RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A bill to spend hundreds of millions of dollars providing parents with vouchers to send their children to private schools was passed by state lawmakers.
After passing 67-43, the law will now head to Governor Roy Cooper’s desk.
Republicans have been attempting to negotiate a solution on this matter for the past few months.
The N.C. House passed a bill this afternoon that allocates an additional $463 million for the voucher program for both the current academic year and the following year.
Republicans’ decision to make every family eligible, regardless of income, resulted in a spike in demand this year.
There are roughly 55,000 students on the waiting list.
Families who previously paid for tuition would receive a refund as part of the proposal.
Republicans claim that this will encourage school choice, while Democrats who opposed it claim that the majority of the cash for this most recent round will go to families who can already afford private education.