North Carolina Senate OKs $500 million for private school vouchers, student accounts
7 months, 3 weeks ago

North Carolina Senate OKs $500 million for private school vouchers, student accounts

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Senate Republicans pushed legislation through their chamber Thursday to set aside roughly $500 million more for now for programs that provide taxpayer money to help K-12 students attend private schools and eliminate their waiting lists. During Thursday’s hour-long floor debate on the issue, Senate Democrats argued it was unfair for the wealthiest families to receive taxpayer-funded Opportunity Scholarships so they can send their children to private schools they can already afford when the state’s public schools are struggling for more funds. Cooper’s budget proposal for the coming year released last week would freeze scholarship awards at this year’s levels, resulting in $174 million more for public school students and teachers. The bill would spend another $248 million in the coming year to eliminate the Opportunity Scholarship program waiting list and $215.5 million more to increase scheduled spending for the 2025-2026 school year.

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History of this topic

North Carolina Republicans complete a veto override of voucher, immigration bill
1 month ago

North Carolina Republicans complete a veto override of voucher, immigration bill

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Republican-dominated North Carolina legislature completed on Wednesday its override of Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of legislation that both approves more funds for private school scholarship grants for recipients of all incomes and directs local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration agents’ requests to detain certain inmates. “A historic expansion of parental school choice is now a …

Extra private school voucher funding gets initial OK from North Carolina Senate
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Extra private school voucher funding gets initial OK from North Carolina Senate

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Senate took the first step in clearing the state’s waitlist for private school vouchers Monday after passing a supplemental spending plan that also includes more Medicaid money, rural broadband access and requirements for sheriffs to assist federal immigration agents. The Senate reconvened after Republican chamber leaders announced last week that they reached a spending …

North Carolina GOP leaders reach spending deal to clear private school voucher waitlist
3 months, 2 weeks ago

North Carolina GOP leaders reach spending deal to clear private school voucher waitlist

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Republican House and Senate leaders said Friday that they have agreed with each other on a supplemental spending proposal that includes hundreds of millions of dollars to eliminate the state’s waitlist for private school vouchers. The proposal sets aside an additional $463 million for this school year and next for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program …

Families rally to urge North Carolina lawmakers to fully fund private-school vouchers
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Families rally to urge North Carolina lawmakers to fully fund private-school vouchers

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Dozens of North Carolina parents held a rally on Wednesday to urge Republican legislators to fully fund scholarships for children to attend private and religious schools after lawmakers failed to work out an agreement earlier this year to meet the program’s soaring demand. Senate leader Phil Berger also met with the advocates and expressed his support but …

Ample signatures collected for referendum to repeal private school funding law, organizers say
5 months, 1 week ago

Ample signatures collected for referendum to repeal private school funding law, organizers say

Associated Press  

— Public school advocates say they have enough signatures to ask Nebraska voters in November to repeal a law that provides taxpayer money for private school tuition, marking the latest twist in a long-running fight with state lawmakers who have repeatedly opposed efforts to let voters weigh in on the public funding plan. “Nebraskans deserve the opportunity to vote on …

North Carolina House budget gets initial OK as Senate unveils stripped-down plan
6 months ago

North Carolina House budget gets initial OK as Senate unveils stripped-down plan

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina budget-adjustment measure penned by House Republicans received initial approval Wednesday in the chamber, legislation that covers a massive increase in private-school voucher demand, locates money for child care centers and raises worker and teacher pay further than already scheduled. Four House Democrats joined all Republicans present to vote 73-36 for the bill, which makes …

North Carolina Republicans seek hundreds of millions of dollars more for school vouchers
7 months, 3 weeks ago

North Carolina Republicans seek hundreds of millions of dollars more for school vouchers

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Addressing a sharp increase in private-school grant applications, North Carolina Republicans advanced legislation on Wednesday to spend hundreds of millions of dollars now to eliminate a large waiting list this fall for Opportunity Scholarships and to permanently meet expected higher demand. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted for legislation that would spend another $248 million in the coming …

Nebraska lawmakers seek to solidify taxpayer-funded school choice before voters can decide it
8 months, 1 week ago

Nebraska lawmakers seek to solidify taxpayer-funded school choice before voters can decide it

