Sen. Burgin files bill in North Carolina Senate to expand Opportunity Scholarship program

A new bill filed by Sen. Burgin seeks to expand the Opportunity Scholarship program to allow home-schooled students to receive scholarship grants under certain conditions, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 389 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Add Home Schools to Opportunity Scholarships.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill expands the Opportunity Scholarship program in North Carolina to include home-schooled students, starting applications for the 2026-27 school year. It permits eligible students enrolled in home schools to receive scholarship grants up to 25% of the average state per pupil allocation, while those in private schools may receive up to 100% based on income eligibility. The bill appropriates $220 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year and $240 million for the following year, with future appropriations rising annually, reaching up to $1.1 billion for the fiscal year 2032-33. It also mandates nonpublic schools to adhere to specific reporting and procedural requirements to maintain eligibility for scholarship funds. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Burgin proposed another 42 bills during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Burgin graduated from The University of Tennessee Knoxville with a BS.

Burgin, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 12th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Ronald Rabin.