Following the North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision to throw out Leandro, a landmark education policy case, various advocacy groups gathered at the NC General Assembly to voice their concerns about Leandro’s dismissal and the absence of a state budget.
Leandro was a lawsuit filed by parents, students, and school districts in five low-wealth, rural NC counties (Cumberland, Halifax, Hoke, Robeson, and Vance) alleging that students in these counties were denied their right to a sound basic education under the North Carolina Constitution. With the case being thrown out, it is obvious that the conservative-leaning NC Supreme Court is not placing public school funding as a priority. North Carolina is also still the only state in the country without a comprehensive state budget, making obtaining adequate public education funding even more difficult.
“The Leandro decision was a real gut punch,” said Yevonne Brannon of Public Schools First NC.
Educators and education advocates are actively urging lawmakers to take action on passing a comprehensive budget that would contribute to teacher raises and more resources for students.
“Our students need funding in our public schools. We see the lack of a state budget impacting our educators, because they are having to make real decisions about if they are going to remain in the profession,” said North Carolina Association of Educators President Tamika Walker Kelly.
In the coming months, we will continue to hold the NC Supreme Court and the NC General Assembly accountable for their lack of action towards the progression of public education in our state.
For educators, activists, and parents across the state, this is not the end for education justice; we will continue to ensure that the voices of students, teachers, and parents are heard and accounted for.
The North Carolina Association of Educators is organizing a March on May 1st, urging educators and advocates to hold lawmakers accountable for their reluctance to invest in our public schools.
To find more information about the May 1st March, go to Kids Over Corporations
