{"id":92,"date":"2026-05-15T04:33:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T04:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northcarolinamovingjournal.com\/?p=92"},"modified":"2026-05-15T04:33:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T04:33:44","slug":"nc-republicans-seek-study-on-control-of-public-school-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northcarolinamovingjournal.com\/?p=92","title":{"rendered":"NC Republicans seek study on control of public school funding"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A new Republican proposal would create a work group to study whether North Carolina should overhaul how it funds public schools, and whether another state agency should take over distributing billions in K-12 education dollars now managed by the state\u2019s Department of Public Instruction.<\/p>\n

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Senate Bill 990 cleared the Senate Education\/Higher Education Committee on Wednesday, but not before Democrats questioned why lawmakers were considering shifting school funding responsibilities to the State Education Assistance Authority, an agency that oversees private school vouchers and financial aid programs.<\/p>\n

The shift is politically significant because of who leads the two agencies. DPI is headed by Democratic Superintendent Mo Green. SEAA is governed by a board largely appointed by the Republican-led legislature.<\/p>\n

Sen. Sophia Chitlik (D-Durham) questioned the logic of the move, noting that SEAA has little experience in handling public K-12 education funds. \u201cCan you help me understand why that entity is best qualified to do this work?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

Sen. Mike Lee (R-New Hanover), one of the bill\u2019s sponsors, defended the proposal, saying SEAA is a more efficient \u201cfund distribution entity\u201d that already manages scholarship programs. Lee also described the current allotment system at DPI as \u201cincredibly complicated\u201d and suggested that shifting the accounting work to SEAA could save money.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t decide policy. They\u2019re strictly a fund distribution entity,\u201d Lee said of SEAA. \u201cIf SEAA can do this more efficiently, why wouldn\u2019t we have them distribute the funds just like they do opportunity scholarships?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chitlik questioned why lawmakers would study a proposal that may not even be constitutional, pointing to language in the state constitution saying the State Board of Education shall \u201csupervise and administer\u201d the public school system.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would we even explore something that might not even be constitutional?\u201d Chitlik asked.<\/p>\n

Legislative staff attorney Drupti Chauhan responded that the bill only creates a study group and does not transfer authority away from DPI or the State Board of Education.<\/p>\n

\u201cActs of the General Assembly are not inherently considered unconstitutional until a court opines that they\u2019re unconstitutional,\u201d Chauhan said.<\/p>\n

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North Carolina Supreme Court vacates nine years of Leandro school funding orders<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n