Fact Check: "North Carolina private schools raised tuition by 15% after voucher expansion"
What We Know
In North Carolina, the recent expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship program allowed all families to apply for state-funded scholarships to attend private schools, regardless of income. The scholarships are worth up to $7,468 per student for the 2023-2024 school year (WUNC). Following this policy change, many private schools that accept these vouchers reportedly raised their tuition significantly. Research conducted by Heather Koons from the advocacy group Public Schools First NC indicated that, on average, private schools increased their tuition by about 15% in the year the voucher expansion took effect (Public Schools First NC).
Some schools, like Pungo Christian Academy, raised tuition by nearly 40%, although the school's administration clarified that this increase was due to restructuring fees rather than a direct response to the voucher program (WUNC). Other schools, such as Grace Christian School, began requiring all students to apply for the Opportunity Scholarships for the first time (WUNC).
Analysis
The claim that North Carolina private schools raised tuition by 15% after the voucher expansion is supported by data from Public Schools First NC, which tracked tuition rates across multiple schools. Koons' research, which included data from 49 schools, showed that the average increase was indeed around 15% for the year following the policy change (Public Schools First NC). However, it is important to note that not all schools raised their tuition, and some raised it by more than 15%, while others did not increase it at all.
The reliability of the sources is generally strong, as Public Schools First NC is an established advocacy organization with a focus on education policy. Koons has a credible background in educational research, which adds weight to her findings (Public Schools First NC). However, the interpretation of the data can vary. For instance, Pungo Christian Academy's administration argued that their tuition increase was not solely due to the voucher expansion but was influenced by other factors, including inflation and operational needs (WUNC). This suggests that while the average increase is accurate, attributing it solely to the voucher expansion may oversimplify the situation.
Conclusion
The claim that "North Carolina private schools raised tuition by 15% after voucher expansion" is Partially True. While there is evidence that many schools did raise their tuition significantly, the average increase of 15% does not apply uniformly to all private schools, and some increases were influenced by factors beyond the voucher program. Thus, while the data supports a substantial increase in tuition, the context and reasons behind these increases are more complex.
