» Chronic underfunding and stalled wages:
Legislators still haven't passed a budget, teacher pay remains below a livable wage, veteran
teachers (15-24 years) are stuck on a frozen pay scale, and educators have lost longevity
pay and master's pay. Retirement health benefits for educators hired after 2020 are gone.
» Failure to meet legal and constitutional obligations:
Despite the 2022 Leandro ruling requiring the state to fund a sound basic education, the
General Assembly continues to withhold necessary resources Judge Robinson found that the General Assembly
underfunded the Comprehensive Remedial Plan by $785M based on the 2021-22 budget. 3 years later - we're
still waiting.
» Escalating diversion of funds away from public schools:
Expansion of the voucher program—$432.2M last year, projected $655M by 2025-26—sends public
money to private schools with no income cap and no accountability, further destabilizing the
public education system and pushing teachers out of the profession.
» Increasing financial strain on educators:
Many NC teachers work multiple jobs to survive—previously around 50% and rising with
inflation. Some are now relying on food banks, facing homelessness, and struggling to
meet basic needs for their families.
» The "Education Lottery" funds half of what was originally planned:
When the North Carolina State Lottery Act of 2005 was passed, the law required that 35% of total
lottery proceeds be transderred for education purporses. This was a statutory requirement in the
original legislation. In 2007, this requirement was changed to a guideline and recent data has
shown a progressive decline. In FY 2025, ~16% of lottery sales revenue went to education, less
than half of the original law.
» NC received an 'F' in public school funding:
The Education Law Center's "Making the Grade 2025" report gave NC failing grades in funding level
(per-pupil revenue) and funding effort (education spending relative to the state's economy).
North Carolina was 50th out of 51 in per-pupil public school funding ($5,600 less per student
than the national average) and ranked dead last in funding effort. In addition, per pupil funding
fell from $12,252 in 2022 to $12,193 in 2023.
