May 17, 2025

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71 Years Ago Today...Brown v. Board of Education

On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the landmark Brown v.
Board of Education case that state-sanctioned segregation of public schools
was a violation of the 14th Amendment and was therefore unconstitutional.

While the ruling did catalyze massive changes throughout the nation,
including helping to propel the civil rights movement, the full potential
of school integration was never fully realized. After school desegregation
reached a high point in the 1980s, gains were lost. Our schools are
[7]rapidly resegregating and are now nearing late 1960s levels of
segregation.

In North Carolina, reaction against school segregation was swift and
strong. The [8]Pearsall Plan and later legislation created the state’s
first voucher program. It allowed families to receive an “education expense
grant” for private school tuition for children assigned to integrated
schools.

The education expense grants were declared unconstitutional in the late
1960s, but the provisions in the Pearsall Plan slowed desegregation efforts
across the state. Private schools called "[9]segregation academies" opened
in the 1960s and 1970s with the primary purpose of enrolling students whose
families wanted to avoid segregated schools.

in 1971, Julius Chambers, a civil rights lawyer from Charlotte,
successfully argued the landmark case [10]Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Board of Education before the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling granted
federal courts the power to order busing to force racial integration. This
case ended government-sanctioned segregation in Southern schools.

[11]Research has shown tremendous benefits of desegregation for students.
School desegregation led to dramatic increases in graduation rates, college
going, adult health status, and adult income for Black students and Latino
students. It also resulted in increases in years of schooling that were
sufficient to close the Black-White educational attainment gap.

What’s more, ALL students benefited. Initially feared academic declines
never materialized, and students experienced the academic, social, critical
thinking and problem-solving benefits of learning in a diverse setting.

But resistance to desegregation persisted.[12] A 2002 ruling in Belk v
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (filed by a white parent to end
the use of busing in CMS to achieve racial diversity) by the federal 4th
Circuit Court of Appeals essentially dissolved the Swann desegregation
order.

By 2022, nearly half of CMS schools were more than 90% students of color,
compared to 1% in 1989 and 16% in 2002. A rise in charter school enrollment
has further fueled resegregation, as these schools tend to be much more
racially isolated than traditional public schools.

In 2014, North Carolina's newest taxpayer-funded private school tuition
voucher program launched. Unlike the voucher program of the 1950s,
segregation is not the stated purpose of the latest program. However,
[13]data reveals that the program now primarily serves white students
(73%).

[14]Reporting in 2024 identified 39 private schools that opened as
segregation academies in North Carolina and are still operating. Many of
these schools have received millions in taxpayer funds. Data from a 2021-22
[15]federal survey (the most recent data available) reveals that some still
have white student populations far greater than in the local public
schools.

For example, the student population at Lawrence Academy in Bertie County
was 97% white in 2021-22, while the student population of Bertie County
Schools was just 10% white (data from the NC Statistical Profile). This
highly segregated private school has received $2,363,213 in taxpayer-funded
tuition from the state.

Northeast Academy in Northampton, Pungo Christian Academy in Beaufort, and
Wake Christian Academy in Wake all follow a similar pattern. They serve a
strikingly disproportionate number of white students as compared to their
local school district. These "segregation academies" have received millions
in tuition payments from the state (i.e., taxpayers).

Expansion of the taxpayer-funded private school voucher program
(Opportunity Scholarships) to fund all families, regardless of income or
prior public school enrollment, has worsened the [16]segregation caused by
charter schools.

Together, charter schools and vouchers have returned North Carolina to an
era of state-funded segregation despite the promise and hope of Brown v.
Board of Education.

The legislation creating the current state of school segregation can be
changed by our lawmakers!

North Carolina's History of School Diversity

Public Schools First NC believes that school diversity still matters. We
believe that the promise of Brown can be fulfilled in NC. We can have
well-resourced, integrated schools, schools that ensure that all students,
regardless of race, ethnicity, family income, or linguistic background,
feel valued and supported.

We created four short videos highlighting NC's History of School Diversity
and honoring North Carolinians who contributed to the cause of Black
education and school integration. [17]Watch the videos HERE.

Turn on captions with the CC icon at the bottom of the video player. To
access all four episodes, click on the playlist icon at the top right
corner (green arrow below) to select from the list of episodes

U.S. Bill Enlists Wealthy to Spread Private School Vouchers

Every single time voucher bills have been brought before voters, they have
been soundly rejected. Just last year, voters in CO, KY, NE stopped voucher
expansion efforts. As a result, voucher supporters and their billionaire
funders are seeking a federal solution.

Making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives is the Educational
Choice for Children Act. The plan sets up a tax credit voucher system that
pays out 100%, dollar-for-dollar tax credits to people who donate to
private school voucher organizations. These organizations then dole out the
money to families who want tuition money to pay for private school.

This bill is simply a way for wealthy taxpayers to avoid paying taxes while
funneling public dollars into private schools.

