NORTH CAROLINA — It’s not every day you catch the Osborne family all in one place.

“It’s hard with everybody’s activities and how busy we all are. It’s nice when we can finally all be at this home at the same time,” says Melanie Osborne, a mother of five, including quadruplets.

Five years ago, her kids attended three different public schools. Melanie says their needs weren’t met, and her worries fell on deaf ears.

“They didn’t want to go to school anymore. There was also bullies. I was feeling a little overwhelmed,” she says.

Then she learned about the Opportunity Scholarship Program. The income-based program provides vouchers to help families pay for a school of their choice. Melanie says her kids have blossomed since transferring to a private Christian school.

“It has been so much better since then. They are growing. They’re happier," Osborne says.

Willow and Bella play volleyball for the No. 1 ranked team in the state.

Keke’s into softball and tennis. Sophie cheers.

The biggest transformation has been with the oldest, Allaura.

“I don’t get home until about 9, 10 every night. I tutor, extracurriculars, whether it’s speech and debate, teen board, volunteering,” says the high school senior.

She’s also juggling six AP classes and college applications. Her new school also put her on a path to starting an organization that collects feminine hygiene products for homeless shelters and domestic abuse shelters.

“I just want to help people and give back,” says Allaura, who hopes to one day open up her own law firm and run for legislative office in North Carolina.

About 90 miles away, the Meininger family has had a different experience with the Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Elizabeth and Kate are parents to 7-year-old Malcolm and 11-year-old Melissa.

The family also qualified for opportunity scholarships, but says the school that interested them turned them away because they’re a same-sex couple.

“I’m OK if they want to practice their religious beliefs, that’s totally fine,” Kate Meininger says. “But taking state funds and saying you can come in, but you can’t. You can’t have your cake and eat it too."

The couple is part of a lawsuit challenging the program.

“We don’t want our children to be treated differently because of who their parents are. We want our children to have the same opportunities,” Elizabeth Meininger says.

While fifth-grader Melissa is thriving at a charter school, the Meiningers are still looking for the right fit for their son Malcolm.

Democratic candidate for state superintendent of public instruction Dr. Jen Mangrum opposes the Opportunity Scholarship Program, arguing it wouldn’t be necessary if public schools are fully funded. Mangrum has reservations over how private schools are spending the public dollars.

“We need to put that funding into public schools. (Private schools) have no accountability, no transparency, yet they’re taking dollars away from our kids,” Mangrum says.

Republican candidate Catherine Truitt agrees public schools need more funding, but stresses the program makes up less than 1% of the state’s education budget. She’s fine with continuing it so long as it’s reserved for low-income families.

"Provided this program stays in its original intent to help low-income families have some sort of choice that someone like us would have if we were dissatisfied with our neighborhood schools, it needs to stay in place," Truitt says.

The state Supreme Court previously upheld opportunity scholarships in 2015.

Attorneys involved in the new case over it tell us it's still in the early stages.