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NORTH CAROLINA

The North Carolina Federation for Children seeks to empower families, especially lower-income families, with the freedom to choose the best K-12 education for their children. We are a project of the American Federation for Children.

NORTH CAROLINA’S SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS:

Special Needs Voucher Program

Voucher Program - Opportunity Scholarship Program

Special Needs Education Savings Account

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Special Needs Voucher Program

  • Student must meet all of the following: 
    • Is 5 years old on or before August 31.
    • Has not graduated from high school.
    • Is a resident of North Carolina. 
    • Is a child with a disability who requires special education, as documented by the public school Individualized Education Program (IEP).

  • Student must also meet at least one of the following criteria: 
    • Received a Disabilities Grant last year (renewal); or 
    • Was a full-time student attending a North Carolina public school or Department of Defense school in North Carolina last spring semester; or 
    • Has a parent on full-time active duty with the military, is a foster child, or was adopted within the last year; or
    • Is entering kindergarten or 1st grade; or
    • Has lived in North Carolina at least six months.

Voucher Program - Opportunity Scholarship Program

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

  • Student must meet all of the following:
    • Is 5 years old on or before August 31. 
    • Lives in an eligible household (family income cannot exceed 150% of the amount required to qualify for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program ($73,538 for a family of four in 2021-22). 
    • Has not graduated from high school and has not been in college.
    • Is a North Carolina resident.

  • Student must meet at least one of the following: 
    • Received an Opportunity Scholarship last year (renewal); or 
    • Was a full-time student attending a North Carolina public school or Department of Defense school in North Carolina last spring semester; or 
    • Entering kindergarten or 1st grade; or 
    • In foster care or was adopted within the last year; or 
    • Has a parent on full-time active duty with the military.

Special Needs Education Scholarship Account

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

  • Student must: 
    • Be eligible to attend public school in North Carolina. 
    • Be at least 5 years old on or before August 31. 
    • Not have graduated from high school. 
    • Not be enrolled in a postsecondary institution as a full-time student taking 12 or more credit hours. 
    • Be a child with a disability who requires special education, as documented by an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

  • Student must meet the following to receive an ESA and a North Carolina Disabilities Scholarship Grant, to be used together: 
    • Meet the criteria of each program AND the student must have one of the following disabilities designated in the student’s IEP as the primary or secondary disability at the time of the submission of the program application: autism spectrum disorder, deaf/blindness, developmental delay, deafness or hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, or visual impairment. 
    • Must meet the criteria of each program to receive and use both an ESA and an Opportunity Scholarship.

NORTH CAROLINA VOICES FOR CHOICE

Hear from parents, students, educators and advocates on the power of school choice in your state.

AFC BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Our team focuses its time and resources on supporting state-level efforts to provide low-income and middle-income families with access to great schools through private school choice.

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