NC S853

Imposes a moratorium on awarding new Opportunity Scholarships beginning with the 2024-2025 fiscal year, with intent to eliminate the program by the 2036-2037 school year or when current recipients become ineligible.

Modifies scholarship grant amounts based on household income levels, with students from free/reduced-price lunch-eligible households receiving up to 100% of state per pupil allocation and other students receiving up to 45%, with maximum cap of 100% per pupil allocation.

Requires nonpublic schools accepting scholarship students to administer standardized tests annually (including ACT in grade 11), submit test performance data by July 15, and undergo financial audits if accepting $100,000 or more in scholarship grants (or every three years if less).

Applies similar academic assessment and reporting requirements to Personal Education Student Accounts (PESA) programs, requiring test administration in grades 3-12 and annual parent progress reports.

Reduces Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve appropriations from the originally scheduled amounts, cutting the 2024-2025 appropriation from $354.54 million to $180.37 million and eliminating all appropriations beginning in 2036-2037.