CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A new report from the Education Law Center has ranked North Carolina the lowest in public school funding.
The new report examines three specific elements: the state’s funding level, funding distribution and funding effort. Together, they measure how equitable the state’s funding is and how committed North Carolina is to education funding. According to the report, North Carolina is failing in all three. To experts, the situation is dire.
“We are among one of the lowest funding states in terms of per-pupil funding in the country, and that’s going to catch up to us. At some point the chickens will come home to roost, and I think with these indicators coming from the report you’re starting to see that now,” said Eric Houck, a UNC School of Education Professor.
Activists are calling for an increase in the budget, to support increases in teacher pay and per-pupil spending. Currently, the state dedicates 2% of its GDP on education funding. According to the report, it is the lowest in the country.
“I’m not surprised by it, but it does sting a little bit more when so much evidence is being given to the contrary of what the policy has been,” said Stuart Egan, a NC public school teacher.
There’s also the matter of the Leandro Plan, a proposal that would give more equitable funding for school districts in the state. The N.C. Supreme Court ruled last November that funds must be provided to implement the plan. But with gridlock in the General Assembly, it remains to be seen whether education funding will be increased.
“It’s run into opposition in the legislature, because the Republican majority argues that the courts can’t tell the legislature what to spend,” said Ferrel Guillory, an EducationNC contributor.
Analysts expect education funding to be one of the must-watch issues in this upcoming legislative session. The General Assembly’s House Standing Committee will meet this upcoming Tuesday.