Editorial: More than money, Leandro upholds N.C. Constitution's promise to our children
Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 -- The rhetoric from legislative leaders is in stark contrast to the findings in a report released by State Superior Court Judge David Lee, who oversees implementation of the 1997 state Supreme Court ruling in the Leandro case. The high court ruled the state - particularly the legislature - failed to honor a fundamental right guaranteed in the N.C. Constitution. That promise is to provide EVERY student with an opportunity for a sound basic education in public schools. It is not about how much. It is about keeping a promise and doing what is required to achieve it.
Posted — UpdatedWell, he and his colleagues in the legislature must be fighting with one arm tied behind their backs (and maybe their fingers are crossed).
It is not about how much. It is about keeping a promise and doing what is required to achieve it.
“The state does not currently provide adequate resources to ensure that all students have the opportunity to meet higher standards and become college and career ready,” the report says.
As much as a statement of fact, it is an indictment of dereliction of duty.
“North Carolina’s per-pupil spending was the sixth-lowest in the nation. When adjusted to 2018 dollars, per-pupil spending in North Carolina had declined overall, about 6%, since 2009-10.”
The report paints a bleak picture of North Carolina’s public education landscape, where resources are diminished, and regulation increased.
- “Constraints on local flexibility hinder district ability to align resources with student needs. … In 2010-11, allotments with substantial flexibility represented roughly three-quarters of K-12 state funding. By 2018-19, allotments with substantial flexibility represented only about one-fifth of K-12 funding.”
- “School districts lack the funding necessary to meet the educational needs of historically underserved student populations.”
- “Funding across districts is inequitable due to differences in local funding, differences in state funding received through Classroom Teacher allotment and differences in regional costs.”
Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore and Forest -- Stop wasting time and creative energy in the quest to cherry-pick data and manipulate statistics to tell an inaccurate and phony political campaign tale of support for public schools. Stop breaking the law and violating the order of the state’s Supreme Court.
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