The Impact of the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program
A Comprehensive Evaluation of the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program
The North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program expands school choice in North Carolina by providing state-funded private school vouchers for eligible children in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Enacted in 2013 and implemented in 2014-15, the Opportunity Scholarship Program provides funding of up to $4,200 per year for eligible students to attend participating private schools.
Evaluation Overview:
A research team at North Carolina State University is conducting a wide-ranging evaluation of the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship voucher program. Data collection efforts to date include focus groups with principals and parents, surveys of principals and parents, and analysis of program application data. We are currently engaged in the next phase of this evaluation: an analysis of early academic impacts.
Research Team:
Anna J. Egalite, Ph.D.
North Carolina State University
Email: anna_egalite@ncsu.edu
Dallas (Trip) Stallings, Ph.D.
North Carolina State University
Email: dtstalli@ncsu.edu
Stephen R. Porter, Ph.D.
North Carolina State University
Email: srporter@ncsu.edu
- Report #1: Private School Leaders’ Perspectives, July 2017
- Report #2: Parents’ Perspectives, July 2017
- Report #3: A Profile of Voucher Applicants, August 2017*
- Report #4: Test Score Impact, (Initial Report: June 2018; Peer-Reviewed Journal Article: March 2020)
- Report #5: Ensuring Opportunity in the OS — A Summary of Work to Date, June 2018
- Report #6: An Update to Private School Leaders’ Perspectives, October 2018
- Report #7: NC’s private school landscape, January 2020
*Report #3 updated May 23, 2019, to include additional information about 2016-17 recipient household income.