In major speech, Perdue challenges McCrory support for vouchers, repeal of lottery

ASHEVILLE -- In a speech to the NC Association of School Administrators and Western Region Education Service Alliance's Summer Leadership Conference, Bev Perdue today challenged Pat McCrory's education positions that could create a $1.2 billion hole annually in North Carolina's education budget.

Citing McCrory's support for private school vouchers and repeal of the Education Lottery, Perdue said, "There are real differences between my opponent and myself on how to build a world class education system here in North Carolina... the combination of vouchers and the elimination of the lottery could blow a yearly billion dollar hole in the education budget. We can't afford that."

"While my opponent supports vouchers for wealthy kids in private schools, he opposes efforts to make higher education affordable for the poor and middle-class. I will not take my eyes off the prize and allow vouchers to break the bank of public schools."

• Pat McCrory "Absolutely" Supports Vouchers - which could cut $900 million in education funding annually:

McCrory said on questionnaire that he supported private school vouchers. McCrory said on his North Carolina Family Policy Council questionnaire that he supports private school vouchers. He answered "yes" to the following question: "Should parents who choose to educate their children in private, religious, or home schools receive a voucher or tax credit from the state?" [North Carolina Family Policy Council, "2008 Primary Election Voter Guide"]

McCrory said he "absolutely" supports private school vouchers. During the Republican debate in Hendersonville on 3/26/08, McCrory was asked, "Do you support school vouchers and raising the cap on charter schools?" McCrory replied, "Yes and yes. Absolutely... the parents must have these choices. Charter schools, school vouchers." [Republican Gubernatorial primary debate, 3/26/08]

There are more than 166,363 students in private schooling in NC; It would cost $877 million to provide a voucher of $5,273.88 (North Carolina's current per pupil spending) for all children in private schooling. Even a partial voucher would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. [AP, 6/2/08; State of North Carolina Department Of Administration, "2008 North Carolina Private School Statistics," June 2008; State of North Carolina Department Of Administration, "Non-Public & Public School Enrollment Comparisons," (2006-2007) accessed June 2008; Department of Public Instruction, Division of School Business Financial and Business Services, "2006-07 Selected Financial Data," 11/07]

• Pat McCrory Wants to Repeal the North Carolina Education Lottery - a $350 million cut to education funding.
McCrory declared in his North Carolina Family Policy Council questionnaire that he would like to repeal the state lottery. When asked, "Should the law that authorizes a state sponsored lottery in North Carolina be repealed?" McCrory answered "Yes." [http://ncfamily.org/voterguide2008/nc-council/council.php?raceInput=Governor]
North Carolina lottery paid $350 million to education programs for FY2008. [AP, 7/1/08; NC Education Lottery press release, 7/1/08]

• Pat McCrory Opposes Covering Community College Tuition for High School Graduates - almost 9,000 students are already eligible for North Carolina's EARN grant program.
o McCrory has spoken out strongly against covering community college tuition for two years. "[McCrory] said he wouldn't offer free community college tuition for high school graduates" [Charlotte Observer, 5/8/08]
o Almost 9,000 students could lose eligibility for EARN grants that will cover tuition. Pat McCrory's opposition to covering community college tuition for two years means he is against North Carolina's new EARN grant program established to provide much-needed assistance to North Carolina's students with a family income up to 200% of poverty. Bev Perdue's College Promise would expand eligibility for the EARN grant program to 300% of poverty. [College Foundation of North Carolina, "Education Access Rewards North Carolina Scholars Fund (EARN)"; NC State Education Assistance Authority]