SCHOOL CHOICE- DO IT FOR THE KIDS
You need a k-12 education ... a new school... but you're unsure of the options. Take a moment to explore the website and see why it makes good sense for NC families support school choice programs like the ones mentioned below.
Welcome to a parent-led nonpartisan nonprofit designed to help inform community members and link them to their options.
North Carolinians can choose between public or private schools. Below there are links to help reach the resource being described.
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Public schools are thought to be "free," but they are funded through tax dollars and are not free at all, but might be better stated as "tuition-free" schools. All k-12 school options are as follows: government-run district, charter, private, online, hybrid, micro or home school.
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Did you know you can send your child to a school outside of North Carolina too?
If a current school isn't working well for families then they should have other options and their tax dollars should follow students to any school of their choosing.
You have more options than you may realize and it's time to start thinking past the boundaries of your zip code. No child should be left behind in a failing school and it's okay to want better for your family.
School Choice makes great sense, but left-leaning teachers unions ( NCAE, NEA, Pastors for NC Children, Red For Ed, Public Schools First NC) have been unrelenting in their attacks on these educational freedoms, as well as lobbying for candidates who will vote against school choice programs, all to protect the government-run monopoly.
Scholarships, or grants are the methods which may help pay for a new educational option. These monies are always at risk of being defunded, or eliminated if residents like you as well as politicians, or representatives fail to advocate, protect and expand these programs which families choose.
Scholarships may be available for qualifying families to attend a private school and help pay for tuition costs. The state of North Carolina has three ways to help convert tax dollars into a means which will help parents and guardians access schools they actually want kids to attend and not one that is based on their zip code.
North Carolina's three Grants are the Opportunity Scholarship Program, the Education Savings Account and the Disabilities Grant Program.
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Have you asked your school board members, county commissioners, state lawmakers and congressmen what they are doing to expand educational freedoms for NC families?
They are only phone call away!
Start by getting to know NC Lawmakers: 919-733-4111
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School board members will vary depending on the school you've chosen and county.
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Tuition-Free Schools
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Charter schools are public schools in which state and local tax dollars are the primary funding sources. They have open enrollment. They cannot discriminate in admissions, associate with any religion or religious group, or charge-tuition. Charter schools are regulated differently than government-run schools, but are held accountable by the NC Department of Public Instruction and the State assessment and accountability system. Both the government-run district and Charter schools are publicly funded education choices.
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Government-run (AKA district, or traditional) schools are chosen for you based on your zip code. If you cannot afford to live in a nice neighborhood, then oftentimes, you don't get to attend the good school in that neighborhood.
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*Homeschools are tuition-free, but parents/guardians are allowed to outsource k-12 education needs, per NC homeschool laws. Outsourcing would be an added cost.
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*ONLINE Schools have a separate section below. They have tuition-free options and also tuition-based options.
Tuition-Based Schools
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PRIVATE, HOME and some HYBRID schools fall under the regulations of the Department of Nonpublic Education. These are a mixture of tuition-based choices, or options where you will have to purchase your own curriculum, or hire tutors.
Hybrids are typically schools in which you pay tuition and you make a committment to send your child to a brick & mortar school, as well as a self-guided home educational committment. An example would be a situation where the student spends two days in classes and three days at home for a lower private tuition price.
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Prior to Covid-19 ONLINE schools have public or private school options. This means there exists tuition-free online schools while others which will charge tuition.
In North Carolina, there are two full time online charter schools which serve grades k-12
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NC also offers an online supplemental high school program called North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS). If you are a homeschooler, you should expect to pay to use this supplemental program, since it is a state program.
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Parents will need to follow up with government-run school districts to explore potential virtual options through the local school system.
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Expanding educational freedoms beyond zip codes, wallets and neighborhoods. Apply for a k-12 scholarship. Click, apply!
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An NC K-12 scholarship which provides up to $5,850 for eligible full-time, nonpublic school students per school year.
Money is distributed to a participating private school for the tuition fee.
Priority is given to students funded in the prior year.
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An NC k-12 scholarship for students with certain disabilities which may provide up to $17,000 for an eligible student or $8,500 for an eligible part-time student.
Students who may qualify :
(1) Autism
(2) Hearing impairment (3) Moderate or severe intellectual or developmental disability (4) Multiple, permanent orthopedic impairments Orthopedic impairment
(5) Visual impairment