NC Public School Funding: The Problems With the Voucher System

A photo of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, which hosts Grace Academy, a private school in Watauga County. Grace Academy focuses on providing students with a Christian education. Grace Academy is a local example of the voucher system in the works. Photo Credits: Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.

Andrew Larsen, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

Currently, North Carolina ranks last in the nation in public school investment. As such, budgeting surrounding education is frequently difficult, and broader budgeting issues exacerbate this. NC was the only state in 2025 to not pass a full budget, which led to reliance upon outdated budgeting information. Teacher pay is also an issue, with pay in the state ranking 43rd, and the state struggling over whether to increase teacher salaries or cut taxes. The connecting line through these issues is plain: money. This makes budgeting a tricky affair, as it’s hard for policymakers to decide where to allocate what funds. 

Recently, there has been controversy surrounding the Opportunity Scholarship Program, also known as the state voucher system. The state funds vouchers and provides money for students to better afford school, and potentially attend private schools. Concerns have been raised about whether this funding is going to families who need it. Jennifer Rifkin works at the Public School Forum of North Carolina, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for stronger public schools. Rifkin believes that the main issue with this system is that it diverts money from public education funding.

“When the state puts more money into vouchers, that’s money that could have gone to public schools, which serve the vast majority of students,” said Rifkin. “This is especially concerning because North Carolina already ranks last in the country in how much it invests in public education overall. At the same time, most students receiving vouchers weren’t even in public schools to begin with–only about 8% (who) transferred from public schools. This means that the funding is primarily going toward families who were already paying for private school.”

This funding is intended for students who truly need it to attend a private school, and students who already attend private schools generally have the money to do so. Rifkin also has concerns that the funding distribution is not fair to all students.

“Unlike public schools, private schools that receive voucher money don’t have to accept every student,” said Rifkin. “They can have admissions rules based on things like religion, academic performance, or family background. That means not every student has access to these schools, even though they’re getting public funding. On top of that, there’s very limited transparency. While some testing data is reported to the state, it’s not publicly available, so families and taxpayers can’t easily see how students in these schools are performing.”

Rising private school tuition also prevents vouchers from completely funding education, creating a greater need for funding. For students, many of these issues may feel out of their hands, despite their strong feelings on a topic that directly impacts them. Rifkin, however, believes that students have many avenues to help address the issue. 

“Students can use social media, school newspapers, or even conversations with their communities to talk about why their schools matter, how teachers have impacted them, and why public education is so important,” said Rifkin. “Students can also take it a step further by directly engaging in civic action. Writing to legislators or submitting op-eds to local newspapers gives students a chance to share their perspectives with decision-makers and the broader public. Those real, lived experiences can be incredibly influential. We’ve also seen students host public forums and candidate debates for local elections, which is a great way to learn where candidates stand on education and help others stay informed.”

Rifkin also emphasizes that staying informed is important for students, and suggests that they subscribe to Public School Forum’s Friday Report, and follow along with trustworthy news outlets. While students can make an impact, the decision to improve public education rests with the state government, Rifkin expresses.

“At the most basic level, state leaders need to meet their constitutional responsibility to provide every student with a sound, basic education–-and that simply isn’t possible without fully and adequately funding public schools,” said Rifkin. “That starts with passing a comprehensive budget that prioritizes education: one that invests in teachers through meaningful, consistent pay, supports vulnerable students, and gives schools the resources they need to succeed. It also means making thoughtful financial decisions for the long term. Slowing or pausing planned corporate and income tax cuts would help protect the state’s revenue so we can continue to invest in public education and meet the needs of a growing workforce. At the same time, policymakers should ensure that education policies are aligned with what students need to be successful in today’s economy.”

Part of this is due to the voucher system, which takes away the funding that public schools need to function and weakens school systems. This issue is complex and multifaceted, and Rifkin believes that the focus should be on improving the education of students.

 “At the end of the day, fixing these issues comes down to prioritizing students, making responsible funding choices, and ensuring that every child–-no matter their background–-has access to a high-quality public education,” said Rifkin.