m picking education for my children to go to a different school, how could I stand here and deny the single mom in Greensboro that she can’t have that chance," she added. "Just because I have the ability to afford it, that she can’t? That’s wrong, and it’s hypocritical.”