‘It’s a win-win’: North Carolina awards over 3,000 additional school choice scholarships while special ed program grows nearly 30%

So many North Carolina families are asking for school choice scholarships, it’s hard for the state to keep up with the demand.

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) announced Monday it was awarding 3,252 additional scholarships via the state’s two education freedom programs.

Over 2,000 scholarships were offered through the Opportunity Scholarship program, and another 1,000 to disabled students in the Education Savings Account (ESA+) program.

While all students are technically eligible for an Opportunity Scholarship – which became universal last year – the program is constrained by its budget.  

For the 2024-25 school year, it has roughly $191 million in funding. That number will jump to $415 million the following year, with annual $15 million increases thereafter.   

Nevertheless, a total of 72,000 families applied for an Opportunity Scholarship for the 2024-25 school year, though less than 16,000 have been approved.  

Comparatively, over 25,000 students participated in the program in 2023. 

At the same time, the special education program is growing, though it’s also constrained by a $50 million budget.  

According to The Carolina Journal, ESA+ received nearly 3,000 new applications and started nearly 1,000 new accounts, reflecting 28% growth from 2023.  

“The growth of the ESA+ program derives from the simple fact that the program works,” said Robert Luebke, an education expert at the John Locke Foundation. “Parents appreciate the opportunity to tailor their children’s education to fit the special needs of their child. And children are able to access the services they need to develop intellectually and socially.  

“It’s a win-win and people are finding out about it.” 

There already exist nearly 20 school choice programs nationwide which are specifically designed for special needs students. And previously anti-school choice states, such as Montana, are already following suit and creating educational opportunities for disabled students.