Despite Demand for Education Options, Judge Halts Vouchers

CER Press Release
Washington, DC
February 21, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC – In an appalling decision, a Superior Court judge in North Carolina issued an injunction against the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program.

“This injunction represents a shameful preservation of an unacceptable status quo,” said Kara Kerwin, president of The Center for Education Reform. “The blocking of Opportunity Scholarships when only 30 percent of low-income children in North Carolina demonstrate proficiency on state tests is egregious.”

Over 4,000 low-income parents have already applied for an Opportunity Scholarship in the hopes of choosing a better education for their child. Choice through scholarships has a proven track record of giving kids the chance to escape failing systems and obtain the education that is right for them.

“Any obstacle to the ability of families to access more and better education options is an abject violation of their civil rights, and flies in the face of the 74 percent of Americans that support school choice,” Kerwin said. “It’s critical that the people of North Carolina continue to fight for Opportunity Scholarships, and the benefits they create for students most in need of quality education options.”