The North Carolina Association of Educators and the North Carolina Justice Center filed a lawsuit against the state Wednesday challenging the new school voucher program. The organizations argue that vouchers are a violation of North Carolina’s constitutional mandate requiring state revenues for public education to be used “exclusively for establishing and maintaining a uniform system of free public schools.”



Via WRAL:

The advocacy group wants the court to declare unconstitutional the Opportunity Scholarships Act, which was passed by the General Assembly earlier this year, and stop the state from issuing the vouchers. Under the program, state lawmakers set aside $10 million in the budget to help pay private school tuition for about 2,500 students, starting in the 2014-15 school year.

WRAL – State teachers’ group files lawsuit challenging voucher program

Read the full NCAE press release:

Full text of Article IX, Section 6 of the North Carolina Constitution:

The proceeds of all lands that have been or hereafter may be granted by the United States to this State, and not otherwise appropriated by this State or the United States; all moneys, stocks, bonds, and other property belonging to the State for purposes of public education; the net proceeds of all sales of the swamp lands belonging to the State; and all other grants, gifts, and devises that have been or hereafter may be made to the State, and not otherwise appropriated by the State or by the terms of the grant, gift, or devise, shall be paid into the State Treasury and, together with so much of the revenue of the State as may be set apart for that purpose, shall be faithfully appropriated and used exclusively for establishing and maintaining a uniform system of free public schools.

More information:

Read the complaint

HB 944 – Opportunity Scholarship Act

News & Observer – Lawsuit challenges vouchers for NC private schools

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