Lots of applications for vouchers were submitted this year.
It’s by design.
In fact, there will be many families who will be denied a voucher because the demand was higher than what was allotted.
AGAIN, THAT WAS BY DESIGN.
When Tricia Cotham switched parties for whatever dubious reasons, she provided a super-majority of GOP members in each chamber of the NC General Assembly.
Then she sponsored this:
And it allowed for anyone to apply – no income limits.
PSFNC’s analysis of the data is spot-on.
Using data from NCSEAA reported on March 5, the percentage of applicants by tier shows that fewer than half (45%) are in Tier 1 and Tier 2. The maximum allowable income for Tier 2 eligibility is $115,440 (i.e., 200% of federal free lunch income for a family of four). Census data puts the median annual family income in North Carolina at $66,186, well within the Tier 2 range and much lower than the top income for Tier 2 eligibility.
Also noteworthy is that the total number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 applicants is lower than the total voucher users (enrollments) for 2023-24, the current school year. Every year there is a drop-off from number of applicants to actual voucher users, so the 32,400 Tier 1 and 2 applicant number for this year will shrink.
The majority of applicants (55%) are from high income families, with 18% making more than $259,740 per year.
The percentage of low-income applicants (19% in Tier 1, $57,720 and below) is nearly identical to the number of applicants in the highest income tier (18% in Tier 4, $259740 and above).
Public Schools First of North Carolina Report from 3/9/24
Ann Doss Helms just reported on this for WFAE and was featured today on NPR.
She reported:
Yes. Many people of higher levels of income who applied for a voucher will not get them. But the demand because it is literally free money for wealthy people who already send their students to private schools will drive the argument that vouchers need more funding.
Just ask PEFNC’s Brian Jodice who is referenced above. Also from Ann Doss Helms’s report:
“Demand for (Opportunity Scholarships) by low-income and working-class families is so strong that some of them could be sitting on the waitlist this year,” PEFNC President Mike Long said after seeing the application data. “Because of that we encourage lawmakers at the General Assembly to continue expanding access to Opportunity Scholarships as soon as possible.”
https://www.wfae.org/education/2024-03-11/high-demand-means-tens-of-thousands-may-be-shut-out-of-nc-school-vouchers
The plan is to generate demand for an unregulated tax break for wealthier people to create supply when Leandro is not even being honored in any sort of way by the NCGA.
Of course Jodice is pushing for more vouchers. The NCGA is literally paying him to do so.
One million dollars.
caffeinated rage 