Bill to expand school choice splits Senate

ROCKINGHAM — State Senator Tom McInnis (R) voted this month to expand the Opportunity Scholarship program which provides grants for students from lower-income families to attend private schools.

Senate Bill 671 is an expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship initiative, which was created in 2013. It increases the household income threshold for a student to become eligible for the scholarship from 150% of the amount needed to qualify federal reduced-price lunch to 175%. It also increases the scholarship award amount from the current maximum of $4,200 to about $5,900 annually.

“School choice shouldn’t be just for the wealthy,” McInnis said in an interview. “It should be for any citizen who thinks their child isn’t receiving the education that they need in the setting that is beneficial to their education.”

The bill passed in the Senate, 29 votes for and 20 against, with strong Republican support. Only one Democrat voted for SB 671.

State Senator Jay Chaudhuri, the Senate Democratic Whip and representative for Wake County, voted against the bill. He said his belief that there hasn’t been adequate funding for public schools is shared among many Democrats.

“The private schools funded through the Opportunity Scholarship program lack accountability and transparency,” Chaudhuri said.

McInnis, representative for Richmond, Scotland, Anson and Moore Counties, credited private and parochial schools that in some cases can assist these families better than a public school setting. He said that his support from this bill stems from a belief that parents should be able have the choice do what is best for their children.

“This bill is not against public schools,” McInnis said. “I am a proponent of the public schools of North Carolina. It’s incumbent on the public schools that they operate as effectively and efficiently as possible to meet the needs of every student that comes through their doors.”

Chaudhuri agreed with McInnis that this bill isn’t necessarily hurting public schools, but he still believes that the money dedicated to this program would be better allocated for public schools.

“As a parent and a father of two children in public schools, I see the challenges that our public schools face every day,” Chaudhuri said.

McInnis shared the story of Melanie Osborne, who raised five daughters as a single mother. McInnis stated that Osborne would be the first to say that the Opportunity Scholarship allowed her oldest daughter to be able to attend Harvard this Fall.

McInnis said he believes this bill has the votes to become law. SB 671 is currently waiting for action in the House.