North Carolina Democrats Oppose Education Freedom—Except for Wealthy Elites

Leftists in North Carolina want to control the minds of your children by continuing the socialist education monopoly.

In North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, parents who want better educational opportunities for their children can use their own tax money to switch to a school better suited to their kid’s needs. Parents who otherwise couldn’t afford alternatives, can take advantage of this program. North Carolina’s Attorney General and candidate for Governor, Josh Stein (D), opposes allowing your tax dollars to follow your child. He only wants wealthy elitists to have alternatives to failing government run schools.

Parents in North Carolina, both Democrats and Republicans, want an escape from public schools. Yet, the current Gov. Roy Cooper (D) joins Stein in opposing opportunity scholarships that give parents more choices for the best education program for their children. If you can’t afford private school and don’t have the ability to homeschool, your kids are stuck without these education freedom initiatives.

Republicans want to increase opportunities for all students—including students with special needs who aren’t being properly served in public schools—by increasing the “opportunity scholarship” program.

The opportunity scholarship program, created in 2013, is a way for parents to use their tax dollars for alternative education in state approved private schools. The money is awarded based on family income. For example, a family of four with an income of under $58,000 is eligible to receive up to $7,468 per year toward private education costs.  

Governor Cooper sent his kids to private school but he doesn’t want others who aren’t of his financial class to have the same ability.

(FIXING EDUCATION: North Carolina Leads the Way in Abolishing Racist DEI Programs)

Stein and Cooper Spread Lies About Opportunity Scholarships

Stein wants to keep the government monopoly on education so badly he lies about education freedom programs in North Carolina. He wrongly claims these opportunities violate the state constitution. Perhaps Stein should take another look at state history, because the State Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that North Carolina school choice programs are constitutional.

What is the real reason behind Stein’s opposition to parents having a choice when their kids are stuck in failing public schools? Follow the money—he is supported by the far-left teachers’ union. Education freedom is a threat to the education monopoly held by those unions.

Gov. Cooper falsely claims that private schools are not better than public schools. Yet data proves otherwise—private schools consistently outperform public schools—including in standardized tests such as the SAT. If public schools are so great, then why did Cooper send his own kids to an elite private school?

It’s ironic that Democrats fully support “choice” when it comes to abortion–even government funding of private providers who perform abortion—but not education.

(RELATED: Josh Stein Refuses to Fight Rogue School Boards, Enforce Parents’ Bill of Rights)

North Carolina Republicans to the Rescue

Democrat leaders consider parents naïve. They aren’t. North Carolinians realize the benefits of opportunity scholarships for their children and have applied for this program in droves. Republicans have proposed increased funding for the programs to alleviate the long wait list so all children can benefit.

Advocates across North Carolina have stepped up to help. Parents for Educational Freedom NC have publicized first-hand parent experiences, such as this one.

Tide Turners NC, another organization determined to help parents, backs the Republican sponsored legislation to expand the opportunity scholarship program. They exposed the lies being told by Democrats such as Stein and Cooper.

Lindy Ford, development director for Tide Turners NC, said it is hypocritical for Gov. Cooper to oppose school choice, “considering his own children attended private schools. Why would he begrudge lower income, tax paying people of this same experience?” Ford also points out the close ties both Cooper and Stein have with the teachers’ unions. “Cooper actively advocates for the public school ‘industry,’ instead of students themselves,” she said. “The NCAE and the NEA do the same. They don’t advocate for education, but are activists for the industry.”

Teachers’ unions no longer advocate what is best for students. They focus on their far-left political agenda rather than academic excellence in schools.

When opportunities are expanded—creating competition and eliminating the monopoly of government run schools—students in all schools will thrive. Capitalism not socialism is the best model for education and opportunity scholarships are a great step in the right direction.

(READ MORE: This Group is Working to Expand and Enforce North Carolina’s Parents’ Bill of Rights)