The NCSC sent the case back to the Superior Courts to determine how to evaluate whether the state had met the constitutional requirements. Judge Manning was assigned to the case and in 2002 ruled that a constitutionally compliant school district would have the following characteristics:

A competent, certified, well-trained teacher who is teaching the standard course of study in every classroom;
A well-trained, competent principal with the leadership skills and ability to hire and retain competent, certified and well-trained teachers in every school; and
The resources necessary to support the effective instructional program in every school so that the educational needs of all children, including at-risk children, to have an equal opportunity to obtain a sound basic education, can be met.

Judge Manning also ruled that the state had not met these requirements and ordered it to do so. The ruling was challenged and went before the NCSC again.

Leandro II. In 2004, the NCSC affirmed Judge Manning's ruling and ordered that a statewide remedy be developed and implemented. Note that the ruling addressed all districts in the state—not just the original five.

Leandro III. In 2013, the Court heard arguments claiming that the State’s cap on funding for pre-K education was unconstitutional. The State changed the law to remove the caps, which resolved the issue.

Between 2004 - 2022, there were numerous trials and lower court rulings to push the State to fulfill its constitutional obligations. Judge Manning retired, and Judge Lee took over managing the case. He ordered the State to hire outside experts (WestEd) to determine what steps were needed to remedy the situation and come up with a plan. Their report was used by the State to develop the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan, which contained specific actions and funding requirements spanning eight years.

When the NCGA failed to allocate enough funds to address the requirements of the Comprehensive Remedial Plan (CRP) in the 2021-23 Appropriations Act, Judge Lee ordered the State (Office of State Budget and Management, State Controller, etc.) to transfer the total amount of funds needed for years 2 and 3 of the CRP. Subsequent appeals landed the case before the NCSC again.

Leandro IV. In November 2022, the NCSC affirmed the Superior Court ruling that funds had to be appropriated and sent the case back to the Trial Court to determine specific dollar amounts. The ruling included a detailed history of the case.

The 2022 elections changed the composition of the NCSC from a majority of Democratic judges to a majority of Republican judges. The new court decided to revisit the latest appeals to the Leandro IV ruling brought by legislative leaders and the State Controller to halt the court-ordered payments.

In March 2023, the NCSC ruled that lower court decisions to halt payments (decided in appeals brought by legislative leaders and the State Controller) could stand until the NCSC revisited the case despite there being no new information that altered the facts of the case.

In her dissent to the 2023 ruling Justice Anita Earls wrote:

“Unfortunately, we have waited much too long to see whether the State will abide by its constitutional mandate to provide our children, including at-risk children struggling in under-resourced schools, with a basic, sound education. Thus far, at least twenty-eight classes of students “have already passed through our state’s school system without benefit of relief.” Leandro IV, 382 N.C. at 475. Not only is it true that justice delayed is justice denied, but denying adequate educational opportunities “entails enormous losses, both in dollars and in human potential, to the State and its citizens.” Id. If our Court cannot or will not enforce state constitutional rights, those rights do not exist, the constitution is not worth the paper it is written on, and our oath as judicial officers to uphold the constitution is a meaningless charade. For the reasons stated herein, I dissent."

Oral arguments were held on February 22, 2024; we continue to wait.

Watch the 2022 oral arguments before the NCSC.

Watch the 2024 oral arguments.

Note that the amount of funding the NCGA has appropriated for private school tuition vouchers through the 2029-30 school year ($5.3 billion) is nearly the same as the original total funding requirements of the Comprehensive Remedial Plan ($5.5 billion). The NCGA is currently working on the budget for 2023-25. Lawmakers could shift funds to public schools where tax dollars belong.

Read a detailed history of Leandro.

Download a free resolution template to customize and share with your elected leaders (school board, county commissioners) in support of fully funding our public schools.

Student and School Safety--We Need to Do Better!

Gun violence came roaring back into the news this week highlighting once again that we as a nation are moving in the wrong direction. Students at Evergreen High School in Colorado and Utah Valley University were terrorized by gun violence, adding to 45 other school shootings that have taken place in 2025. Twenty four of the 47 were on college campuses and 23 were on K-12 campuses.

