Category Archives: Opportunity Scholarships (OSP)

Opportunity Scholarships Allowed Ahead Of Future Ruling

Posted on July 31, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Judge Hobgood ruled yesterday that North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarships will be allowed to proceed – for now.
RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina judge won’t block a state agency from distributing taxpayer money to cover private school tuition in advance of a hearing to determine whether the program championed by Republican lawmakers is legal.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood said Wednesday he won’t issue an injunction blocking the State Educational Assistance Authority from paying out $10 million in government-funded scholarships to students who won a lottery for tuition assistance to attend private or religious schools.
– News and Observer

Sources say that Judge Hobgood’s ruling today allowed Speaker Tillis and Senator Berger’s motion to intervene. This allows them to be parties to the suit. By denying the plantiff’s injunction request, this ruling allows children who have already been selected to receive Opportunity Scholarship funds.

I’ll have more updates when they become available. Overall, this is a win for students in North Carolina and for school choice. Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), EDUCATION, LEGAL, Opportunity Scholarships (OSP) | Tagged Opportunity Scholarships | Comments Off

Injunction On NC Opportunity Scholarships Lifted

Posted on May 15, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

In case you missed it, yesterday the injunction on the NC Opportunity Scholarships program imposed by Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood was lifted. Low-income families now have an opportunity to send their children to private schools. The Opportunity Scholarships program had a base amount to start with of $10 million, which would only cover 2,400 of students to start. It’s worth noting that the program is so popular, they had to hold a lottery. Not everyone thinks assisting low-income students is the right thing to do. For example, the NC Association of Educators (NCAE):

“We feel that the program is not only unconstitutional but is also a reckless use of money,” – Mark Jewell NC Association of Educators via News and Observer 5/14/15

Wait..Serving low-income students is a reckless use of money? Gee, tell me more about how your serving the best interest of the NCAE children? Continue reading →