N.C. fares well on school choice purchasing power ranking

EdChoice ranks private school choice programs based on their purchasing power, that is, a comparison of “each program’s most recent per-pupil spending to the state’s (or D.C.’s) average per-pupil spending in public schools.”  EdChoice researchers evaluated 63 programs, including three from North Carolina.

Two of North Carolina’s programs – the Education Savings Account and Disability Grant – fared well.  The Opportunity Scholarship Program, which is funded at the lowest amount per student, did not.

5. North Carolina’s Personal Education Scholarship Grants for Children with Disabilities (NR)
ESA | 104% of average per-pupil spending in North Carolina public schools | $8,899 (2018–19 projected)

9. North Carolina’s Special Education Scholarship Grants for Children with Disabilities (14)
Voucher | 84% of average per-pupil spending in North Carolina public schools | $7,129 (2018–19 projected)

33. North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarships (29)
Voucher | 48% of average per-pupil spending in North Carolina public schools | $4,062 (2018–19 projected)

The top program was Ohio’s Autism Scholarship Program, a voucher that is 196 percent of average per-pupil spending in Ohio public schools.