North Carolina Opportunity Scholarships

The Opportunity Scholarship program provides private school scholarships to K–12 students. There is no income cap, but the maximum value of the scholarship decreases as the student’s household income increases. The amounts are based on the state’s average per-pupil allocation, ranging from about $3,500 to $7,700 based on family income. Students must be eligible to attend K–12 in a North Carolina school district and may not be enrolled in a post-secondary institution full-time. Participants may “co-enroll” in two schools, as long as one school is paid directly by the voucher. This program has grown steadily since its enactment and increased rapidly in the 2024-2025 school year. The state General Assembly spurred that growth by overriding a governor’s veto and providing an additional $463,500,000 toward the program, allowing the State Education Assistance Authority to offer just over 54,000 vouchers. Students may participate in both this voucher program and the ESA+ program.  

Funding Mechanism: Appropriation 

Universal Eligibility: ✅
Universal Usage: ❌
Universal Funding: ❌
Truly Universal: ❌

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

Students may use the funds for tuition at participating private schools. Fees for transportation, books, equipment, and other items required by the school may also be covered by the program, with payments made directly to the school. 

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

View program requirements for parents, schools, and scholarship granting organizations by clicking on each hyperlink.

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 115C-562.1 through 562.8

(Last updated April 21, 2025)

On July 23, 2015, the North Carolina Supreme Court in Hart v. State upheld the constitutionality of all aspects of the state’s scholarship for children of low-income households. The lower court decision in Hart v. State, No. 13-CVS-16771 (August 28, 2014), was overturned. Hart v. State, 774 S.E.2d 281 (N.C. 2015); Richardson v. State, 774 S.E.2d 304 (2015). 

On April 19, 2023, the North Carolina Association of Educators filed a notice of voluntary dismissal in Walker Kelly v. State of North Carolina. They brought the case alleging the Opportunity Scholarships program, “as applied,” unlawfully funds religious discrimination, lacks meaningful educational requirements, discriminates against students based on “homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender non-conformity,” and fails to accomplish a public purpose. Kelly v. State and North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, Wake County General Court of Justice, Superior Court Div., No. 20-CVS-8346. 

Prior to the voluntary dismissal, the Court of Appeals of North Carolina remanded the case, ruling that plaintiffs’ “as applied” challenge was improper; plaintiffs can only make a facial challenge against the Opportunity Scholarship Program. Walker Kelly v. State of North Carolina, Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2022-NCCOA-675, No. COA21-709. The North Carolina Association of Educators have not released any public statements about their decision to withdraw the case. 

(Last Updated December 6, 2023)