North Carolina Lawmakers Overturn School Voucher Veto

North Carolina's legislature has successfully overridden Governor Roy Cooper's veto on a significant school choice funding bill, allowing an additional 54,000 students to join the Opportunity Scholarship Program. The override was largely supported by Republicans, with three Democrats voting in favor, despite criticism that the bill benefits wealthy families and diverts funds from public schools still recovering from Tropical Storm Helene. The new funding includes $463.5 million allocated this year and locks in over $5 billion for the program through 2031-32, raising concerns among educators about the impact on public school funding. Critics argue that while public schools are underfunded and in crisis, taxpayer dollars are being redirected to private school vouchers. The bill was passed amid ongoing recovery efforts from the storm, which has left communities in dire need of support. Proponents of the bill assert it will provide families with more educational choices, claiming it meets the needs of students better than the current public school system.