The Every Child NC coalition applauds the North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision to, at long last, uphold our children’s rights as enshrined in the North Carolina Constitution.
These rights are firmly established by multiple, unanimous decisions of the Court, finding an ongoing violation of students’ right to attend schools that provide equal access to meaningful educational opportunities.
Across the state education and civil rights, advocates are celebrating the ruling and vowing to continue this fight:
Marcus Bass: (Advance Carolina) Today’s Supreme Court ruling to uphold the constitutional mandate as the standard for funding public education is the strongest affirmation of this promise to date. The accumulation of debt the North Carolina General Assembly owes to our children represents a clear and sound neglect, obstruction, and a blatant disregard for our future. We thank the courts for their sound judgment in confirming the direct remedy ordered by Judge Lee and continue to urge elected legislative leaders in our state to do the right thing.
Jenice Ramirez (ISLA): This historic ruling demonstrates the power of communities and individuals coming together and not accepting less than what we deserve. For the Latino, immigrant, and multilingual communities I serve, this proves that change is possible when we organize our collective voices.
Angus Thompson (original Leandro Plaintiff): The Leandro Plan is the remedy and the Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutional issue. People from across the state have been standing up for the rights of our children. We protested, we prayed, and now we vote. We need leaders to help us sustain this victory.
Letha Muhammad (Education Justice Alliance): This ruling should offer every North Carolinian some much needed hope that our institutions and laws can still work for us. Deep appreciation to the State Supreme Court for ruling in service to the children in North Carolina. This is a joyful day for our state but it also serves as a reminder that there is so much work still to be done to make sure we elect public servants who are willing to uphold the mandates in our state's constitution.
Elaine Zukerman (Advocacy and Communications Director, NC Early Education Coalition): This is a momentous day for all of North Carolina’s young children, their families, and their early educators! Leandro is an opportunity for our state to advance equity, change systems, and deliver on the promise of an opportunity for every child to fulfill their potential. There is still more work to be done to fulfill those goals, but today, we applaud the Court’s order to fulfill the obligation to provide every child with a sound, basic education, beginning in early childhood.
Sandra Wilcox Conway: Today's Leandro ruling is so important. The remedy and resources children will receive send a powerful message about who we are as a State. Children's advocates, philanthropists and business leaders join NC families and educators in celebrating this great step forward. We will stay aligned as we continue to make certain North Carolina is faithful in our duty to children, honors the educators who serve them and ultimately is a beacon for equitable public education.
Jackie Mclean (Hoke County Schools)" This is such a thrilling victory for our children. We should never forget that when we fight together, we win. This is a long overdue win for our children. I applaud the court for doing the right thing and delivering what’s needed for our children and families.
In the decades since the original Leandro ruling, the Court has given ample deference and time to the General Assembly to remedy this violation, but the legislative branch has failed to even develop, much less fund and implement, a plan to provide all children with the opportunity to receive a “sound basic” education.
In the decades since the original Leandro ruling, the Court has given ample deference and time to the General Assembly to remedy this violation, but the legislative branch has failed to even develop, much less fund and implement, a plan to provide all children with the opportunity to receive a “sound basic” education.
While we celebrate this historic ruling, we must note that this ruling deals with years two and three of the eight-year Comprehensive Remedial Plan.
Plaintiffs, defendants, and education advocates across the state agree that full implementation of the Plan is essential to fully deliver students with the quality of education they’re owed. There is still much more to be done to meet the standard set forth in our state’s Constitution and finally provide children with the educational opportunities to which they are entitled.
We will continue our advocacy until the educational rights of North Carolina’s children are met. We refuse to tolerate another generation of children passing through an unconstitutional system that fails to provide educational opportunities to all children.
The Every Child NC (https://everychildnc.org) coalition is a statewide coalition of community leaders, parents, advocates, educators, and students. We are committed to engaging with community leaders, parents, educators, and policymakers to fully implement the remaining years of the Leandro Plan.
Contact us at info@everychildnc.org for comments or call 919-802-2366.
Contact us at info@everychildnc.org for comments or call 919-802-2366.