North Carolina would stand to gain additional federal funding for low-income public school students.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) sponsored amendments to a bill that equalizes funding for Title I and Title II schools in states with higher numbers of poor children. With the provisions, North Carolina would gain up to $99 million in Title I spending.

The bipartisan Full Educational Opportunity Act, was approved for addition to the Every Child Achieves Act by a 59-39 vote. Burr and Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet co-sponsored the amendment, in which North Carolina stands to gain up to $72 million, in federal funds for poor students.

“I’m beyond thrilled that North Carolinians will see a significant increase in education funding for our children as a result of these two pieces of legislation,” Burr said. “For the future of our state, it is imperative that we do all we can to assist our students, regardless of background, in reaching high academic standards.”

In the committee mark up of ECAA in April, Burr lobbied for an additional $27 million annually to North Carolina schools by passing an amendment to modernize federal grants for states that had population increases since 2001. The amendment will increase funding by 47 percent over current federal funding amounts.

“The passage of this amendment will finally start to properly fund education for impoverished children across the country, as was the original intent of the legislation in 1965,” Burr said. “Under the new formula, all kids in the United States will receive equal treatment across the board and many will see an increase in federal dollars, including those in North Carolina.”

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