Here are some key points from a brief on the bill by the Institute on
Taxation and Economic Policy:
* The U.S House tax plan cuts charitable giving tax incentives for donors
to most nonprofit groups while roughly tripling the incentive available to
donors to groups that fund private K-12 school vouchers.
* Private school voucher donations will get preferential treatment over
other charitable giving. Donors to children’s hospitals, veterans’
assistance groups, and other charities would receive no more than 35 cents
in tax savings for each dollar donated, while donors to private K-12 school
voucher groups would receive a full reimbursement (100 cents on the
dollar).
* The bill creates a tax shelter for wealthy people by allowing private
school voucher donors to avoid capital gains tax on their gifts of
corporate stock.
* Federal tax revenue is estimated to drop by $23.2 billion over the next
10 years and by $67 billion over the next 10 years if the bill's provisions
are extended beyond its current four-year expiration date.
* Because state income taxes largely piggyback on federal law, the bill
would also reduce state tax revenue by $459 million over the next 10 years
as currently drafted, or by $1.1 billion over the next 10 years if it is
extended beyond its four-year expiration date.

[18]READ MORE

Legislative and SBE Updates

The NCGA convenes again on Monday, May 19. Bills that made crossover (May
8) are working their way through their respective chambers. On Thursday,
the House started discussing their budget proposal in several committee
meetings.

Details on salary increases will be shared with members next week. We will
be watching. Keep an eye on the [19]legislative calendar for action.

Monday, 4:00 the [20]House Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House is
scheduled to discuss the Senate budget proposal passed in April.
([21]Livestream)

Below are some key changes proposed in the House budget for K-12 education:
* The cap on funding for students with disabilities would increase from
13% of the student population to 13.25%. The budget allocates an additional
$10 million to pay for the increase.
* Fast growing, high performing districts may be exempt from some
class-size limits in K-3.
* Adds $10 million to train middle school teachers on the science of
reading.
* Prohibits schools from denying students the regular school meal if they
have too much debt in their meal account.
* Requires elementary schools to provide visual and performing arts to
all students.

Read more about the budget:

[22]Slow rollout of NC House budget reveals cuts, partisan priorities

[23]NC House budget calls for job cuts, tuition increase. What else they're
proposing

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness
of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to
celebrate recovery from mental illness.

The [24]Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every May to increase
awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health
and well-being.

SAMHSA has created a toolkit with resources and information to support
individuals and communities who may need mental health support. Check it
out [25]HERE.

In Case You Missed It

[26]Orange County Principal Named 2025 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year

[27]Hundreds of bills never stood a chance this legislative session. They
had one thing in common.

[28]School leaders adapt to hiring challenges amid low pay

[29]Trump's cuts to teacher training leave rural school districts, aspiring
educators in the lurch

[30]Head Start Teacher and Civil Rights Lawyer Turns Her Social Justice
Lens to Math

US House Plan: Hurting North Carolinians' Wallets and

Well-Being

North Carolinians want their policymakers to keep rising costs in check and
make their lives better — not worse. Yet some policymakers continue to rig
the rules so that the rich get richer, leaving the rest of us without the
supports we all need in hard times — like help getting to the doctor or
putting food on the table — and without the public institutions that keep
our communities and economy on level ground, moving forward.

This week, US House Republicans advanced legislation for the largest cuts
to Medicaid and SNAP in the programs’ history. These proposals threaten
both the well-being and wallets of North Carolinians:

At least $625 billion in Medicaid cuts, including new work requirements for
people who are covered under the Medicaid expansion, red tape that will
reduce coverage, and restrictions on how states like North Carolina raise
money to pay for Medicaid, among other changes. [31]READ MORE

Event NEXT WEEK: Autism Out Loud!

Today (Saturday) is the last day to register!To

May 19 5:30 - 7 p.m. An Evening with Dr. Adrian Wood: Conversation & Book
Signing. Private home in Raleigh, NC

Join us for an evening with vlogger and author Dr. Adrian Wood, Tales of An
Educated Debutante.

Adrian will talk with us about her new book, Autism Out Loud: Life With A
Child On The Spectrum, From Diagnosis to Adulthood. Adrian’s “Tales of An
Educated Debutante” is her blog and “vlog” where she “offers personal
glimpses where satire meets truth, faith meets irony, despair meets joy and
this educated debutante escapes the laundry and finds true meaning in
graceful transparency.” With lots of humor and honesty, Adrian shares her
experiences as a mom of four and how her youngest child changed their
family for the better. You won’t want to miss this fun event!

Your $50 ticket includes a signed copy of Autism Out Loud. Refreshments and
beverages included. [32]Register/Get your tickets here.

We’re excited to offer a limited number of FREE tickets to public school
educators. If you’re a teacher, please contact us at
[email protected] for details.

Protect Public Schools—End Christian Nationalism

Wednesday, June 4th at 7pm at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church in Cary, NC.

Featuring Amanda Tyler of Christians Against Christian Nationalism

How to End Christian Nationalism by Amanda Tyler is the essential guidebook
for Christians alarmed by the rising tide of Christian nationalism yet
unsure how to counter it.

Christian nationalism is one of the primary threats against public
education in America. Pastors for NC Children sees that many of the
struggles our public schools face are rooted in Christian nationalism,
including the rise of vouchers and defunding public education, book bans,
limiting what can be taught in history and science, release time for
religious education, posting the 10 Commandments in schools, chaplains
replacing counselors, and more.

Learn more about the threat of this dangerous ideology and learn about how
Amanda drew on her experiences, conversations with pastors and laypeople,
research, Scripture, and her Baptist convictions to write her book. Book
purchase and signing in the reception hall.

[33]REGISTER HERE (free)

Words to Remember

"It is immoral to defund public schools and then say that they're failing."

— Diane Ravitch, PSFNC Conference, September 2024

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.

[34]DONATE HERE

[35]www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org

Questions? Contact us today at [email protected]

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