Private School Grants
Sen. Michael Lee, a New Hanover County Republican, addresses a series of questions from Democratic Sen. Mary Wills Bode regarding the funding expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship program on the Legislative Building's Senate floor in Raleigh, on Thursday.
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The North Carolina Senate has approved legislation to set aside roughly $500 million more for now for programs that provide taxpayer money to help K-12 students attend private schools. The majority-Republican Senate voted Thursday along party lines to spend the money, almost all of which will cover a surge in demand for Opportunity Scholarship grants since income caps to receive them were eliminated. The demand has resulted in a waiting list of nearly 55,000 students. The measure could go to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper next week if the House votes to affirm the legislation. Cooper opposes these vouchers, but Republicans hold narrow veto-proof majorities.