Associated Press  

Nebraska lawmakers are on track to pass a bill that would circumvent an upcoming ballot initiative in which voters could repeal a new state law that funds private school tuition with taxpayer money. Acknowledging that voters might reject the new law, Linehan, a Republican, is now pushing a bill that would directly fund the private school scholarships from state coffers, …

Many eligible North Carolina school voucher applicants won’t get awards
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Many eligible North Carolina school voucher applicants won’t get awards

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A massive spike in applications to North Carolina’s school voucher program means most higher-income families won’t receive financial help for the coming year even though the General Assembly did away with income caps on the program. There simply isn’t enough money to accommodate a six-fold increase to 72,000 new applicants this year, all seeking subsidies to send …

South Carolina House votes to expand voucher program. It’s fate in Senate is less clear
9 months ago

South Carolina House votes to expand voucher program. It’s fate in Senate is less clear

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Republicans in the South Carolina House gave key approval Wednesday to a bill expanding a program allowing parents to spend taxpayer money on private and home-school education even as a pilot plan is just starting and the state’s highest court is considering whether it is legal. “We can support our public school and our public school teachers, …

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor
9 months ago

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Georgia senators gave final approval Wednesday to a plan to create a $6,500 voucher funding for private school tuition and home schooling, sending the measure to Gov. The bill would provide $6,500 education savings accounts to students attending public schools that rank in Georgia’s bottom 25% for academic achievement. They also say private schools don’t have to accept …

Georgia school voucher bill narrowly clears longtime obstacle with state House passage
9 months, 1 week ago

Georgia school voucher bill narrowly clears longtime obstacle with state House passage

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Georgia Republicans powered a voucher plan funding private school tuition and home schooling through the state House on Thursday, nearing a goal that has long eluded the state’s school choice advocates as GOP leaders overcame longstanding skepticism from some rural members of their party The House voted 91-82 for Senate Bill 233, passing it with one vote to …

Alabama lawmakers have approved a school choice program
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Alabama lawmakers have approved a school choice program

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday signed legislation creating a program similar to school vouchers that would provide eligible families with as much as $7,000 to help pay for private school and $2,000 for homeschooling expenses. The state, he added, should “focus on the students and not so much institutions.” The legislation will allow eligible families to …

Tennessee governor unveils push for statewide school voucher expansion, no income limitations
1 year ago

Tennessee governor unveils push for statewide school voucher expansion, no income limitations

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday backed a plan to expand beyond a three-county school voucher program for low-income kids by offering public money for private schooling statewide, regardless of family income. The current program awards eligible families around $8,100 in public tax dollars to help cover private school tuition and other preapproved expenses for up to …

Pennsylvania lawmakers OK millions for universities, but feud over private and public school aid
1 year, 1 month ago

Pennsylvania lawmakers OK millions for universities, but feud over private and public school aid

Associated Press  

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s Legislature on Wednesday approved hundreds of millions of dollars for universities after a fight that has dragged on five months into the fiscal year, although the politically divided body continued to feud over elements of school funding. Legislation to send just over $600 million to several higher education institutions passed both the House and Senate within …

Teachers’ advocates challenge private school voucher program in South Carolina
1 year, 1 month ago

Teachers’ advocates challenge private school voucher program in South Carolina

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A group of South Carolina parents and teachers’ advocates filed a challenge Thursday to a new Republican-backed law allowing taxpayer dollars to help families pay for private schools. The South Carolina Education Association and state chapter of the NAACP want the state’s highest court to toss out the program that they said runs afoul of a prohibition …

Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets in some states
1 year, 1 month ago

Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets in some states

Associated Press  

In some states, higher-income families can now use taxpayer money to cover private school tuition -- and more people than projected are taking the offer, which might force scrambles to shore up state budgets. It’s especially an issue in states like Arizona and Iowa, where at least some families whose children were already in private school can now take advantage …

Opponents of Nebraska plan to use public money for private school tuition seek ballot initiative
1 year, 3 months ago

Opponents of Nebraska plan to use public money for private school tuition seek ballot initiative

Associated Press  

Organizers of an effort to have Nebraska voters weigh in on whether to use taxpayer money to pay for private school tuition scholarships said Wednesday they have more than enough signatures to put that question on the November 2024 ballot. “This wildly successful petition effort has shown that Nebraskans agree.” The effort was launched even before Nebraska lawmakers passed a …

Pennsylvania budget still in turmoil over school vouchers and equity funding case
1 year, 5 months ago

Pennsylvania budget still in turmoil over school vouchers and equity funding case

