North Carolina opens first state audit of its school voucher program

North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship program is under its first state audit after 11 years and $1.6 million in taxpayer spending. The review could shape how lawmakers and watchdogs assess transparency, accountability and possible misuse of public funds in the state’s largest voucher program.

Why it matters: - North Carolina’s largest voucher program is finally getting a formal state review after years of criticism over transparency and accountability. - The audit could determine whether public dollars are being used as intended and whether current safeguards are strong enough. - The findings may influence future oversight of private schools that accept taxpayer-funded vouchers.

What happened: - State Auditor Dave Bolieck’s office announced an audit of the Opportunity Scholarship voucher program. - The program has operated for 11 years and has cost taxpayers $1.6 million. - State Auditor’s Office spokesperson Randy Brechbiel said the office hopes to finish by fall, depending on workload and other projects. - Public school advocates welcomed the audit and called for a rigorous public report with the criteria and data used.

The details: - Opportunity Scholarships were first designed for low-income families to leave their local public schools. - Early eligibility was limited to families earning no more than 133% of the federal free and reduced lunch income threshold. - Only students enrolled in a public school the previous year could apply, except for K-1 students. - Later legislation removed the income cap and the prior public-school enrollment requirement. - Current voucher law does not require student academic achievement, teacher qualifications or guardrails to ensure state funds are spent on education. - The Office of the State Auditor says it investigates fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars and works with law enforcement when prosecution is warranted. - The auditor will have access to information on voucher-accepting private schools and students that is not currently public, including graduation rates, academic tests and student scores. - Public school advocates want the audit to define what counts as fraud, waste and abuse. - The state auditor’s office encourages members of the public with information on improper government conduct to use its secure tip line.

Between the lines: - The audit is likely to put pressure on voucher schools that operate with little public visibility while receiving substantial state funding. - Advocates are signaling that the core issue is not only spending, but whether the state can prove educational value and lawful use of taxpayer money. - The references to individual schools suggest critics want auditors to examine tuition pricing, admissions practices and religious or organizational ties that may affect access or spending. - Arizona’s recent voucher audit, which found examples of misuse of taxpayer dollars, is being used by critics as a model for what North Carolina should look for.

What’s next: - Auditors are expected to review voucher program records and school-level data over the coming months. - The State Auditor’s Office said the timeline depends on the amount of work required and other projects already underway. - Public school advocates are urging anyone with information on fraud or waste to report it to the NC Tipline. - A final report could clarify how North Carolina defines misuse of voucher dollars and whether the program’s current rules need tighter oversight.

The bottom line: - The first state audit of North Carolina’s voucher program could become a major test of how much accountability the state demands from privately run schools that receive public money.