Legislators seek education grants

May 14—HIGH POINT — A bill that would give parents grants $1,000 per child to spend on education is being pushed by state representatives and a former legislator with ties to High Point and Guilford County.

Reps. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, and Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, are among cosponsors of House Bill 934, titled the Student Success Program, which would tap into federal COVID-19 relief funds. It would give parents of all children in kindergarten through 12th grade the opportunity to apply for the grants.

The bill would set aside $170 million, said Hardister, a House majority whip. The grants would help students cope with learning loss due to reduced in-person classroom time during the coronavirus pandemic, Hardister told The High Point Enterprise.

"This is an innovative approach to address learning loss in North Carolina," Hardister said. "It will empower families with the ability to meet the educational needs of their children as we emerge from the pandemic."

If the program is adopted, North Carolina would be the first state to have an educational grant of this type universally available to public, charter and private school students, said former legislator Marcus Brandon, who lived in and served High Point in the state House. Brandon now serves as executive director of the education advocacy group CarolinaCAN.

"All students have had challenges during the pandemic, and one of the best things about this legislation is that it respects this reality and aids all students instead of prioritizing one group over another," he said.

Students would be eligible for $1,000 grants, with a maximum of $3,000 per household. The grants could be used to pay for educational expenses such as summer and after-school enrichment programs, tutoring and exam fees for college entrance exams, or standardized assessments.

Though all students would be eligible, priority would be placed on lower-income families, students with disabilities, children who are learning the English language and those experiencing homelessness or foster care, Hardister said.

pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul