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HB 815

An Act requiring notification of employees, the Department of Labor and Industry and municipalities when mass layoffs and business closings occur; and providing for civil penalties and for powers and duties of the Department of Labor and Industry.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Boyd and 20 co-sponsors

HB 815 tightens accountability for voucher schools and expands eligibility, setting priorities, increasing scholarship amounts, and boosting reporting requirements for nonpublic sc

Referred to Labor & Industry
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 815

Summary — HB 815: Voucher School Accountability Act (North Carolina, 2025)

Purpose

HB 815 revises eligibility rules for the State’s Opportunity Scholarship program and raises accountability and reporting standards for nonpublic (voucher) schools that receive scholarship funds. The bill updates statutory definitions, changes application/award timing and prioritization, defines scholarship amounts by income and enrollment status, and clarifies full‑ and part‑time scholarship status.

Key provisions

  • Amends G.S. 115C‑562.1 and G.S. 115C‑562.2 (Opportunity Scholarship statutes).
  • Revises and expands the statutory definitions of “eligible student,” “full‑time student,” and “part‑time student.”
  • Sets application timing and award procedures: the Authority must make applications available by February 1 annually; awards begin March 15 for students who applied by March 1.
  • Establishes an order of priority for awards (prior recipients first), and allocates remaining funds with at least 50% reserved for low‑income applicants (those at or below the federal free/reduced‑price lunch income threshold).
  • Specifies grant amounts:
    • For low‑income households (at or below FRPL threshold): up to 90% of the State average per‑pupil allocation (prior fiscal year) for full‑time students; up to 45% for part‑time students.
    • For higher‑income households: grants capped at up to 90% of required tuition and fees for full‑time students and 45% for part‑time students (for the chosen nonpublic school).
  • Clarifies eligibility categories that qualify a student (examples include returning prior scholarship recipients, K–2 entrants with principal approval in certain cases, children in foster care, children recently adopted, children of active duty or recently discharged military, students previously enrolled in eligible nonpublic schools, and families meeting specified income criteria).
  • Defines that a “full‑time student” for scholarship purposes is enrolled exclusively in a nonpublic school and whose parents have released the local public school administrative unit of its obligation to educate that child while the scholarship is in effect.

Accountability and reporting

The bill states an intent to increase accountability and reporting standards for nonpublic schools receiving Opportunity Scholarship funds. The provided text is truncated and does not list the full set of new reporting requirements; however, the bill explicitly aims to tighten reporting and oversight obligations for participating nonpublic schools.

Who is affected

  • Eligible North Carolina students and families (particularly low‑income households and prior scholarship recipients).
  • Nonpublic schools that accept Opportunity Scholarship funds (subject to heightened reporting/accountability).
  • The State scholarship Authority (administrative responsibilities for applications, award prioritization, publication of information, and oversight).
  • Local public school administrative units (release of obligation for full‑time scholarship students).

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Applications: available by February 1 annually; awards begin March 15 for students who applied by March 1.
  • Statutory changes occur by amendment to G.S. 115C‑562.1 and 115C‑562.2.
  • As of the materials provided, the bill was introduced and moving through the NC legislative process (see House referrals and readings in the record).

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Budgetary: higher scholarship amounts (up to 90% of per‑pupil allocation or tuition) and reserved funds for low‑income applicants could affect state education funding allocations.
  • Administrative: the Authority and nonpublic schools will face expanded administrative and reporting duties.
  • Equity/prioritization: the 50% reservation for low‑income households targets funds to lower‑income students but also prioritizes prior recipients, which may affect new applicants’ access.

If you want, I can (1) extract and summarize the full accountability/reporting provisions if you provide the omitted portions of the bill text, or (2) prepare a one‑page comparison showing how this proposal differs from current Opportunity Scholarship rules.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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