What You’ll Learn in This Article

North Carolina’s school voucher program, known as the Opportunity Scholarship, is often promoted as a way to expand educational choice. But for many families in Harnett County, the program falls short. In this article, you’ll learn:

  • What school vouchers are and how they’re funded

  • Why vouchers often don’t meet the needs of rural families

  • How Harnett County families face unique barriers like cost and transportation

  • The real impact on our local public schools

  • What we can do instead to build a stronger, more equitable public education system

  • Action steps you can take to protect public schools and support students in our community

What Is a School Voucher?

A school voucher is a government-funded payment that parents can use toward private school tuition instead of sending their child to public school. In North Carolina, this is called the Opportunity Scholarship Program.

The program was originally created to help low-income families access private education, but eligibility has now expanded to include all income levels. In theory, this gives families more "choice." In reality, the voucher system often fails to meet the needs of rural communities like Harnett County.

Supporters Say:

  • It empowers parents to choose the best education for their child.
  • It creates competition that could improve the quality of all schools.
  • It gives students in struggling public schools a way out.

Concerns:

  • Funding Impact: Critics argue that vouchers divert essential funds from public schools, potentially undermining their quality and resources.
  • Public Tax Dollars: It funds private (sometimes religious) schools with public tax dollars, raising concerns about separation of church and state.
    Accountability: Private schools receiving vouchers are not held to the same accountability standards as public schools, leading to concerns about educational quality and oversight.
  • Equity Issues: There are concerns that the program may exacerbate racial and socioeconomic disparities, as some private schools have selective admissions policies.

The Hidden Costs of School Vouchers in Harnett County

North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program aims to provide families with financial assistance to attend private schools. While the intent is to offer educational choices, the reality for many Harnett County families is that these vouchers often fall short of making private education truly accessible.
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Financial Barriers Remain

Vouchers in North Carolina range from approximately $3,000 to $7,000, depending on household income . However, many private schools have tuition fees that exceed these amounts, leaving families responsible for the remaining costs. For households already facing economic challenges, these additional expenses can be prohibitive.

 

 
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Transportation Challenges

Unlike public schools, most private schools do not provide transportation. In a rural county like Harnett—where public transit is nearly nonexistent—this presents a serious barrier.

Families without a second vehicle or flexible schedules often find it impossible to get their child to a participating private school, especially if it's 20–30 minutes away.

For working parents, this can mean:

  • Cutting hours or shifting work schedules
  • Losing wages or even job opportunities
  • Struggling to coordinate consistent pickups and drop-offs

In some cases, the time cost alone makes using a voucher impractical—even if the family qualifies and receives full funding.

When families are forced to choose between a paycheck and their child’s education logistics, that’s not real choice. It's another way rural communities are left behind.
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Limited Private School Options

Harnett County has a limited number of private schools participating in the voucher program. As of 2025, only two private schools in Harnett County participate in the Opportunity Scholarship Program: Cape Fear Christian Academy (Erwin) andBrookside Christian Academy (Dunn). 

Both are religiously affiliated, and neither is centrally located within the county. This severely limits access for families seeking a non-religious or conveniently located private school option. The scarcity of options means that even with a voucher, families may not find a suitable or conveniently located private school for their children.
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Impact on Public Schools | Enrollment-Based Funding & The Voucher Loophole

As funds are diverted to support vouchers, public schools in Harnett County face financial strain. This reduction in resources can lead to larger class sizes, diminished programs, and fewer support services, further challenging the quality of education for students who remain in the public system.

And it doesn’t stop there—vouchers also trigger a funding gap.that creates a double hit for public schools.

Public school funding in North Carolina is tied to Average Daily Membership (ADM)—a count of how many students are enrolled and attending during the first month of school. This number determines how much state money each school receives for the year.

Here’s where the voucher issue creates real harm:

  • When a student receives a voucher and enrolls in a private school, those funds are pulled from the public system.
  • If that student is expelled, drops out, or decides to return to their public school, the funding does not return with them.
  • The public school now has one more student to teach—but no additional funding to cover them.

