Liz Schlemmer

1 week ago | wunc.org | Liz Schlemmer

New research shows that many North Carolina private schools accepting vouchers significantly increased their tuition after the state expanded funding for the Opportunity Scholarship program. Starting this past school year, any North Carolina family could apply for a state-funded scholarship to attend a private school, regardless of their income or if they had already attended a private school without an Opportunity Scholarship.

1 week ago | triangletribune.com | Liz Schlemmer

Published Monday, June 16, 2025 By Liz Schlemmer, WUNC Fayetteville State student Kaylan Gaines speaks at a press conference. A group of students from North Carolina's HBCUs spent a day at the state legislature last week to advocate for funding and policies to support their education and voting access.

2 weeks ago | wunc.org | Liz Schlemmer

A group of students from North Carolina's Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) spent a day at the state legislature Wednesday to advocate for funding and policies to support their education and voting access.

3 weeks ago | wunc.org | Liz Schlemmer

Starting this school year, North Carolina changed the eligibility for state-funded vouchers to pay for students' K-12 private school tuition. The new rules made it so that any North Carolina family could apply for a so-called "Opportunity Scholarship," no matter their income. When tens of thousands of new applications came in, state lawmakers also passed about half a billion dollars per year to fund them.

3 weeks ago | wunc.org | Liz Schlemmer

Greek columns flank the front doors of Thales Academy Raleigh, tucked away in a diverse neighborhood on the northeast side of the city. Inside, the hallways are tidy and filled with murals of great scientists, mathematicians, and entrepreneurs. In a second grade class, the teacher leads a reading lesson. Students point to each word in their books as they read vocabulary aloud in chorus, "ancient… language… army!"The day's reading is about the Trojan War.