The 2025-26 application cycle for state-funded private school vouchers gets underway

National School Choice Week is this week: Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2025. Over the past 15 years, this national event has gained momentum. The goal, according to the website, is to help “parents to discover the K-12 education options available for their children, including traditional public, public charter, public magnet, online, private, and home schooling.”

Here in North Carolina, the priority application period to apply for Opportunity and ESA+ Scholarships for the 2025-26 school year opens at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 and lasts until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025, according to a press release.

Opportunity Scholarships are state-funded vouchers that families can use to pay for eligible private schools.

“North Carolina’s Education Student Accounts (ESA+) program is available to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Funds may be used to pay tuition and fees for eligible private schools, and for expenses such as speech therapy, tutoring services, and educational technology,” according to the website of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA).

NCSEAA is the state agency designated by law to administer K-12 scholarship programs, including Opportunity Scholarships and ESA+.

If there are funds remaining after the priority period closes, the application may remain open, and any applications received after the priority period will be considered in the order the application was submitted, according to the press release.

Resources for interested families

NCSEAA is providing extended call center hours to support families during the priority application period on Feb. 6 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Feb. 7 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The number to call is 855-330-3955.

Additionally, according to the press release, NCSEAA has launched a new website for the K-12 scholarship programs with input from families to make accessing information about the programs easier to find and understand.

For parents who are interested, NCSEAA’s website says, “There are a few things you can do ahead of time to get ready for the application process.”

For parents interested in Opportunity Scholarships

Here is how to apply.

Here are the eligibility requirements.

Check your household size, income, and award tier.

Research eligible schools. Here is a list of schools by county.

Here are videos to help.

Pencil in Feb. 6 on your calendar.

For parents interested in ESA+ Scholarships

Here is how to apply, including how to set up an account in MyPortal.

Here are the eligibility requirements.

Learn more how to document a student’s disability.

Learn more about how to choose a school and the difference between a Direct Payment School, an ESA+ Reimbursement School, and a Home School.

Here are videos to help.

Pencil in Feb. 6 on your calendar.

A note on the website of NCSEAA says:

“Children who are placed in a private school by their parents waive their right to the special education services they would receive in the public schools. A private school does not have a legal obligation to provide special education services to students with disabilities. Select a private school carefully and establish a plan prior to enrollment that meets your child’s needs.”

What happens if your student receives a scholarship?

Notifications of scholarships happen in early April 2025. If your student is awarded a scholarship, then this page discusses next steps, including how to accept or decline the scholarship. If you accept it, then your student must be enrolled and attending an eligible school by Oct. 1, 2025, to use the funding.

“Students who receive the ESA+ or Opportunity Scholarship may enroll full-time in a private school or choose from a variety of co-enrollment options,” says the website. Here is information about co-enrollment.