The court case that North Carolina educators had long been hopeful would prod a reluctant General Assembly to produce a better public education system was dismissed this year by North Carolina’s top court. Those who care about North Carolina’s public schools need a new rallying cry.
North Carolina ranks near dead last for school funding in the country – something that Governor Josh Stein has been trying to change. He calls the new state budget “a launching pad, not a landing spot.”
“This is a critical investment in our children and families, and it helps us continue building a stronger, healthier North Carolina for all,” Stein said.
Rising costs aren’t inevitable. The increase in school supply costs is a direct result of two of the Trump administration’s most disastrous actions: higher tariffs and the war in Iran.
“Now, any parent knows that juggling work and being a new parent is no small task,” Gov. Stein said at the bill signing, alongside teachers and state workers. “But with this state policy, we’re making it easier for parents to succeed in the state’s workforce.”
“Rather than invest in the students who need it most,” said NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly, “lawmakers have found another way to provide tax giveaways to the wealthy at the expense of working families who depend on public education.”
North Carolina has the resources. The state is projecting a significant surplus. The question is not whether we can afford to invest in experienced teachers—it is whether our leaders choose to.
Days after educators descended upon Raleigh to advocate for public education funding, a prominent group of retired judges, justices, and education leaders is seeking to
Thousands of educators and advocates attended the march – sending a message to the legislature that education is definitely a top issue in our state. The legislature must take action to improve outcomes for students and teachers in our public school system.
When we invest in public schools, we invest in a more informed, capable, and engaged citizenry. That we don’t is an indictment of the world our leaders seem to want. We should invest in the long-term health of our economy and our democracy. The question is not whether we can afford to uphold the promise of Leandro. It is whether we are willing to.