Associated Press  

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A court’s ruling earlier this year that the way Pennsylvania funds public schools is unconstitutional helped make education spending one of the thorniest issues in state budget negotiations. Along with a partisan divide over spending taxpayer money to help students attend private and religious schools, education funding has left the state’s 2023-24 spending plan incomplete. “Schools were …

What to Watch: Pennsylvania budget talks near deadline, and get contentious
1 year, 5 months ago

What to Watch: Pennsylvania budget talks near deadline, and get contentious

Associated Press  

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Democratic Gov. But top Democratic lawmakers have long opposed what they call “private school vouchers” — including this program — and that has sowed doubts about whether Shapiro can secure a deal in the coming days. The massive reserves are easing spending decisions, while the court decision has emboldened Democratic lawmakers to demand far more money for …

Nebraska passes law on taxpayer money going to private schools
1 year, 6 months ago

Nebraska passes law on taxpayer money going to private schools

Associated Press  

— Nebraska lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday that will channel public money to scholarships for private school tuition, despite critics who say the measure hurts public schools, benefits wealthy taxpayers and helps mostly parochial schools that can discriminate against LGBTQ+ students. Public school advocates have blasted the measure as a “school voucher scheme” that will hurt the state’s K-12 public …

Large private school voucher expansion voted for by both North Carolina legislative chambers
1 year, 7 months ago

Large private school voucher expansion voted for by both North Carolina legislative chambers

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Families at any income level — not just the poor and the middle class — could receive North Carolina taxpayer funds for their children to attend K-12 private schools under legislation getting formal support Wednesday with votes in both chambers. Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Wake County Democrat opposed to the program, said eliminating the income standards …

North Carolina Senate votes on state government budget
1 year, 7 months ago

North Carolina Senate votes on state government budget

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A state government budget proposal from North Carolina Senate Republicans received initial approval in their chamber on Wednesday, outlining a plan that spends the same amount as a competing House measure but differs on priorities, tax details and a host of policy prescriptions. “But that’s not to say at the end of the day we can’t pull …

North Carolina Senate unveils state budget with deeper tax cuts, lower raises than House proposal
1 year, 7 months ago

North Carolina Senate unveils state budget with deeper tax cuts, lower raises than House proposal

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Senate Republicans revealed their proposed two-year state government budget proposal Monday, one that would further reduce personal income taxes but offer less generous pay raises for workers compared to what their House counterparts sought. The Senate budget proposal would raise average teacher pay by just 4.5% over the next two years, compared to a 10.2% …

South Carolina governor signs private school voucher bill
1 year, 7 months ago

South Carolina governor signs private school voucher bill

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s governor signed a bill into law Thursday that will eventually allow up to 15,000 students in the state to use public money for private schools. Within three years, the eligibility is to be capped at 15,000 students, or about 2% of South Carolina’s school age population, for families making around $120,000 or less. Republican South …

N. Carolina GOP seeks big private school voucher expansion
1 year, 7 months ago

N. Carolina GOP seeks big private school voucher expansion

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Public money for private school tuition would be available to all of North Carolina’s K-12 students regardless of income under Republican-backed legislation that began advancing in the General Assembly on Wednesday. In a tweet last week, Cooper called the expansion proposal “worse than awful” for offering “vouchers that can be used by billionaires to send their kids …

After years, South Carolina appears set for school vouchers
1 year, 7 months ago

After years, South Carolina appears set for school vouchers

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House gave key approval to an education voucher bill Wednesday, likely clearing the way for up to 15,000 students to be able to use public money for private school tuition. They said parents should have the freedom to send their children to whatever school educates them best and the idea will help public schools, …

NC lawsuit over private school scholarship program dismissed
1 year, 8 months ago

NC lawsuit over private school scholarship program dismissed

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A legal challenge filed nearly three years ago to North Carolina’s taxpayer-funded scholarship program for K-12 children to attend private schools was dismissed Wednesday by the lawsuit’s plaintiffs. The dismissal came six months after the state Court of Appeals ruled that the case had to be heard by a panel of three trial court judges, rather than …

N. Carolina House state budget proposal gets initial OK
1 year, 8 months ago

N. Carolina House state budget proposal gets initial OK

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina House voted on Wednesday for a Republican-backed budget measure that would fund the state government for the next two years, including billions in spending for infrastructure and mental health and attempts to address inflation and job vacancies with pay raises. “This is not a spend-spend reckless plan but an opportunity to build on our …

