RALEIGH, N.C. — With North Carolina Republicans expected to lose their supermajority in the General Assembly, there's now a push to pass legislation before Democrats regain the power to override it.
One initiative back on the table is increasing funding for school choice through House Bill 10.
The proposal, which passed both Republican-led chambers earlier in 2024, would have allocated nearly half a billion dollars of public funds toward private school vouchers for families, but when it went to Governor Roy Cooper's desk, he vetoed it.
Now, Republicans are looking to reverse that decision.
“It’s time for us to go ahead and pass this to help those students get out and be able to afford the education they deserve," Rep. David Willis, a Republican representing Union County, said.
Willis is one of the bill's sponsors and says Republicans now have the votes to override the governor's veto, clearing the waitlist of more than 50,000 students hoping for an alternative to public schools.
“Those tax dollars that those families pay each and every year should follow that student and allow the parents to choose the best school, the best educational setting for each child," Willis said. "We will continue to fight and work for our public school system, because I think we have a good system overall, but that doesn't always fit the needs of every child."
But, opponents said the move would cost public schools millions, challenging a system already facing funding and resource issues.
“I’m actually seeing more parents, the majority of parents, who are choosing public schools, who want their children in public schools, they’re just upset and feel let down because those of us in Raleigh are not doing our job to support those children that are in the public schools," Rep. Brandon Lofton, a Democrat representing Mecklenburg County, said. "You cannot educate children on the cheap. You have to have a high quality work force in our teachers and that requires paying them enough to keep them in the classroom.”
The General Assembly will reconvene on Tuesday, Nov. 19 to discuss a potential override of the governor's veto.
Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.