The supposed need for North Carolina’s voucher program has officially done a 180-degree turn.

When first introduced, the voucher system was as described by then-called NC Policy Watch as such:

In 2014, Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood ruled that the Opportunity Grants were unconstitutional. In 2015, that ruling was reversed supposedly upholding a lifeline for low-income minority students leave “failing” public schools.

In fact, here is a blurb from the Carolina Journal, Art Pope’s main publication, from 2015.

So, the voucher system that ten years ago was billed as a lifeline for low-income minority children actually seems now more like a tax-break for wealthier white families to send their children to private schools.

Just look.

Here is the data from Public Schools First NC about the income levels of those who applied for a voucher in NC last school year after the income requirement was removed.

From 100% of voucher applicants from the low-income level tier in 2014 to over half coming from high income families.

And then this:

From 27% of recipients being white to almost 3 in 4 recipients.