“Public education,” not private religious academies, “is the bedrock of North Carolina’s success.” Let put tax payer dollars where they can have greater returns.
Earlier in the week, Clinton City Schools’ leaders went to talk with state leaders about possible funding for school needs, some of which are dire. Those same state leaders, namely, Rep. William Brisson and State Senator Brent Jackson, on this past Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively voted to override a veto that gave an additional $6.5 billion in state funds for private school voucher over the next decade. Yep, that is what has just happened; the Republican-controlled General Assembly has just diverted billions in public money to private religious schools. Obviously, that will continue to undermine strong public education and student resources by removing scarce funding from public schools, which serve over 80 percent of all students in North Carolina.
What started out as a program to assist low-income students has turned into an expansive private school voucher program, with no income caps which allows any student to apply for a voucher. Many of these students come from families with above median household income, resulting in gross underfunding of public schools. In other words, we are taking taxpayer money to support wealthy families. Right now in North Carolina, there are over 50,000 on a waitlist for private school vouchers, and it is estimated that about 20 percent have family income above $250,000 for a family of four. Really, what it boils down to is “we have underfunded public schools and we have unaccountable private schools,” making private schools more accessible.
It is also estimated that by the 2032-33 fiscal year, the private school voucher budget will be $825 million per year and would continue at the same funding level in all subsequent fiscal years, “locking in billions for private school vouchers” while the Clinton City Schools appear to be willing to settle for “an additional $3 to $4 million in the broad state budget” for school needs.
With the state legislature’s recent expansion of private school vouchers, many people believe that once these students are served, it will be hard to do away with vouchers. They will continue to expand. As it is now, private religious schools have few requirements placed on them such as not being required to report test scores and teach specific curriculum.
I say it’s time we put more money in public education to help all students make the grade, for we know public education is the backbone of this country. Let’s do all we can to make sure public education remain the cornerstone of our pluralistic democracy, helping maintain our preeminence in our changing world. Also, public education should be a unifying influence, teaching us how we can “disagree deeply while still finding a way to live together.
Right now, we need to be doing all we can “to build diverse coalitions and bridge divides” to bring people together.