The Education Law Center’s 2025 Making the Grade report states that North Carolina ranks 50th in per-pupil spending and receives an overall failing grade in education funding efforts despite being one of the wealthiest states in the country. To add insult to injury, the NC Supreme Court continues to disregard the Leandro case, and we remain the only state in the country without a budget.
“The simple answer is that the state needs to raise more money to put into its public school system. North Carolina ranks absolute bottom in terms of the effort that it’s making to fund public schools,” said Danielle Farrie, the research director for the Education Law Center.
“North Carolina’s failing grades reflect years of deliberate neglect. Lawmakers have refused to fully fund our public schools, denied educators meaningful raises, and the Supreme Court has allowed Leandro to languish. Our children cannot afford this continued failure of leadership,” said Tamika Walker Kelly, President of the NC Association of Educators.
Leandro v. North Carolina, a case spanning more than two decades, is a crucial public education case that the state Supreme Court has not made a ruling on, and could have billions of dollars on the line for public schools in the state. The Leandro lawsuit is from 1994, when plaintiffs from five low-wealth counties claimed the state was not fulfilling its constitutional duty to provide a sound, basic education to all children on the argument that their children didn’t have access to the same education and resources as children in wealthier districts, according to Carolina Public Press.
A ruling in favor of the Leandro case could mean an increase in the amount of per-pupil funding by about $2,000 and also higher pay for educators. The focus should be less on investing in private schools and more on investing in public education, as it is in dire need of the funding that the state is withholding.
Educators are taking a stand on the inaction of the courts by protesting against NCGA Republicans refusing to prioritize and adequately fund public schools by staging walkouts. These walkouts are a part of a series of demonstrations until lawmakers return for the start of a new legislative session in April.
“Our public school system is not OK, our students are not OK, our educators are not OK,” said Jennilee Lloyd, a recent protester.
Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall must be held accountable for their complacency in prioritizing a state budget, and the Republican-led Supreme Court for their complacency in the critical Leandro case.
Advocacy for proper public education funding remains paramount going into this new year.
