South Raleigh News

Legislative Republicans’ plan to allocate $625 million this year for private school vouchers instead of public schools is raising concerns in rural North Carolina. School boards and leaders in these areas argue that the voucher expansion will disproportionately affect rural counties, where access to private education is limited, and public schools are crucial community institutions.

Wake County school leaders have voiced their opposition to the bill, which allocates an additional $463 million for private school vouchers but less than half of the $200 million requested for public school enrollment growth. “Not only is it bad for us here in Wake County, It’s bad statewide,” said school board chair Chris Heagarty. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to veto the bill, although Republicans hold a legislative majority capable of overriding the veto.

In Martin County, Gov. Cooper warned that the county could lose more than $65,000 in public education funding if the voucher plan proceeds. "They’re coming back to take hundreds of millions of taxpayer money out of the public schools to give it to private school vouchers for the wealthiest North Carolinians," he said.

Yadkin County, which has no private schools participating in the voucher program, could lose over $106,000 in public education funding under House Bill 10. Yadkin County Schools Superintendent Anthony Davis expressed his concerns about using public money to fund private schools while many needs within the public system remain unmet.

Gov. Cooper has indicated his intent to veto the legislation upon its arrival. "I’m going to veto this legislation, and it’s important for that veto to be sustained," he told Rocky Mount Telegram.

The Daily Advance reported that Cooper emphasized how rural areas would suffer most from this bill: “The Legislature wants to take hundreds of millions of dollars out of the public schools and give it to private school vouchers.”

According to The Taylorsville Times, nearly 70,000 new applications were received for Opportunity Scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year following recent eligibility expansions.

In Jacksonville Daily News, Cooper urged residents in rural counties like Onslow, Craven, and Lenoir to contact their legislators against what he described as a harmful program: “This is devastating for education across the board."