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.
The focus of the march is to hold state Republican lawmakers accountable for failing to fully invest in public education, as shown by the absence of a state budget and the dismissal of Leandro by the state’s highest court.
“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.
The decision drew sharp dissent. Justice Anita Earls argued that the court was failing to uphold constitutional protections, writing that it appeared “unable or unwilling to meaningfully check constitutional rights violations—particularly those originating from the legislature.”
Lee and his Republican colleagues’ impasse means that our state is failing to fill the gap, causing over one billion dollars to be taken out of our health care system and putting our already underfunded education system at further risk.
Gov. Stein identified pay raises and Medicaid funding as the most urgent issues. However, state lawmakers have yet to act.
“Our kids deserve better. A surprise cut of nearly $50 million from rural schools, with virtually no notice and no allegation of misuse, is unlawful and harmful, the Department of Education approved these programs, allowed schools to build them, and now it’s trying to pull the rug out from under dozens of rural communities,” said AG Jeff Jackson.
Former teacher of the year Kimberly Jones, once a rural area public school student, says state lawmakers should offer the same opportunities to rural students that are offered to those from wealthier areas.