2024 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: The Case Against School Vouchers

The Case Against School Vouchers on Steroids: Governor Cooper Outlines Threats Extreme GOP Plan Poses to Public Schools and Students Across North Carolina

Following his declaration of 2024 as the Year of Public Schools, Governor Roy Cooper is illustrating the risks the extreme Republican voucher plan poses to children and public schools, where more than 8 in 10 North Carolina children attend school. Today, the Governor released a new video walking through the problems with this voucher plan on steroids, along with a new fact sheet and web page.

“The more parents learn about this irresponsible voucher plan, the more they’re concerned for the risks it poses to their children, our communities and our state,” said Gov. Cooper. “I’m not against private schools, but I am against sending taxpayer dollars to private schools with no accountability and extreme social agendas at the expense of public schools. North Carolina’s public schools are the choice for 84% of students and families and this scheme to gut them of funding and dismantle public education makes no sense.”

Republican legislators plan to divert $4 billion of taxpayer money over the next decade to pay for people to send their kids to private schools that don’t have to tell taxpayers what they teach, which students they accept or reject, or how students receiving taxpayer-funded vouchers perform academically. Legislators also removed an income cap on voucher eligibility, meaning wealthy people – including millionaires – can pick up a government check to cover private school tuition.

Public schools lose funding when a student uses a voucher to attend a private school. If the voucher program works like Republicans say it will, public schools will lose millions:

• Public schools are funded based on how many students are enrolled. For each enrolled student, public schools currently receive an average of $7,500 in state funding to cover various expenses, such as teacher salaries, instructional materials, or transportation.
• Under the voucher program, if a public school student uses a voucher to attend a private school, the public schools lose that funding. In just the first year of the expanded program, private schools could siphon more than $200 million in state funding from public schools.
• And unlike public schools, private schools don’t have to have licensed teachers, pay for meals or transportation, or provide services to disabled students and they can reject students they don’t want to teach.

Similar private school voucher experiments in other states show a troubling reality. Expanded voucher programs don’t increase opportunity for new students at private schools but instead subsidize the education of students from wealthy families who have never attended a public school.

Over the past several weeks, public reporting has raised serious questions about schools receiving taxpayer money despite extreme social agendas, like defending rape. Media stories have also pointed out that many of the state’s top private schools don’t accept state vouchers, meaning students are not afforded new opportunities at the best schools.

All the while, the public schools and public charter schools that continue to serve more than 80% of students are often being asked to do more with less. It is critical that legislators put a moratorium on destructive private school vouchers until North Carolina’s public schools are fully funded.

Watch the Governor’s video here.

Read more about North Carolina's voucher program here.

(Click Here for entire press release). 

Upcoming NASW-NC Live Webinars:     
Registration Closes: TODAY, MONDAY APRIL 1ST!!!!! 

Please join NASW-NC on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 12PM-1:30PM for an engaging virtual lunch and learn webinar. Explore the ethical responsibility outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics, emphasizing the importance of practicing within one’s areas of competence and continuously enhancing professional expertise.

Click HERE to register. 

This webinar aims to support providers in developing a foundational understanding of Islam and its practices. Gain insights into fostering cultural sensitivity and humility when serving Muslim clients, with a focus on accommodating faith-based needs. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from Muslim Social Workers and enhance your cultural competence in the social work profession.

Zoom link will be emailed out to registrants the day before the meeting.

If you don't think you have received the Zoom link, please check your Spam folder. If not in your Spam, please email Lauren Zingraff at advocacy.naswnc@socialworkers.org for assistance BEFORE the webinar begins.

Ideas presented by speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies of NASW-NC.

Upcoming Advocacy Opportunities: 

Join us for Advocacy Day 2024!

One of NAMI NC’s primary missions is advocacy - speaking out about mental health issues in front of legislators, policymakers, and influential decision makers so that real change happens. A primary goal of our advocacy efforts is to provide people living with mental illness, their families, and those passionate about mental health the information they need to become effective advocates for better mental health services and public policies. 

Our Advocacy Day events for 2024 are designed to do just that - provide information and helpful tips on speaking to legislators about mental health in NC. We will prepare participants with three informative webinars before visiting the General Assembly in Raleigh at the culminating event on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. 

