Last week, the North Carolina Supreme Court threw out Leandro– the landmark educational funding case that established every child’s right to a “sound, basic education.”

What’s this mean for North Carolina? Basically, no accountability for lawmakers who have failed to invest in our public schools. 

We’re already ranked dead last in the country for our effort to fund public schools. With the dismissal of Leandro, there’s nothing requiring legislators to increase public school funding, to invest in students, special education, rural school districts, hard-working teachers, and North Carolina families. 

The ruling wasn’t unanimous– three Justices stood up to the Court’s majority in defense of our public schools. One of those Justices was Anita Earls, who described the majority’s ruling as a betrayal of North Carolinians. 

“This case is—and has always been—about the nature of the constitutional right recognized three decades ago in Leandro v. State: that the State has a duty to guard and maintain the right of every North Carolina schoolchild to access a sound basic education…The Court today betrays these constitutional commitments.”

Justice Allison Riggs added: “The majority’s message to our children is clear: pull yourself up by your bootstraps, but there is nothing this Court will do if the political branches never met their obligation to put boots on your feet in the first place.”

This ruling was tough news for folks across our state. But advocates aren’t giving up, and they won’t give up until public schools receive the funding they need to fully support our students. 

Here’s what’s next in the school funding fight, and how you can plug in if you want to get involved. 

Today: Sign the Petition

Looking for a quick and easy way to express your concern with the ruling? Add your name to the petition to prioritize kids over corporations. The petition calls on the NCGA to increase public school funding and reform our broken tax system that rewards corporate greed at the expense of working families. 

April 21: NCGA Short Session Begins– Call your legislators! 

The NC Supreme Court ruling was disappointing, but ultimately, it falls on our legislators to invest in our public schools. North Carolina is the only state in the country that failed to pass a comprehensive state budget last year. The Republican-led NC General Assembly left teacher raises on the table and school districts running on empty. The General Assembly is back in session on April 21. Call your legislators. Demand that they pass a budget that fully invests in our public schools. 

April 23: Attend a Virtual Community Training

Want to begin advocating for our public schools but don’t know where to start? Attend the North Carolina Association of Educators virtual training at 6 pm on April 23. You’ll be able to learn how to advocate effectively, build partnerships across the state, and take targeted action for our students.

May 1: Join the NCAE March for School Funding

The North Carolina Association of Educators is also organizing a march for May 1 in downtown Raleigh. It’ll be a great way to be in community while advocating for a better future for our state’s students. You can RSVP here. 

Because of people like you, I’m confident that this fight is long from over, and I’m hopeful that we can begin delivering for the kids, educators, and families across our state. Leandro was dismissed, but we’re not defeated. Our commitment to our schools, our educators, and our children will never waver.