Monday numbers: A closer look at school vouchers in North Carolina

The Public School Forum of North Carolina has called for a moratorium on increased funding to the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program until lawmakers pass legislation that provides more “robust” financial oversight and evidence that students who receive the vouchers are performing better academically in private school settings.

The scholarships, more commonly known as school vouchers, were first handed out in 2013 after lawmakers approved an initial budget of $10 million.

The budget has since grown to $55 million and is scheduled to increase by $10 million each year until 2026-27 when it will stand at $134.8 million.

Here are the 10 private schools that have benefited the most under the state’s school voucher program as reported by the Public Schools Forum:

$2.7 million – the amount of voucher money students attending Trinity Christian School in Fayetteville have received.

$1.88 million – the amount of voucher money students at Greensboro Islamic Academy have received.

$1.7 million – the amount of voucher money received by students attending Fayetteville Christian Academy

$1.5 million – the amount of voucher money students attending Word of Good Christian Academy in Raleigh have received.

$1.3 million – the amount of voucher money received by students attending Berean Baptist Academy in Fayetteville

$1.17 million – the amount of voucher money received by students attending Victory Christian Center School in Monroe

$1.1 million – the amount of voucher money students attending Mt. Zion Christian Academy in Durham.

$1.0 million – the amount of voucher money students attending Raleigh Christian Academy have received.

*The amounts reported represent total public dollars received by each school to date.