Earlier this week, the NC General Assembly returned to Raleigh to address many substantive issues. We’re excited to share with you that both the House and Senate have now voted to successfully override Governor Cooper’s veto of House Bill 10!

Tens of thousands of families throughout North Carolina can rest easy knowing that the NC General Assembly has overridden the veto of Governor Roy Cooper on HB10, a bill that includes several top policy initiatives and fully funds the waiting list for children who have applied for the Universal Opportunity Scholarship.

In passing HB10 and overriding Governor Cooper’s veto, the legislature has made a clear commitment to invest in the students of this state by empowering their families to find the school that best fits their needs. By overriding the Governor’s veto, HB10 now clears the waitlist for tens of thousands of families in limbo, while also clearing the waitlist for Special Needs ESA.

The research shows that there is a strong link between opportunity scholarships and gains in student achievement like math and reading proficiency, graduating high school, going to and persisting in college, being less likely to commit crimes and being more likely to volunteer and vote.  In short, long-term educational and civic participation and achievement are improved with students whose parents have had the opportunity to choose the best school for them.  School choice yields large positive gains on test scores and academic achievement.

There is nothing more pro-family than choosing the best school for one’s own children, and now, the scholarships that allow that choice are fully funded for all families on the waitlist. 

A big thank you to the members of the General Assembly who voted to override the Governor’s veto of this critical program.  The funding is retroactive for this school year, so parents who have scraped together tuition for this fall will receive a refund.  Join us in cheering for this great advancement for the children in North Carolina!

We also wanted to extend our gratitude to you. For years, the NC Values has fought for the Opportunity Scholarship and its funding. From petitioning legislators on the ground, to organizing click-to-contact campaigns, and to many other related efforts you have labored alongside us to see this law come to fruition.

If you appreciate the work we do getting pro-values laws passed at the General Assembly, would you consider becoming a monthly donor today? Our monthly donors provide us the financial stability we need to do our daily work and maintain our momentum.

If you are unable, would you consider a needed one-time donation of any amount towards sustaining our legislative work?

Sincerely,

Tami & Team
NC Values