Editorial: Face the facts. Obey the court. All NC kids deserve a quality education

Robinson, a Winston-Salem business court judge who was suddenly thrust into the job of presiding over the implementation of the Leandro education order, has a lot of catch-up to do.

Only eight of the 51 items listed as related to the Comprehensive Plan received full funding and just 12 more got partial funding, according to the detailed accounting from the Budget Office.

That means 31 of the initiatives that were supposed to be implemented over the next two years were ignored.

No matter the view - looking at the number of programs recommended compared to those adopted or the resources needed to fully implement the order versus what was appropriated – the conclusion still comes out the same.

North Carolina’s legislators failed the promise they made to uphold the state Constitution they all swore an oath to keep.

It remains a mystery why the state’s legislative leaders have been so intractable in the refusal to obey the court’s order.

It is not a question of partisanship – the Leandro court orders and judicial administration has had bipartisan backing with Republican justices and judges playing leading roles in the direction of the case over the last 25 years.

It is not a question of better, or differing alternatives – there’s been no other comprehensive plan suggested, developed or offered – to assure that every child has access to a quality public school education.

It is past time to stop the posturing, litigating and stalling. It is past time to take the action necessary – as clearly detailed in the Comprehensive Remedial Plan – so every kid, no matter where they are in North Carolina, can get the education they need to become contributing members of their communities and a thriving economy.

There is more than adequate evidence for Judge Robinson to easily determine that the court’s order has not been affirmatively answered in the current state budget. He needs to reiterate that the order stands. The state must act accordingly to implement it.

The General Assembly needs to heed the court order, adopt the programs and policies in the Comprehensive Remedial Plan and provide all the necessary resources. Legislators must act now and stop the procrastination.

Furthermore, Gov. Roy Cooper needs to set a deadline for the General Assembly to act – and if it doesn’t he should order his Budget Office and the State Board of Education to move ahead to obey the court’s order. North Carolina’s future is at stake.