The Long-Term Implications of NC's Leandro Plan

The State Education Building in Raleigh, NC. Source: EdNC

For decades, a court case entitled Leandro has been a point of contention in North Carolina politics, and the judge finally took action on Oct. 18. Beginning in 1994, this case was sparked when five counties sued the North Carolina government and Board of Education, fighting for a better education for their students. The state Supreme Court responded by declaring that all children have a constitutional right in North Carolina to a proper education. In the years since 1994, there has been significant turmoil in airing out the details of how to improve education in the state.

In March 2021, however, an 8-year, comprehensive plan was finally submitted to the North Carolina Supreme Court, which included recommendations from the Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education. Judge David Lee decided in June that the state needs to implement this plan. He announced in October that the parties have until Nov. 1 to submit requests for the order in which they will debate if the legislation contains substantial financial investments into public education. The defendants — which are the state lawmakers in this case — are given a week to respond. “I think everyone knows that I’m ready to pull out of the station and see what’s around the next bend, but I’m certainly willing to take a reasonable amount of time,” Lee said.

The plan currently is to invest $5.8 billion over the next eight years, with $690.7 million being used this year and $1.06 billion next year. Now with the extra time to come to a decision, the lawmakers are attempting to reach an agreement. The North Carolina General Assembly, though, has not been able to come to a consensus on a budget plan since 2018, so the prospects here are grim for a decision in the near future.

GOP leaders are trying to devote less spending toward this proposal, whereas Lee and the Democrats are pushing for money to pass this legislation immediately. The plan is designed to improve funding for low-income communities and those with disabilities in order to address the educational inequality that persists in North Carolina. The funding also would enable more school support staff to be hired and for teachers, principals and other faculty to receive more competitive salaries, in addition to expanding prekindergarten programs. Overall, while North Carolinians may agree that public education is lacking in the state, there still is much debate to be had surrounding the funding of improvements. Decisions must be made by Nov. 8, so hopefully conclusions will be drawn by next week.