PEFNC

Behind these numbers are parents looking for a place where their child can learn, feel supported, and thrive. Our education policies should reflect that reality.

🗳️ It’s Election Day and a reminder that your voice can help shape what comes next! There was a time when North Carolina allowed only 100 public charter schools statewide, and neither the Opportunity Scholarship nor ESA+ existed. Parents and students shared their stories, contacted lawmakers, and showed up to ask for more educational opportunities. Their voices helped turn those possibilities into the options families have today. Voters also helped shape that progress. Electing and re-electing lawmakers who supported school choice helped make it possible to establish and expand North Carolina’s K-12 scholarship programs, reaching more students and families. The people we elect make decisions that affect our children’s education, and voting gives us a say in those decisions. Get to know your candidates, learn where they stand on the issues that matter to your family, and make your voice heard at the ballot box!

🎉 We want to wish Alex Speller, our Community Engagement Coordinator, a happy birthday! She never loses sight of the families behind the numbers! Whether she's helping our Parent Liaison Team prepare for a busy scholarship application season, coordinating outreach events across the state, or finding ways to connect with parents who need a little extra guidance, Alex is always thinking about how we can better serve North Carolina families. These are just a few of the many reasons we're lucky to have her on our team! 👏 She’s been part of the PEFNC family since 2020, starting as a Parent Liaison before becoming Community Engagement Coordinator in 2024. Alex, we wish another year's worth of happiness to you!

Beginning in 2027, thanks to the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, donor contributions will make new scholarships available to help families pay for tutoring, technology, tuition, and other qualifying educational expenses. Students attending traditional public, public charter, private, or homeschool will benefit! An updated AFC Growth Fund report estimates that North Carolina could receive $810 million annually in scholarship contributions if just 10% of eligible donors participate. Eligible taxpayers can receive a federal tax credit for qualifying contributions: up to $1,700 per individual or $3,400 per married couple. That’s tremendous potential to help more families access the educational support their children need!

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.

What does real accountability in education look like? Our friends at @yes_everykid_f 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 👇 washingtonexaminer.com/resto…

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!

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!

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.

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!

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

This is a heartbreaking example of what can happen when political ideology is placed ahead of the needs of an individual child. Her daughter’s words are difficult to ignore: “Sometimes I wish instead of always thinking about other kids, you would have thought about me.” Our children are not political statements. They are individuals entrusted to our care and choosing what is best for them should always come first. READ MORE: foxnews.com/media/1619-proje…

Opportunity Scholarship families: Have you checked MyPortal lately? Fall scholarship payments are underway, and parents have an important role in the process. After your school completes its required steps, a Parent Endorsement task will appear in MyPortal for you to approve your student's scholarship amount. A few things to remember: ✅ Review the award amount before approving it. ✅ If something doesn't look right, don't endorse until you've conated SEAA. ✅ Enter your name exactly as it appears in MyPortal, including capitalization. The system is case-sensitive! Once the parent endorsement is complete, SEAA generally sends payment to the school within 1-2 weeks. Check your MyPortal account and make sure you don't have an outstanding task!

Which school is the right fit for your child? Come explore the possibilities at School Choice Night in Greenville! Families can meet representatives from eight Greenville-area private, faith-based, independent, and public charter schools all in one convenient location. We will also be there to answer questions about the Opportunity Scholarship Program and other financial resources that can help make private education more affordable. 📅 Thursday, September 24 ⏰ Drop in anytime from 5:00–7:00 p.m. 📍 Greenville Convention Center, Emerald Room Admission is free, no registration is required, and Spanish-speaking assistance will be available. Whether you’re actively searching or simply curious about your options, we’d love to see you there!

The Parent Liaison Team is busy this weekend introducing families to the Opportunity Scholarship Program and ESA+ programs! ⭐️ Tonya is at the Nathaniel’s Hope event in Charlotte. ⭐️ Alex and Charlonda are in Fayetteville at the New Salem International Ministries Community Give Back event. If you see us out & about, be sure to say hello!

Nearly 21 million children could be left in limbo because their states have not opted in to the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit. But North Carolina’s children will not be among them. We said YES to the opportunity! By opting in, North Carolina opened the door for an estimated 1.6 million students to be eligible for scholarships funded through the Education Freedom Tax Credit, giving more families the freedom to choose the educational opportunities that best fit their children. dcjournal.com/back-to-school…

A North Carolina parent gave PEFNC a shoutout from the @WhiteHouse Rose Garden Today! At @realDonaldTrump's Back-to-School event, Statesville's Caleb Griffith highlighted NC's Opportunity Scholarship Program AND the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit. Pretty incredible to see NC families and educational freedom on this stage! WATCH HERE: youtube.com/watch?v=gojzXw70…

It’s back-to-school season across North Carolina! 🍎 Whether students are returning to a traditional public school, public charter school, private school, homeschool, virtual school, or another learning environment, we’re celebrating the excitement and possibilities of a brand new year. PEFNC wishes every North Carolina student, family, educator, and school community a safe, successful, and joy-filled school year!