Editorial: Fate of public education rests with state's high court. It must not let our kids down
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 -- The N.C. Supreme Court needs to stand for the future of the state, the promise to our children and a quality education in every classroom and school.
Posted — Updated“Beware. When they say it isn’t about the money, it’s about the money.” goes the expression often uttered in politics and government circles.
The truth is in this case it’s not about the money. But it is about specifically what needs to be done – what programs, personnel and materials are necessary to assure all children -- regardless of who their parents are, the school district they live in or where it is in North Carolina -- will receive a quality education at their public schools.
There is no question that North Carolina has failed to meet its constitutional obligation as regards providing children access to a quality education. Through more than a quarter-century of extended and extensive judicially overseen investigation and examination because of a lawsuit brought 30 years ago, a consensus was reached between the plaintiffs and defendants.
The plaintiffs were parents, students, economically disadvantaged small and rural school districts along with more wealthy, urban districts dealing with the burdens of special needs of poor and minority students.
The defendants were the state of North Carolina and the State Board of Education.
In 2017 the state and the plaintiffs, under the court’s direction, agreed to have independent consultants review the public education status in the state and come up with recommendations that would assure all children access to a quality education. West Ed, working with N.C. State University’s Friday Institute for Education Innovation and other education experts came up with the “Sound Basic Education For All: An Action Plan for North Carolina.” The key elements included: Attracting, preparing, supporting and retaining education leaders; Recruiting and retaining well-prepared teachers in all classrooms; developing and supporting teachers; ensuring all children have access to well-prepared educators; providing an environment for teaching and learning that supports students health and well-being along with encouraging teacher retention; providing effective measures of student achievement for accountability and compliance with federal law.
Also, at the conclusion, were estimates of the costs to deliver the comprehensive remedial program.
But that was then. Just a few weeks later after new justices joined the court -- including the son the state’s most powerful Republican – legislative leaders filed to block implementation of the plan.
Today, the state Supreme Court will hear arguments from legislators claiming the matter isn’t about quality education – but whether courts can order the legislature to spend $700 million in a specific way.
The point of the action isn’t about money – the legislature has the money. Legislative leaders have directed spending nearly that much in unaccountable taxpayer funds to support private schools in the form of vouchers.
It is about support – as our state Constitution requires – for the public schools and meeting the promise to North Carolina’s children.
It is not about partisan or familial allegiances.
The Supreme Court needs to stand for the future of the state and a quality education in every classroom and school.
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