The following is a press release from the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham
Gov. Roy Cooper’s orders permit well-off families to send their children to private schools for in-class instruction, while children from less fortunate families receive no in-person education.
Parents can change that by applying for an Opportunity Scholarship. The program provides low- and middle-income families with up to $4,200 in scholarship funding to attend a private school.
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said, “The public school establishment is failing the very children it is supposed to serve. At-risk kids may be out of school from March 2020 through September 2021 – many of them don’t have a chance of catching up.”
Berger continued, “Meanwhile, children from well-off families can learn in-person at private school. I urge concerned parents to take advantage of the Opportunity Scholarship program so their kids can get the same private school education as other children.”
The latest data shows a “shocking” disparity in online learning efficacy between high- and low-income students.
In 2013, the Republican-led legislature created the Opportunity Scholarship program to provide students from low- and middle-income families with up to $4,200 per year to attend private school.
The philosophy behind the program is that the condition of one’s birth shouldn’t predetermine education quality.
The application period for the 2020-21 school year is open until Aug. 31, 2020. Families interested in applying should visit the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority’s website.
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Find this release online at medium.com/@BergerPress
