School vouchers News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

DRAUGHON DRAWS: A sound, basic education?

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

NC Democrat to vote to override Gov. Josh Stein's veto of school voucher bill

A North Carolina House Democrat who's already helped Republicans override six of Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes tells WRAL News he's prepared to help with another one when lawmakers come back for a work session in September.

'We will be watching': As next veto override looms, party defectors rile NC Democrats

A North Carolina House Democrat who's already helped Republicans override six of Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes tells WRAL News he's prepared to help with another one when lawmakers come back for a work session in September.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Federal tax program targeting private schools at center of NC power struggle

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein's latest veto sets up a power struggle with Republican lawmakers over control of a new federal school voucher tax credit program.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Federal education tax credit program would come to NC under bill passed by lawmakers

The new federal program was established under the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill," which was enacted earlier this month.

How they voted: recent NC congressional votes

A look at how North Carolina members of Congress voted during the previous week.

Targeted News Service

Most new voucher recipients didn't come from an NC public school, new data shows

It's unclear whether the students who didn't attend a public school last year attended a private school or homeschool or were newcomers to the state.

Emily Walkenhorst and Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporters

NC Gov. Josh Stein calls for $4B school bond, careful government reform in first State of the State address

In remarks prepared for his first State of the State address, North Carolina's new Democratic governor pledged to work with lawmakers on items like Helene recovery and public safety, as well as calling for a $4 billion bond for school construction. Republican leaders appeared to largely reject Stein's calls for bipartisanship.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Legislative leaders play politics. Short-change Helene victims

Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Legislative leaders play politics. Short-change Helene victims

Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

NC educators request cap on private school vouchers

The State Board of Education is urging lawmakers not to offer any new private school vouchers, known as Opportunity Scholarships, next year.

No new private school vouchers, State Board of Education asks lawmakers

They urge lawmakers to move the funding toward public school needs, suggesting school facility needs in Helene-affected counties and tutoring.

Emily Walkenhorst and Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporters

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Legislators give N.C. private schools a merry Christmas

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

PAUL FULTON: The crucial connection between business and public education

Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 -- A trained North Carolina workforce is vital for industry and a dynamic economy. Community colleges are a major factor in attracting industry. As good as they are, we too often shortchange them. And we embarrassingly underinvest in our K-12 public schools.

11-20-2024 Sen. Natasha Marcus on H 10 voucher veto override

Sen. Natasha Marcus, D-Mecklenburg County, offers reasons to uphold Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of HB 10 expanding funding private school vouchers.

Immigration enforcement changes, $463.5M for private-school vouchers now law after NC Senate override

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed House Bill 10 in September. Lawmakers have sparred over the timing of the bill and competing funding needs.

WRAL staff

$463M more for private school vouchers approved, new immigration enforcement measure now law

North Carolina Republican senators voted Wednesday to enact billions of dollars more in private school voucher funding, force sheriffs to work with ICE, strip power away from incoming Democratic officials and enact some additional Helene aid funding.

Amid protests, GOP lawmakers vote to strip power from incoming governor, other Democrats

North Carolina Republican senators voted Wednesday to enact billions of dollars more in private school voucher funding, force sheriffs to work with ICE, strip power from incoming Democratic officials and enact some additional relief funding for victims of Hurricane Helene.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

NC House votes to override governor's veto, paving way for possible school voucher expansion

House Bill 10 would provide hundreds of millions of dollars to clear a 54,000-student waitlist for the state's Opportunity Scholarship program. The Senate must also vote to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto for the bill to become law.

NC House overrides veto of $463.5M increase for private-school vouchers

House Bill 10 would provide hundreds of millions of dollars to clear a 54,000-student waitlist for the state's Opportunity Scholarship program. The Senate must also vote to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto for the bill to become law.

Emily Walkenhorst and Destinee Patterson, WRAL News

House overrides veto of NC immigration enforcement bill, sending it to state Senate

The bill that would force sheriffs to work with federal immigration officials to detain people who are in the U.S. illegally in some circumstances. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed it in September.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

LAUREN FOX: Private school vouchers are unpopular, failed policy

Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 -- Rather than taking taxpayer dollars from already underfunded N.C. public schools and giving them to private and religious schools, let's ensure local public schools can hire more quality teachers, improve choice in classes and trade skills and modernize schools so all students have access to a high-quality education.

Editorial: Critical emergency federal school aid ends, needs of N.C. public education don't

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 -- Leaders in the N.C. legislature turn their backs on the state's 1.5 million public school students and 117,000 teachers and administrators. They're determined to weaken the state's public schools while pumping more than half-a-billion dollars into private school vouchers.

ELIZABETH PAUL: Local public schools are vital to community resilience

Monday, Oct. 21, 2024 -- Public schools provide a space for bringing people together through sports, arts, and activities to build relationships across generations. In times of need, our public schools are resources and support for all students and families in the community.

Wake County school leaders urge NC lawmakers to uphold HB10 veto for school vouchers

Wake County school leaders say a bill that would expand funding for private schools ignores public school needs. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill, but Republicans plan to take an override vote.