In what can only be viewed as a major victory for parents and students in North Carolina, the state House of Representatives voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto HB10a school choice bill. HB10 now goes back to the state Senate, where it will be voted on Override is expected.
BREAKING: The North Carolina House of Representatives just voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a school choice bill.
The vote was 72 to 44, more than the required supermajority of 60%.
The bill addresses the school choice waiting list of 54,000 students by funding their scholarships.
— Corey A. DeAngelis, School Choice Evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) November 19, 2024
Representative Tricia Ann Cotham, who switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party in part to secure the passage of this bill, was reportedly instrumental in the bill’s passage Override veto.
Tricia Cotham: “It is a disgrace for our governor to start a battle between helping hurricane victims and children. They are not the same.”
“This is a great day for North Carolina. It will be a great day for families and children.”
You can say that again. pic.twitter.com/LFUhTztZqF
— Corey A. DeAngelis, School Choice Evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) November 19, 2024
Governor Cooper previously had a “emergency” about this bill.
Friendly reminder: Democratic Governor Roy Cooper has issued a state of emergency over school choice in North Carolina.
Today’s veto override is wonderful.
Thank you very much, @NCHouseSpeaker @triciacotham. pic.twitter.com/WdzTb6h96k
— Corey A. DeAngelis, School Choice Evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) November 19, 2024
Democratic Representative Nicole Quick, um, fast denounced the repeal of Definition of non-partisan.
The veto override of HB10 passed along party lines, with Democrats Cunningham, Willingham and Wray voting with Republicans. pic.twitter.com/a24bwr7AGG
– Nicole Quick (@QuickforNC) November 19, 2024
HB10 would direct money from public schools to fund “opportunity scholarships” for students attending out-of-state schools. According to reports, Governor Cooper described the bill as “…the greatest threat to public schools in decades.” It is perhaps overstating the obvious to state that if public schools properly educated their students, parents would not be so determined to seek alternatives .
School choice is a warm topic, and Republicans are siding with many parents, particularly in urban areas with failing schools, in wanting to expand educational choice, whether through the growth of charter schools, vouchers or homeschooling.
See related: Abbott is on the verge of a pro-school choice victory as the Republican civil war heats up in the Texas runoff
Magazine calls for federal regulations for homeschoolers – aka conservative database
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona sends school choice crowd into frenzy after strange post on X
Trying to expand choice in education could soon become a lot easier. President-elect Donald Trump has indicated he will abolish the federal government Ministry of Educationalthough it is unclear whether this can be achieved through executive action; The department is funded by congressional appropriations. But such a move would result in education being returned to the states, where it should practically and constitutionally be.
A better option, of course, would be complete privatization of education, from kindergarten to the university system. There is no constitutional authority for the federal government to become involved in education in any way, and for most of the country’s history, basic education has been regulated at the local level. The county or township level appears to be the appropriate level for K-12 education, with states having the option of maintaining state universities.
For now, this voucher program is a step in the right direction.
