I slid into the backseat of a rideshare in Raleigh on a recent, ordinary weekday, expecting little more than a quiet ride, maybe some chit-chat. But what unfolded was a deeply personal story that cut through the narrative and highlighted the reality behind one of the most hotly debated education programs in our state: the Opportunity Scholarship program.
My driver was friendly, quick with a warm welcome, so I started with my standard, “So, how long have you been driving Uber?”
As we talked, he shared that he drives Uber full-time. His wife, a nurse, works long shifts, and together they juggle parenting, work and bills. He told me candidly, without knowing my profession or my stance on education policy, about the defining decision they made for their children’s future — and why North Carolina is the best place for their family; because of the education system here. It is not the test scores or the universities, but the choices they can make for their family…