N. Carolina governor’s big budget increase scoffed at by GOP
1 year, 9 months ago

N. Carolina governor’s big budget increase scoffed at by GOP

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Democratic governor released his state government spending plan on Wednesday that would increase spending by 20% over the next two years, double the increase favored by Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Senate leader Phil Berger called Cooper’s budget “an irresponsible, unserious proposal from a lame-duck governor who wants future North Carolinians to pick …

Public money for private school tuition bill advances
1 year, 9 months ago

Public money for private school tuition bill advances

Associated Press  

— Nebraska could join 48 other states in offering public money for private school tuition under a bill advanced by the state Legislature on Wednesday, even as some lawmakers expressed concern about taxpayer dollars going to private schools allowed to turn away students based on religious tenets. Rather than appropriating taxpayer dollars directly toward private school vouchers, the bill would …

S. Carolina House OKs referendum on state aid for private ed
1 year, 9 months ago

S. Carolina House OKs referendum on state aid for private ed

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House moved to allow the repeal of a constitutional prohibition on funding private schools with public dollars as a Republican-backed voucher plan advances in the General Assembly. Earlier this month, the state Senate passed one such program that would establish taxpayer-funded scholarship accounts for private schools available to poor and middle-class families. “Until we …

Tax money for students for private school on SC Senate floor
1 year, 11 months ago

Tax money for students for private school on SC Senate floor

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senators said a bill that would give some less well off parents and guardians up to $6,000 a year for private school tuition will be the first thing they debate in the 2023 session. Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey told members the bill will come up for debate Tuesday on the Senate floor. The …

SC Senate approves allowing public money for private schools
2 years, 8 months ago

SC Senate approves allowing public money for private schools

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Senate late Wednesday gave key approval to a bill that would allow some poorer or disabled students taxpayer money to attend a private school or a public school outside their district. Opponents of the program said it likely violates the state constitution, which prohibits spending public money on private or religious schools. More conservative …

SC Senate debates private school choice for poorer students
2 years, 8 months ago

SC Senate debates private school choice for poorer students

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Senate’s debate on a bill that would give some poorer or disabled students money so they could pick a private school or public school outside their district will continue into next week. “Please stop bringing your politics to our classrooms.” The program would be limited to 5,000 students the first year before reaching a …

SC House considering its own private school voucher bill
2 years, 10 months ago

SC House considering its own private school voucher bill

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Leaders in the South Carolina House appear to be pushing their own bill to give poorer parents money to pay tuition at private schools. Unlike some other voucher programs, the money wouldn’t come out of the state budget for public schools, instead being pulled from a contingency fund, House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith said. Rep. …

Republicans want input from education voucher bill opponents
2 years, 10 months ago

Republicans want input from education voucher bill opponents

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The leader of Republicans in the South Carolina Senate said one of his main goals this session is to pass a bill that would allow some parents to get public money to spend on private schools. Economists who estimate how much bills could cost issued a fiscal impact statement saying if every eligible student participates, the program …

North Carolina court stops order to spend $1.7B on education
3 years ago

North Carolina court stops order to spend $1.7B on education

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina appeals court on Tuesday blocked enforcement of parts of a trial judge’s recent order that demanded $1.75 billion in state taxpayer funds be spent — without express legislative approval — to address public education inequities. The majority on a three-judge panel sided with a request by State Controller Linda Combs that it prevent Superior …

Judge: N Carolina must spend $1.75B to narrow education gap
3 years, 1 month ago

Judge: N Carolina must spend $1.75B to narrow education gap

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina trial judge on Wednesday ordered the state to pay out $1.75 billion to help narrow the state’s public education inequities, angering Republicans who said the directive usurps lawmakers’ constitutional authority over state coffers. The state Supreme Court ruled in 2004 in the Leandro lawsuit — named after an early student plaintiff — that while …

Suit again targets N.C. private school scholarship program
4 years, 4 months ago

Suit again targets N.C. private school scholarship program

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Several North Carolina parents sued on Monday to halt the state’s taxpayer-funded scholarship program for K-12 children to attend private schools, saying they’re discriminated against based on their beliefs about religion and sexuality. The litigation filed in Wake County court contends the current Opportunity Scholarship Program violates several portions of the state constitution, including those protecting religious …

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