North Carolina’s lawmakers made it easier to purchase and carry a concealed handgun this year by passing SB 50 (Freedom to Carry NC). The bill removes the requirement for a permit (which requires a background check and training) to carry a concealed weapon and lowers the legal purchasing age to 18. It was vetoed by Governor Stein but the veto was overridden by lawmakers.

But did you know that more than half of U.S. gun deaths are suicides?

According to the PEW Research Center, gun suicides have increased in recent years, but gun murders have fallen since 2021.

September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. Below are a number of resources to support both suicide awareness and gun safety.

Legislative and SBE Updates

There was no new legislative action this week. Lawmakers are scheduled to return on Monday, September 22. Keep an eye on the legislative calendar for updates.

See our Week in Review for a summary of legislation so far this session and bills to watch.

Making NC Public Schools the Best: Enhance Parent, Caregiver and Community Support

Pillar 3 of Achieving Educational Excellence 2025-30 Strategic Plan for North Carolina Public Schools is Enhance Parent, Caregiver and Community Support

Study after study shows that students who have strong parent and/or community support do far better than students who do not. Parents and community also make a major difference in the life of the school itself, creating the type of environment where students learn and grow.

Educators must be empowered to establish strong relationships with families and view family and community stakeholders as true partners in decision-making processes.

Pillar 3 includes three specific measures of success:

Establish a baseline and increase the number of schools and districts that have developed and implemented comprehensive family engagement policies and activities.
Establish a baseline and increase access to NCDPI parent and community resources
Establish a baseline and increase the number of PSUs implementing integrated support models that remove non-academic barriers and improve student well-being and perceptions of school

To achieve these goals, the plan identities actions grouped into two focus areas. Each focus area includes five actions and target completion dates. Below are two of the five for each focus area:

Engage and empower families

Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of parent and community resources at NCDPI (personnel, funds, training, instruments, current activities, etc .) (March 2026)
Promote collaboration and partner with Public School Units (PSUs) to share best practices on effective communication between schools and families. (June 2026)

Strengthen community partnerships

Engage philanthropic and business communities to fund and support research and adoption of innovative school models . (June 2026)
Promote partnerships between PSUs and local community organizations to provide support for families, especially in underserved areas . (January 2027)

Superintendent Green is traveling around the state to share the plan and engage stakeholders. Find locations and times at the NCDPI website (scroll down the page to Regional Tour).

Northeast - Thursday, September 25, 2025
Southeast - Friday, September 26, 2025
Sandhills - Monday, September 29, 2025
Piedmont-Triad - Thursday, October 16, 2025
Southwest - Monday, October 20, 2025
Northwest - Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Western -Thursday, October 23, 2025
North Central - Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Upcoming Webinar with Superintendent Mo Green!

Achieving Educational Excellence: A Conversation with Superintendent Mo Green

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Join NC PTA and Public Schools First NC for a conversation with Mo Green, NC Superintendent of Public Instruction, about the new strategic plan: Achieving Educational Excellence developed by the NC Dept. of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. This five-year plan aims to position NC's public schools as the best in the US by 2030. Superintendent Green will discuss details of this exciting plan and the next steps.

REGISTER HERE

Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15 - October 15

September 15 is the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. The celebration (week) was first signed into law in 1968 by President Johnson to recognize the many contributions to U.S. history made by Hispanic communities. The week was extended to a month in 1988 by President Reagan.

Hispanic Heritage Month spans part of September and October to capture the independence days of countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

New Fact Sheet: NC Ed. at a Glance

Check out our new fact sheet to learn key information about North Carolina education. It includes recent data from NCDPI on student performance and graduation rates as well as data on charter schools, private schools, and vouchers.

Read NC Ed. at a Glance

Need a speaker for your next event or group meeting? PSFNC welcomes the opportunity to speak to your group or organization on public education-related topics.

We offer our programs virtually to improve accessibility and attendance and therefore extend your reach. Our services are free of charge but may require travel-related expenses if the program is in-person.

Email us at [email protected] for more information.

Words to Remember

"No demonstration of our unacceptable treatment of poor children could be more pointed, chronic and pervasive than that exposed by the state’s famous Leandro school case."

— Gene Nichol & Heather Hunt, The Persistent and Pervasive Challenge of Child Poverty and Hunger in North Carolina

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.

Questions? Contact us today at [email protected]

Where is Leandro?