April 30, 10:00am - 2:00pm - Advocacy Day 2024
This event, held at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, allows mental health advocates to hear from government officials and legislators, tell their stories about mental illness, and let their voices be heard.

Questions about Advocacy Day? Please contact Lillian M. Davis, Director of Public Policy, at ldavis@naminc.org or by calling (919) 235-4749. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR NAMI'S ADVOCACY DAY EVENTS 

Join us on April 30th in Raleigh! Second Chance Lobby Day is a time for all who believe in second chances to come together to speak to our NC lawmakers about the criminal justice + reentry issues impacting our communities. #IAMFORSECONDCHANCES 

Click Here to Register! 

Moms Demand Action Event

NC-Advocacy Day 2024

First Presbyterian Church (meeting place)
112 S Salisbury St
Raleigh, NC 27601
When: Thursday, April 25, 9:00 AM

The most important day for Moms visibility and mission in NC is our Advocacy Day. Make a plan to join us on April 25 in Raleigh, where we will urge our lawmakers to support common sense gun safety laws we can LIVE with. As constituents, that is our right, and as Moms Demand Action, that is our goal. Join your Moms from all over the state on this exciting, empowering day.

Click HERE to RSVP! 

NC Black Alliance
NC Black Summit : April 25-26, 2024 
Raleigh, NC

Mark your calendars for the 18th Annual NC Black Summit in Raleigh on April 25-26, 2024. Hosted by the North Carolina Black Alliance, this year’s theme, “Igniting Progress, Demanding Equity,” perfectly aligns as we approach the pivotal 2024 election—one of the most critical in our lifetime, with implications extending far beyond this year.

With over 20 positions on the ballot, both in NC and nationally, the 2024 Summit offers a unique opportunity for Black elected officials, public policy advocates, community stakeholders, strategic partners, and advocates from across the state to strategize on mobilizing voters to the polls and safeguarding OUR voting rights. We will explore solutions to issues affecting OUR community and collaboratively work towards building a more just and equitable North Carolina.

Find More Information & How to Register CLICK HERE! 
 

NC Budget & Tax Center 

Our Dollars, Our Future 2024
Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ET

Join the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center on May 2 in Raleigh for a day of advocacy to take the budget back to the people. We will be requesting meetings with legislative leadership to demand a more transparent and equitable budget process, and joining together to discuss how we can organize to ensure future budgets fund the services and programs our state needs so every North Carolinian — from Boone to Wilmington and all parts between — has what they need to thrive.

Click Here to RSVP! 
 

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Doing Things Differently: Moving from the Challenge to the Change
National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Prevention services and supports developed by this collaboration can help parents, other caregivers, and communities protect children and strengthen families.  Equality matters! By providing every family with equal opportunity and access to the supports they need, we can improve the safety and well-being of children and youth nationwide. #ChildAbusePreventionMonth #ThrivingFamilies https://www.childwelfare.gov/preventionmonth/

Be a change agent! Download the 2023/2024 Prevention Resource Guide and learn how to put protective factors into action in your community and with families. Make a real impact this #ChildAbusePreventionMonth! #ThrivingFamilies https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/20232024-prevention-resource-guide/

The 2024 Short Session begins on April 24, 2024. NASW-NC’s main legislative priority will be to get Senate Bill 718 -Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact passed during the 2024 short session. The Social Work Compact creation was initiated by the Department of Defense to promote licensure portability for military spouses. Many Republican lawmakers, who have the supermajority in both the NC House and Senate, support military populations. The bill’s primary sponsor is Senator Joyce Krawiec, who has announced her plans to retire at the end of the 2024 session.  The compact does have bi-partisan support in the NC Senate and was referred to the committee on Rules and Operations on April 10, 2023.  It was not subjected to crossover as it was not tied to appropriations.  The Social Work Compact will go into effect when at least seven different states pass it.   You can see more about the states that have introduced the compact here. NASW-NC has already been speaking with lawmakers about supporting and passing SB 718 when the short session begins.  Be sure to watch for updates in upcoming Advocacy Alerts. 

Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.

Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.

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