The Education Wars in 2025: Can Public Schools Win? |
The NC education wars will continue when the NCGA begins its 2025 legislative long session in early January. After this past year, supporters of public schooling worry that we are losing the war.
Universal private school vouchers, NC still stagnating at #48 in the nation for public education funding, and no Leandro funding on the horizon (no ruling yet from the February 22 Leandro oral arguments before the NC Supreme Court) have left our public schools handicapped and struggling to provide the sound, basic education required by the NC State Constitution.
Can we win the “education wars” and save public education?
Defeating the attacks on public education will take individuals and communities working together to build strong alliances between parents, teachers, students and organizations that support public education.
Saving our public schools will require a united focus and clear messaging that calls for increased funding and equitable policies in our public schools.
We will need to work together to fight for public education rights.
We will need our supporters to help us educate the public on the value of public education and to counter misinformation with factual data.
We will need help from education professionals to promote evidence-based practices and policies that improve student outcomes and how they advocate for effective educational strategies.
There is a lot of work to be done. We ask you to join us in the work to save public education and win the education wars! Here’s how:
Stay informed
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Stay engaged:
- Attend and speak at local school board meetings.
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Join the PTA and other community organizations that support public education (check NCPEN for organizations in your county).
- Attend NCGA meetings or watch online.
- Follow us on social media for up-to-date information and share it.
- Support our petitions and calls to action when bad bills are being proposed.
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Contact your legislators to let them know your views on public education legislation.
Stay strong:
Work together (parents, teachers, students, community leaders, and advocacy groups) to amplify your voices and influence decision-making. Email us with your questions and let us know how to help you [email protected].
Let’s make it happen for public schools in 2025!
Help PUBLIC SCHOOLS FIRST NC in our work fighting for public schools by making a year-end donation!
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These Tragedies are NOT Inevitable |
This week the latest school shooting tragedy unfolded in Madison, WI resulting in the death of a teacher and student, life-threatening injuries for two other students, and less critical injuries for several other students. These heartbreaking events and continued trauma for everyone involved have become far too frequent.
Guns are the #1 cause of death for children ages 1-17 in the United States. This does not have to be the reality in our country if we're willing to do something about it!
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According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, which includes all incidents that involved shootings, school shooting numbers started climbing sharply in 2018 and more than doubled from 2020 to 2021. Although 2024 saw fewer school shootings than 2023, (327 versus 349), the numbers are more than 5 times as high as the 60 school shooting incidents in 2017.
It is up to us to put pressure on elected officials to prioritize smart gun safety laws that will reduce gun violence. Join forces with an organization dedicated to our children's safety to make a positive difference in the new year.
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Legislative and SBE Updates |
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The Senate and House have adjourned for the remainder of 2024. Both chambers will convene in Raleigh on Wednesday, January 8 at noon.
The House Select Committee on Helene Recovery met for the first time on December 11. You can find meeting materials and audio of the proceedings here.
We encourage you to contact the committee members to ask why the Helene response to date hasn't had the same urgency as ensuring that private school vouchers are funded. Why has it taken more than two months to convene their first meeting?
Western NC deserves much more than what our legislative majority has done so far.
Contact Senate Leader Phil Berger to ask why there isn't a Senate select committee on Helene recovery.
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Mo Green: Lift Back Up Public Education! |
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North Carolina just learned that, for the second year in a row, it ranks 48th in the nation for per-pupil funding and 49th for how much of its economy it devotes to public schools.
“North Carolina is basically a situation of missed opportunity,” the research director at the Education Law Center told WUNC. What a damning statement.
The new State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Maurice “Mo” Green, sees two major roles in the job: Chief Administrative Officer, overseeing distribution of more than $11 billion in state dollars and Chief Advocacy Officer.
In the accompanying video, Green tells Public Ed Works he wants to improve student outcomes, increase academic performance and improve character among the state’s 1.4 million public school students.
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By Richard M. Moore, AG teacher at Jones Elementary School, Greensboro
As a teacher who is in his 45th year of teaching in Greensboro, I feel compelled to comment on this battle between our legislators, public and private school funding and the conditions of our schools.
In 2016 and 2017 I taught in a classroom with no air conditioning or heat. This went on for two years. They finally got it fixed.
