WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — State leaders don't agree on a voucher program that allows students the option to go to a private school instead of public. Governor Roy Cooper was in Winston-Salem Tuesday urging a pause on the program.
Governor Cooper refers to this program as 'private school vouchers' it's also called the 'opportunity scholarship.'
In a nutshell, this program gives families scholarships to send their children to private school. Recently the program opened up to all North Carolina families, regardless of their income.
After Governor Cooper toured Diggs-Latham Elementary School, he urged a moratorium on the program stating it takes away from public school funding.
During his visit to the magnet school, he expressed his support for public education. He also showed frustration towards the expansion of the private school voucher program by state republicans.
Governor Cooper explained there are opportunities for specialized education within the public school system.
"Instead, the legislature wants to waste more than $4 billion over the next decade on vouchers for private schools right here in Forsyth County, nearly $8.5 million would be siphoned from the public schools here to pay for vouchers, now that's wrong particularly when most private schools aren't better than public schools," said Governor Cooper.
State Senate Republican leader, Phil Berger backs the scholarship opportunity.
Senator Berger claims this program doesn't take away funding from public schools and gives parents more options.
"The fact that the traditional public schools on a per pupil basis are seeing increased funding, 18% in real dollars for the past several years," Senator Berger continued, "From a policy standpoint in my opinion is empowering parents to make decisions about their child's education. I think that's the most important thing."
According to Senator Berger, as of Tuesday afternoon there have been nearly 35,000 applications for the scholarship program.
As for Governor Cooper, he has deemed this year 'The Year of Public Schools' pushing for K-12 education and early childhood funding, as well as higher teacher pay.