Last verified: October 2026
What does a school have to do to take Opportunity Scholarship students?
A participating school documents its required tuition and fees, provides a criminal background check for its top decision-maker, gives scholarship families an annual written progress report with test scores, and keeps an in-person campus in North Carolina.
It must also report the number of students attending as of October 1 to the Division of Non-Public Education and report graduation rates for scholarship students.
What testing does an Opportunity Scholarship school give?
Scholarship students in grade 3 and up are tested every year: NCSEAA's designated test in grades 3 and 8, the ACT in grade 11, and a nationally standardized test of the school's choosing in other grades. Results go to NCSEAA by July 15, and the 2026 budget added certification, four-year record retention and audits of at least 4% of schools.
When does a school need a CPA review?
Any school enrolling 70 or more students funded by NCSEAA in a year must contract with a certified public accountant for a financial review. Schools with more than 25 scholarship students in a grade also report aggregate test results.
How does the money reach the school?
NCSEAA sends funds at least twice a year for the parent to endorse to the school's account; a parent cannot sign that endorsement over to the school. Fall payments arrive in August or September and spring payments in January or February.