A major goal of conservatives in North Carolina has been to expand school choice, with significant investments made by conservative leaders in the North Carolina House in recent years into the Opportunity Scholarship Program. The initiative received a $625 million appropriation for FY 2025-26 from the North Carolina General Assembly, an increase of over $400 million in two years. The Opportunity Scholarship Program is designed to award more funding to lower income families, so more students are able to pursue the best education options for each child’s needs.

In November the number of enrolled students in the Opportunity Scholarship Program surpassed 100,000 for the first time. According to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority that number is at 104,599 as of January 5th.

The enrollment period for the 2026-27 school year is now open through March 2nd.