A judge’s ruling on Thursday declaring North Carolina’s school voucher program unconstitutional threw hundreds of families into chaos and struck a blow against the Republican education agenda in North Carolina.
Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood ruled on Thursday that a 2013 law to use public money for tuition at private and religious schools violates the North Carolina constitution.
The ruling, which came days after the start of a new school year for private schools, left hundreds of families who had intended to use the “Opportunity Scholarships” wondering how they would meet tuition bills after plans to issue vouchers were immediately halted.
It also buoyed the spirits of voucher opponents who argued against diverting public money for private and religious schools.
“This upholds North Carolina’s long-standing commitment to public education – public education creates productive citizens, a strong economy, and a great democracy,” Yevonne Brannon, chairwoman of Public Schools First, a nonpartisan organization that lobbies for public money for public schools, said in a statement.
Phil Berger, N.C. Senate president pro tem and an architect of major education policy shifts in North Carolina, criticized Hobgood’s decision to halt a school-choice policy that many Republicans across the country champion.
“Today’s ruling by a single trial court judge advances a clear political agenda ahead of the needs of thousands of North Carolina children,” Berger said in a statement. “We are committed to providing students a sound, basic education – and that’s the very reason we don’t want to trap disabled and underprivileged children in low-performing schools that are failing to deliver on that responsibility.”Read the rest of the story HERE.
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