North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 29 D · 2 I · 1 R cosponsors

HB 816 — Voucher School Transparency Act.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 07, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 32 sponsors

    3 primary, 29 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (29 D · 2 I · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

191 added · 190 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revision of House Bill 816 updates the requirements for nonpublic schools receiving scholarship funds. Notably, it now clarifies that schools must provide parents with an annual report on their child’s academic progress and administer standardized tests for students in grades three and higher. This change is important because it aims to enhance transparency and accountability regarding the educational outcomes of students benefiting from these scholarships.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 816 Short Title:
816 Apr 7, 2025 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH10363-MT-109 Short Title:
Representative Rubin.
Representatives Rubin, Ball, Prather, and Brockman (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING STANDARDS FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVING OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE AUDITOR TO ANNUALLY REVIEW AUDITS OF AT LEAST THREE NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVING OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS.
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 8, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING STANDARDS FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVING OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE AUDITOR TO ANNUALLY REVIEW AUDITS OF AT LEAST THREE NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVING OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS.
(2) Provide to the Authority a criminal background check conducted for the staff member with the highest decision-making authority, as defined by the bylaws, articles of incorporation, or other governing document.
(2) Provide to the Authority a criminal background check conducted for the staff member with the highest decision-makingauthority, as defined bythe bylaws, articles of incorporation, or other governing document.
Thenonpublicschool mayadopt apolicyproviding forperiodic checks of criminal history of teachers.
Thenonpublicschool mayadopt apolicyprovidingforperiodic checks of criminal history of teachers.
(3) Provide to the parent or guardian of an eligible student, whose tuition and fees are paid in whole or in part with a scholarship grant, an annual written *DRH10363-MT-109* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 explanation of the student's progress, including the student's scores on standardized achievement tests.
*H816-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (3) Provide to the parent or guardian of an eligible student, whose tuition and fees are paid in whole or in part with a scholarship grant, an annual written explanation of the student's progress, including the student's scores on standardized achievement tests.
Test performance data shall be submitted to the Authority byJuly 15 of each year.
Test performance data shall be submitted to the AuthoritybyJuly 15 of each year.
A nationally standardized test or other nationally standardized equivalent measurement selected by the chief administrative officer of the nonpublic school in all other grades four and higher.
A nationally standardized test or other nationally standardized equivalent measurement selected bythe chief administrative officer of the nonpublic school in all other grades four and higher.
For grades four through seven, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure achievement in the areas of English grammar,reading, spelling, andmathematics.Forgrades nine, 10, and 12, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurementselectedmustmeasureeither(i)achievementintheareas of English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics or (ii) competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas.
For grades four through seven, the nationallystandardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure achievement in the areas of English grammar,reading,spelling,and mathematics.For grades nine, 10, and 12, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurementselectedmustmeasureeither(i)achievementintheareas of English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics or (ii) competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas.
(5) Provide to the Authority graduation rates of the students receiving scholarship grants grants, including four-year cohort graduation rates, in a manner consistent with nationally recognized standards.Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, and any associated federal regulations.
(5) Provide to the Authoritygraduation rates of the students receiving scholarship grants grants, including four-year cohort graduation rates, in a manner consistent with nationally recognized standards.Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, and any associated federal regulations.
d.
Page 2 House Bill 816-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 d.
Page 2 DRH10363-MT-109 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 e.
e.
(b) Anonpublicschoolthatacceptsstudents receivingscholarshipgrantsshallnotrequire any additional fees based on the status of the student as a scholarship grant recipient.
House Bill 816-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (b) Anonpublicschoolthatacceptsstudents receivingscholarship grantsshallnotrequire any additional fees based on the status of the student as a scholarship grant recipient.
DRH10363-MT-109 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (c) A nonpublic school enrolling more than 25 students in any grade whose tuition and fees are paid in whole or in part with a scholarship grant shall provide and retain information on student test performance in each grade with more than 25 students, as follows:
(c) A nonpublic school enrolling more than 25 students in any grade whose tuition and fees are paid in whole or in part with a scholarship grant shall provide and retain information on student test performance in each grade with more than 25 students, as follows:
Aggregate test performance data reported to the Authority which does not contain personally identifiable student data shall be a public record under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes.
Aggregate test performance data reported to the Authority which does not contain personallyidentifiable student data shall be a public record under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes.
(2) Retain standardized test performance data for eligible students in all other grades and annually certify to the Authority compliance with the requirements of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section.
(2) Retain standardized test performance data for eligible students in all other grades and annuallycertifyto the Authoritycompliance with the requirements of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section.
"… "SECTION 3J.23.(b) The Office of Learning Research at The University of North Carolina, as established by Section 2A.8 of this act, shall study and report the following to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by December 31, 2025:
"… "SECTION 3J.23.(b) The Office of LearningResearch at The Universityof North Carolina, as established by Section 2A.8 of this act, shall study and report the following to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by December 31, 2025:
"SECTION 3J.23.(c) The State Education Assistance Authority shall designate as the nationally standardized assessments to be administered by nonpublic schools, in accordance with G.S.
"SECTION 3J.23.(c) The State Education Assistance Authority shall designate as the nationallystandardized assessments to be administered bynonpublic schools, in accordance with G.S.
…." Page 4 DRH10363-MT-109 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 1.(c) Notwithstanding G.S.
Page 4 House Bill 816-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 …." SECTION 1.(c) Notwithstanding G.S.
115C-562.5(a)(1) for the 2025-2026 school year, the nonpublic school shall also provide documentation for required tuition and fees charged to students receiving scholarship grant funds under Part 2A of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes by the nonpublic school for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.
115C-562.5(a)(1) for the 2025-2026 school year, the nonpublic school shall also provide documentation for required tuition and fees charged to students receiving scholarship grant funds under Part 2A of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes bythe nonpublic school for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.
7 PART II.
8 PART II.
The Auditor shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee no later than March 15 of each year on the results of this review, including the uses of taxpayer funds by the nonpublic schoolsand academicoutcomesofstudentsreceivingscholarshipgrantsunder Part 2A of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes." PART III.
The Auditor shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee no later than March 15 of each year on the results of this review, including the uses of taxpayer funds by the nonpublic schoolsand academicoutcomesofstudentsreceivingscholarship grantsunder Part 2A of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes." PART III.
DRH10363-MT-109 Page 5
House Bill 816-First Edition Page 5
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 29 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (29)

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 816?
HB 816 is sponsored by James Roberson (Democratic), Amos L. Quick, III (Democratic), Renée A. Price (Democratic), Dante Pittman (Democratic), Rodney D. Pierce (Democratic), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Nasif Majeed (U), Jordan Lopez (Democratic), Monika Johnson-Hostler (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Aisha O. Dew (Democratic), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), Carla D. Cunningham (U), Sarah Crawford (Democratic), Bryan Cohn (Democratic), Tracy Clark (Democratic), Maria Cervania (Democratic), Becky Carney (Democratic), Deb Butler (Democratic), Allen Buansi (Democratic), Kanika Brown (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), Mary Belk (Democratic), Eric Ager (Democratic), Lindsey Prather (Democratic), Cynthia Ball (Democratic), Phil Rubin (Democratic), Cecil Brockman (Democratic), Beth Helfrich (Democratic), Neal Jackson (Republican), and Julie von Haefen (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 816?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 07, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 816?
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