Expanding school choice has been a key goal of conservative reformers in North Carolina, with historic investments made by forward thinking legislators in 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.

School choice advocates Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina shared that the program surpassed a significant milestone, with 103,400 students now receiving Opportunity Scholarships. This is an increase from 32,549 recipients in the 2023-24 school year and 80,325 in the 2024-25 school year.

As demand continues to rise, the forward thinking reformers in the North Carolina House should be applauded for their commitment to funding the Opportunity Scholarship Program and giving more students the chance to prepare for the workforce.