Our schools have become a battleground for so much, and it is easy for the loudest voices to distract from what truly matters. We asked parents, students, educators, and support staff to share their own experiences with the public education system and to highlight what they see as the main issues. We heard how insufficient teacher pay and rising housing costs are forcing teachers to leave the state, how recent attempts to ban books and censor discussions in the classroom can leave students of color and LGBTQ students feeling invisible, and how rural schools are suffering from a lack of high-speed Internet access and other technology.

This storybook highlights ten individuals in North Carolina who share how the recent attacks on education have impacted them and make the case that lawmakers must do more to provide a sound, basic education for all North Carolinians.