North Carolina school choice applications surge amid expansion 

Applications for North Carolina’s school choice program are surging after the state lifted income restrictions.

Numbers released by the state Department of Education show applications for the current school year hit nearly 80,000, up from nearly 33,000 the year before, Queen City News reported. This was the first year students from all income levels were eligible, and newly-eligible families accounted for 55% of the new applications. 

Still, more than half of scholarships went to lower-and middle-income students, with upper- and high-income families accounting for 42% of the grants, according to state numbers. 

The stats mirror a similar trend in Oklahoma, which also doesn’t have income restrictions on its school choice program. 

In the Sooner State, the majority of education scholarships went to lower- and middle-income families, even as families earning more than $150,000 received 42% of the funds, Oklahoma Watch reported. 

Both Oklahoma and North Carolina allow wealthy families to qualify but supply them less aid than lower-income families.  

Oklahoma scholarships range from $5,000 to $7,500 based on income; Tar Heel State families on free or reduced lunch can receive nearly $7,500, while high earners get less than $3,400. 

Critics have used any grants to wealthy families as a reason to oppose school choice, but advocates say the programs have boosted opportunities for all families. 

“School choice should be for everyone, not just the rich,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said when his state approved school choice in 2023. “What we’ve accomplished is a victory for students and a step towards true education freedom.” 

North Carolina’s program, which was first passed in 2013, had a waiting list of 54,000 students until Republicans overrode a veto from Democrat Gov. Roy Moore in November to add more funding. 

Nationally, 15 states, including North Carolina and Oklahoma, have universal school choice, meaning all or most students are eligible to apply.

Texas is currently trying to pass universal school choice legislation, although proposals differ slightly in the House and Senate over how to prioritize students. 

The House plan would put special needs students at the top, followed by lower-, middle- and then upper-income households, while the Senate plan would prioritize special needs students and limit most aid to families making less than 500% of the federal poverty line. 

The House is expected to act on the plan before Gov. Greg Abbott’s “emergency” declaration expires the first week of April.