“Today is a landmark victory for students and families across North Carolina. By overriding the governor’s veto pen, the legislature has cleared the way for thousands of students on school choice waitlists to access the educational opportunities they want and deserve.
“This bold step reflects a commitment to putting students first, empowering families and fostering high-quality education choices statewide. We are grateful for the leadership of Senate Leader Phil Berger, Senate Majority Leader Paul Newton, Senator Michael Lee, House Speaker Tim Moore, House Majority Leader John Bell and Chairman Destin Hall for their unwavering support of North Carolina’s students.”
About the Legislation (HB 10)
The school choice funding legislation (HB 10) includes significant support for families choosing private education through the Opportunity Scholarship Program and the Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Program. Key provisions include:
During the 2024-25 school year priority application period, North Carolina families filed nearly 72,000 new applications for the Opportunity Scholarship Program, which provides income-based scholarships for students to attend the school that best fits their educational needs.
The program exhausted its funding after offering scholarships to 13,511 applicants in the lowest income tier and about 2,300 applicants in the second income tier. As of July 2024, more than 54,000 students are on the waitlist for Opportunity Scholarships.
HB 10 signifies a substantial investment in the future of North Carolina’s educational landscape, ensuring that all students have access to the quality education they deserve. The bill, which passed the legislature in September, was vetoed by Governor Roy Cooper. Today, the legislature overrode the governor’s veto with a vote of 72-44.