Now, just in the past year, our school has had several classrooms with no working heat or air conditioning, including the media center. I have to wonder what would happen in Raleigh if our inspired legislators had to work without heat or air conditioning even for one day.
I also wonder how the General Assembly can justify offering millions of dollars to private schools for vouchers. There’s no accountability, or limitations on income to receive the vouchers.
And let’s not forget about teacher pay. I find it odd that teachers who drive across state lines in South Carolina and Virginia can make about $7,000 more per year.
To quote the Buffalo Springfield, “There’s something happening here/ But what it is ain’t exactly clear.”
This letter first appeared in the Greensboro News & Record
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NC Supreme Court: Still No Leandro Ruling |
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On December 13 the NC Supreme Court released rulings on 13 cases, but the long-awaited decision on Leandro was not among them.
The NC Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the current iteration of Leandro on February 22, 2024 so a ruling should have been announced.
The Leandro case was filed 30 years ago in 1994 by parents and school districts who claimed that the state was not fulfilling its constitutional requirement to fund public schools. The suit soon came to include all districts in the state due to across-the-board underfunding and low performance.
In four subsequent rulings, the NC Supreme Court ordered the state to remedy the situation through better funding. The last ruling, in November 2022, signaled the Court's impatience with the NC General Assembly's continued refusal to fund schools adequately. The Court ordered a transfer of funds according to a payment plan previously established by the State.
Legislative leaders refused.
Prior to the oral arguments, Public Schools First hosted Jack Boger and Jane Wettach (prominent NC legal experts) to discuss the Leandro Case: Is the NC Supreme Court Poised to Undo Leandro? Legal Experts Weigh In. The webinar provides an excellent overview of the case and the impact on education in North Carolina.
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Send a Postcard to Your Legislators! |
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Do you want to send a message to legislators?
Community Conversations has created festive holiday postcards to help raise awareness and make it easy for you, your friends, family and colleagues to reach out to state level officials about delivering on our promise to the next generation.
- Write postcards to your officials then post either a picture of your cards or a video of you reading them so your friends and family can learn about Leandro. Please tag Community Conversations!
- Incorporate postcard writing as an activity for your holiday gathering
- Open your office/store front to serve as a location where people can drop in and write a card at their convenience.
- Write your own postcards during breaks in your holiday festivities
Check out their many designs at WRITE YOUR REP! and either print your own copies or order them online.
Next, SIGN THE PETITION to urge your legislators to fully fund public schools via Leandro.
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If you missed one of our webinars, the winter break is a good time to catch up. You can watch them HERE (on our website under Events). Below are the most recent webinars. Watch them all to gain a better understanding of the history and current dynamics of education in North Carolina.
The NCPTA and Public Schools First review of the history and impact of private school vouchers in NC.
Karey Harwood, author of Why the Battle over Diverse Public Schools Still Matters
Derek Black, author of Schoolhouse Burning: Public Education and the assault on American Democracy
Jack Boger and Jane Wettach, Is the NC Supreme Court Poised to Undo Leandro? Legal Experts Weigh in
Jon Hale, author of The Choice We Face: How Segregation, Race, and Power Have Shaped America’s Most Controversial Education Reform Movement
Legislative Update with Rep. Julie von Haefen
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How to Fight Vouchers in 2025: A Toolkit for Advocates
On Wednesday, January 15, at 2 p.m. ET, representatives from PFPS and invited guests will share information, resources, tools and tips to support advocates in preparation for state and federal legislative fights over private school voucher programs in 2025. More information about the webinar and a link to register are coming soon!
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Good Reads for Winter Break |
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There's nothing better than a good book to read over holiday breaks. Public Schools First NC has a terrific selection of books we've featured over the years in our webinars and conferences.
When you make a tax-deductible donation of $50 or more to Public Schools First NC, we'll send you your book choice.
Another great gift idea is a Public Schools First NC t-shirt. Wear it yourself and give as gifts to show your public school pride!
BUY BOOKS and T-SHIRTS
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Words to Remember
"What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all of its children. Any other ideal for our schools is narrow and unlovely; acted upon, it destroys our democracy."
— John Dewey (1907)
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Help us support public schools!
Public Schools First NC is a statewide nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused solely
on pre-K to 12 public education issues. We collaborate with parents, teachers, business and civic leaders, and communities across North Carolina to advocate for one unified system of public education that prepares each child for productive citizenship.
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