Nick Anderson’s political cartoon above may have been primarily for a Texan audience, but it is highly applicable in our state as the push to extend vouchers has ramped up, especially with a bill introduced this week that has the turncoat Tricia Cotham as a primary sponsor.

“For all students, per year per eligible student, an amount of up to forty-five percent (45%) of the average State per pupil allocation for average daily membership in the prior fiscal year, unless the student qualifies for a higher amount under this subsection.“

That bill will hit rural counties quicker and harder as of the 100 counties in NC, over 75 of them are considered rural by the NC Rural Center.

According to Public Schools First: NC

“Approximately 40 percent of the state’s public school students reside in rural counties, and 87 of the 115 traditional K-12 public school districts are located in rural counties.”

When the LEANDRO court case was first filed about a QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO, it specifically targeted the funding of rural counties that house school systems that have lower on average local supplements for teachers and schools that generally serviced a higher percentage of the school age children within the county/town boundaries.

Allowing vouchers to have this big of a presence in NC will literally draw money away from the local rural school system and place it in schools where the local people have no oversight.

Pure and simple. Literally local money will be going to fund private schools that do not have to take all applicants.

And if that isn’t enough, this bill was introduced yesterday by a a guy from Mecklenburg County who is about to run for State Treasurer.

If that passes, then you will see school populations segregate themselves – and in rural areas, it will happen fast.