RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Most of the recipients of North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarships weren't from public schools.

That's according to data from the NC Department of Public Instruction.

Staff presented the new data at the State Board of Education meeting Wednesday. It shows of the 80,325 opportunity scholarship recipients, 6,710 came from public schools, that's about 8.4% of recipients.

The Opportunity Scholarships are vouchers given to North Carolina families to pay for private schools.

Last September, state lawmakers decided to funnel more than half a billion dollars into the program and removed income limits.

Republicans argued it promoted school choice, while Democrats who voted against it said the funding would largely go to families that can already afford private school.

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