Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina

10/09/2026

Beginning January 1, a new federal program will allow individual taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for qualifying cash contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations.

Those contributions will fund scholarships that can help eligible students access qualifying K–12 educational expenses.

This means new financial resources for education are coming to North Carolina and PEFNC is preparing to help bring those opportunities to families across our state.

There are still details to come as federal guidance is finalized, but we'll be sharing much more in the months ahead about what these new scholarships will look like, who may benefit, and how families can access them.

👀 Stay tuned.

10/07/2026

Does the Opportunity Scholarship Program take money away from public schools? A new analysis of 20 years of education spending finds:

⬇️ Before Opportunity Scholarships: inflation-adjusted public school spending per student fell 4.5% over the preceding decade
⬆️ Since the program began: inflation-adjusted per-pupil spending increased 9.5%
⬆️ Looking at state funding alone, real per-pupil spending has increased 6.4% since the program began
⬆️ From 2014–15 to 2024–25, total inflation-adjusted K–12 public-school spending grew by about $734 million
🤏🏽 Even after significant growth, Opportunity Scholarship spending equaled just 2.4% of total K–12 public-school expenditures in 2024–25.

School choice and strong public school funding are not mutually exclusive! North Carolina can invest in public schools AND give families greater access to other educational options that work best for their children.

Despite the rhetoric, real per-pupil spending for public schools increased by 9.5% over the first 10 years of Opportunity Scholarships.

10/05/2026

What does real accountability in education look like?

Our friends at yes. every kid. foundation make the case that it starts with giving parents the power to choose AND the power to change course when something isn’t working for their child.

Tests, reports and audits can provide important information. But parents experience their child’s education every day. They see whether their child is learning, growing in confidence, receiving the support they need and engaging in school.

When families have meaningful choices, schools and education providers have to continually earn their trust. If a school, tutor, curriculum or learning environment isn’t meeting a child’s needs, families can choose something different.

That’s accountability with real-time consequences -- and accountability centered on the needs of the child.

As the article puts it: “When parents can choose, evaluate, and change course, schools and education providers must continually earn their trust.”

Worth a read 👇

Real accountability in education means parents can leave a school that isn't working, not wait years for government review.

10/02/2026

When you hear “school choice,” what comes to mind?

North Carolina families are choosing among:
🏫 Traditional public schools
📚 Public charter schools
✏️ Private schools
🏠 Homeschool
💡 Microschools and other innovative learning environments

Some families even combine educational settings to create something that works for their child.

The question isn't “Which type of school is best?” It's “Which educational environment is best for THIS child?”

That's why we work to help families understand the options available to them and the resources that can help make those options possible!

09/30/2026

Beginning in 2026-27, families must spend at least $500 per student on qualifying academic expenses to remain eligible to renew their ESA+ scholarship.

Qualifying expenses include school tuition and/or eligible curriculum and tutoring in core academic subjects such as: English/language arts, math, science, or social studies.

⚠️Not every allowable ESA+ purchase counts toward the $500 requirement. Our advice? Don't wait until the end of the year to think about it. Review your ESA+ spending now!

09/30/2026

The PEFNC team is attending the second annual National School Choice Awareness Foundation Summit — joining school choice organizations from across the country to collaborate, learn, and share ideas.

As educational opportunities continue to expand, the work doesn’t stop with good policy. The next step is making sure those opportunities become real possibilities for parents and their children — helping families understand their options, navigate them, and find the educational environment that works best for their child.

Grateful for opportunities like this to learn alongside others doing this work across the country and bring fresh ideas back to North Carolina! 💛

09/28/2026

Students who have received an Opportunity Scholarship award for the 2026-27 school year must be enrolled and attending an eligible Direct Payment School by October 1 to use scholarship funds for the fall semester.

09/24/2026

Come see us tonight in Greenville!

School Choice Night this Thursday for parents to find options for c...

09/23/2026

School Choice Night is happening tomorrow in Greenville! 🎉

Stop by to meet representatives from nine Greenville-area private, faith-based, independent, and public charter schools -- all in one convenient location. You can explore your options, ask questions, and learn about the Opportunity Scholarship Program and other resources that can help make private education more affordable.

📅 Thursday, September 24
⏰ Drop in anytime from 5:00–7:00 pm
📍 Greenville Convention Center, Emerald Room

Admission is free, no registration is required, and Spanish-speaking assistance will be available.

Your child’s right-fit school could be closer than you think. We hope to see you tomorrow!

09/22/2026

TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT of students attend a charter, private, or are home schooled. Of note:

📈 56% of students in Northampton are enrolled in a school option other than the district (highest in the state)
📈 In 13 other (mostly rural) districts, more than 30% of students are also educated outside their traditional district system
📈 Durham's 34% is the highest among larger counties
📈 Robeson's 13% is the smallest choice percentage among districts with 20k+ students