This creates a compounding crisis in rural districts like Harnett County: our schools are asked to do more with less, while private schools receive public money without long-term accountability for student outcomes or retention.

Conclusion

While school vouchers are presented as a means to expand educational opportunities, the practical implications for Harnett County residents reveal a different story. Financial constraints, transportation issues, limited private school availability, and the resulting strain on public schools suggest that vouchers may not be the equitable solution they are intended to be.

What Can We Do Instead?

If we truly want to improve educational outcomes in Harnett County and across North Carolina, the focus should be on strengthening our public schools—not diverting funding away from them. Here are some real solutions we can push for:

1. Fully Fund Public Education

North Carolina consistently ranks among the lowest states in the U.S. for per-student spending and teacher pay. And Harnett County ranks in the bottom third of all North Carolina school districts in overall performance and funding, according to state education data. By increasing public school funding, we can:

  • Hire and retain great teachers
  • Reduce class sizes
  • Provide updated materials, technology, and safe facilities
  • Expand mental health and special education support

Investment in public schools is an investment in our entire community.

2. Expand Access to Public School Choice

Instead of relying on private schools, offer more choices within the public system—including:

  • Magnet programs
  • Career and technical education (CTE) pathways
  • Dual enrollment and early college options
  • After-school enrichment and summer learning

These programs benefit all families, not just those who can afford out-of-pocket tuition and transportation.

3. Support Rural Transportation Solutions

We can advocate for statewide funding and policy changes that prioritize transportation needs in rural counties. This could include:

  • Regional school bus hubs
  • Transportation assistance programs for low-income families
  • State grants for rural districts with wide geographic footprints

4. Strengthen Accountability for Private Schools Receiving Public Funds

If private schools continue to receive public dollars through vouchers, there should be:

  • Academic accountability standards
  • Non-discrimination policies
  • Transparency in admissions and spending

No public funds should support schools that are not open or fair to all students.

5. Community Investment in Wraparound Services

Struggling students often need more than just academics. We can push for:

  • School-based healthcare
  • Counseling services
  • Nutrition programs
  • Family engagement and adult education

These supports lift the whole family, not just the student, and help break cycles of poverty that impact learning.

Take Action: Help Protect Public Education in Harnett County

You’ve read the facts. You know how school vouchers hurt rural communities like ours. Now here’s what you can do to help:

Vote for Pro-Public Education Candidates

School funding decisions are made by elected officials at the local, state, and federal level. Before you vote:

  • Learn where candidates stand on public school funding and voucher expansion
  • Ask them directly about their plans to support Harnett County Schools
  • Support candidates who commit to fully funding public education

Tip: School board and state legislative races matter just as much as the big ones.

Contact Your Lawmakers

Tell them you oppose taxpayer dollars going to unaccountable private schools. Ask for:

  • Greater investment in Harnett County’s public schools
  • Accountability measures for private schools receiving public funds
  • A pause on voucher expansion until rural access issues are addressed

Find your NC legislators here. 

Educate Your Community

Many residents don’t know how vouchers affect our schools. Help spread the word:

  • Share this article with friends, family, and neighbors
  • Bring it up at church, school, or local events
  • Post on social media using facts and stories from our community

Let’s make sure voters understand what’s at stake.

Show Up Locally

Public schools need visible community support. You can:

  • Attend local school board meetings
  • Speak during public comment about your concerns
  • Volunteer with local parent-teacher groups
  • Join HCDP’s education committee or advocacy work

Support Public Schools Directly

Even small acts make a difference:

  • Donate school supplies or teacher wish list items
  • Support fundraisers for field trips or after-school programs
  • Thank a teacher or staff member for their work

When we invest in our public schools, we invest in every child’s future.

Together, we can push back against harmful policies and build a system that works for every family in Harnett County—not just a privileged few.