School Choice Push Makes In-Roads In Yet Another State

A North Carolina lawmaker introduced a bill Tuesday that would create a universal school choice program for students and families.

Republican state Rep. Tricia Cotham, who recently switched from the Democratic party, is sponsoring House Bill 823, which would make all students eligible for taxpayer funds up to 45% of the average cost of attending a private school. With Cotham’s recent switch to the Republican party, the state chambers have enough votes along party lines to override a potential veto from Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.

“North Carolina Representative Tricia Cotham introduced a bill to fund students instead of systems,” Corey DeAngelis, senior fellow at the American Federation for Children (AFC), a group working towards more school choice, wrote in a tweet. “All North Carolina families would be eligible. Cotham was a Democrat who just changed her party registration to Republican this month. This is the way.”