North Carolina voucher advocates

In North Carolina, parents and advocates rallied for increased funding for the Opportunity Scholarship program, which offers private school vouchers to families, as 55,000 applicants remain on a waiting list. The legislative session ended without an agreement to allocate nearly $500 million needed to meet the soaring demand for these scholarships, following changes that eliminated income caps and eligibility requirements. House and Senate Republicans have expressed a commitment to address the issue, but are divided over whether to couple voucher funding with increases in public school spending. Advocates, including rally organizer Rachel Brady, emphasized the urgency of their situation as the school year approaches, insisting they will not be overlooked. Meanwhile, Governor Roy Cooper and Democrats oppose the voucher program, arguing it diverts funds from public education and lacks accountability. The legislature's next session is scheduled for early September, when advocates hope for progress on the issue.