Sen. Chaudhuri files bill in North Carolina Senate to increase nonpublic school accountability

A new bill filed by Sen. Chaudhuri seeks to improve accountability and transparency for nonpublic schools benefiting from opportunity scholarship funds in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 744 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Voucher School Accountability Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill, effective July 1, 2025, aims to increase accountability and reporting standards for nonpublic schools receiving opportunity scholarship funds in North Carolina. It mandates regular evaluations and requires nonpublic schools to meet specific accreditation criteria, comply with criminal background checks for staff, and maintain transparent financial operations through audits. Schools must submit standardized test results for students in designated grades and limit tuition increases to 5% annually. Additionally, it mandates non-discrimination in student admissions and requires maintaining racial and ethnic diversity reflective of the local community. Funding adjustments include reductions to appropriations for opportunity scholarships in future fiscal years.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Graig Meyer proposed the most bills (36) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Chaudhuri graduated from Davidson College in 1991 with a BA and again in 1999 from North Carolina Central University with a JD.

Chaudhuri, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 15th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Terry Van Duyn.