NC IS VIOLATING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CHILDREN: FUND OUR SCHOOLS NOW

This petition addressed to NC General Assembly, Governor Josh Stein and the newly formed Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education

The NC Constitution guarantees every child a sound, basic education. For decades, the State has neglected their duty to deliver on this promise. We have a well developed strategic plan and the resources to fund it but the State refuses to release the funds. Chronically underfunded schools hurts us all because no one wins when kids lose. Fund our schools now.

The North Carolina Constitution guarantees every child the opportunity for a sound, basic education and requires the State to provide a general and uniform system of public schools with equal opportunity for all. For over 30 years, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld that right.

That right is still being denied.

Although The NC Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that effectively closed the landmark case Leandro v. North Carolina on procedural grounds, the reality for children in North Carolina has not changed. Today, many schools remain under-resourced, educators are not fairly compensated, and too many students are expected to succeed without the support they need.

We already have the solution.

The Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan is a well-researched, expert-developed roadmap to ensure every child has access to the teachers, resources, and opportunities they deserve. North Carolina has the resources to fund it.

WHAT THE LEANDRO PLAN DELIVERS

The Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan provides a clear, research-based roadmap to strengthen North Carolina’s schools by:

✅ Access to Early Childhood Education
Expanding high-quality Pre-K, early learning programs, and family supports so children enter school ready to succeed

✅ Strong Teacher Pipeline & Competitive Pay
Recruiting, preparing, and retaining high-quality teachers through better pay, professional development, and expanded pathways into the profession

✅ Effective School Leadership
Developing and supporting principals with training, coaching, and competitive compensation to lead successful schools

✅ Well-Resourced Schools
Ensuring adequate, equitable, and predictable funding so every school has the staff, materials, and support students need to thrive

✅ Student Supports & Safe Learning Environments
Increasing access to counselors, nurses, social workers, and mental health supports to meet the needs of the whole child

✅ Accountability & School Improvement
Improving assessment systems and providing targeted support to low-performing schools and districts

✅ College, Career & Workforce Pathways
Aligning high school with college and career opportunities, expanding dual enrollment, and removing barriers to workforce credentials

The Constitution did not change.
The needs of our children have not changed.
The Plan remains.

The State’s obligation does not depend on court intervention, it has always been the law.

PETITION

We, the undersigned, call on the North Carolina General Assembly to:

  • Fully fund The Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan in the biennial budget (according to the 8 year schedule);

  • Prioritize public education in alignment with our constitutional obligation;

  • Adjust The Leandro Plan for inflation since 2021 and reinvest public funds to account for diverted resources due to the expansion of the voucher program;

  • Ensure transparency and accountability in meeting the needs of all students;

  • Evaluate funding policies to prevent continued underfunding of public schools.