Thursday, March 28, 2024

Legal battle still on; Wilmington Christian Academy students wait for vouchers

More than $1 million in taxpayer money has been sent to private schools throughout the state as the legal battle over the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Act continues in the N.C. Court of Appeals.

Approximately $1.4 million worth of vouchers was disbursed Friday to 109 participating private schools for 568 students, according to Elizabeth McDuffie of the N.C. Educational Assistance Authority (NCEAA), which is overseeing the program.

Under the Opportunity Scholarship Act, qualifying parents can receive up to $4,200 per year to be used toward private school tuition.

McDuffie said only one payment was sent to a Wilmington school–Calvary Christian–for one student. But, she added, more local payments–particularly to Wilmington Christian Academy–are on the way next month, following a software conversion.

“I expect the next [batch of checks] to be a fairly sizable one,” McDuffie noted.

The disbursement came a week after the state Court of Appeals allowed funds to be spent. In August, N.C. Appellate Court Judge Robert Hobgood ruled the vouchers issued through the 2013 act were unconstitutional because the program would funnel public money into private institutions. His ruling included an injunction to immediately halt the distribution of voucher money.

The appeals court kept that order in place for students scheduled to receive funds after Hobgood’s Aug. 21 ruling, but decided that the 1,878 students who had already accepted vouchers could still receive the money this year while the case is being appealed.

“Throughout this challenging process, we’ve heard from parents and school leaders about the significant academic progress children can make when they are able to learn in the environment that’s best for them. We appreciate their unwavering commitment while the case made its way through the courts,” Darrell Allison, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, said in a release on the organization’s website.

Furthermore, we are grateful for the tenacity of the legal teams representing the General Assembly, as well as our partners at the Institute for Justice. Together they stood up for the intervening parents in this case and the thousands of families who desired this option. Of course, the fight is not over. We will continue to push for an expedited answer on the merits of the case, which we believe will ultimately be upheld as constitutional.”

The N.C. General Assembly allocated $10.8 million this year for the Opportunity Scholarship Act. To be selected, children must qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program.

Hilary Snow is a reporter at Port City Daily. Reach her at (910) 772-6341 or hilary.s@hometownwilmington.com

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