It's another election year, and North Carolina's primary elections are currently underway. While many may think of election season simply as a time of heightened political tension, I argue that it is actually a time of great opportunity.
We often talk about the changes we want to see in our communities and what we must protect to keep them together, but elections give us a chance to take action. State and local elections are pivotal moments that shape the direction of many policies that affect our daily lives, including education policy.
The results of these elections will impact the state's entire education system, from the allocation of school funding to decisions on teacher pay and school safety measures.
Some of the biggest impacts of elections on education have to do with school funding. Under North Carolina's school financing system, the state is responsible for funding educational costs such as personnel costs, while county governments pay for capital costs such as buildings and maintenance.
North Carolina ranks last in school funding (49th this year). This will not change unless we elect decision-makers at both the local and state levels who value and prioritize education as a public good essential to the continued progress of our communities.
Prioritizing public education allows us to invest in what is important and what research shows will make a difference for children. In doing so, we can support and ensure that all children are supported to reach their potential. That would make it possible to pay educators a more competitive wage, given that a third of teachers earn less than a living wage. This would help address the ongoing teacher vacancy problem the state is experiencing, as many teachers have no choice but to leave their professions and communities to teach elsewhere.
Prioritizing public education would also better address the school safety and mental health issues plaguing young people across the country. We can provide you with the resources you need to create a positive learning environment that allows your students to thrive.
The current General Assembly has implemented policies such as expanding the Opportunity Scholarship Program, which directs taxpayer funds from public schools to private schools in the state. These private schools may deny admission to students based on religion, identity, or academic ability, even if they receive public funding.
Over the next 10 years, $4.7 billion of taxpayer money will go to private schools through vouchers, with little accountability. A recently passed expansion would allow all families to send their children to private schools using taxpayer dollars, regardless of their income or whether their children have ever attended a public school in North Carolina. Therefore, these vouchers are now considered universal.
The current General Assembly also recognizes that despite multiple court decisions and the North Carolina Supreme Court's November 2022 ruling that the state is failing to meet its constitutional obligation to provide a sound basic education to all children. The Leandro Comprehensive Improvement Plan for school improvement has not been fully funded. The plan will be funded. The current state Supreme Court has reopened the 30-year-old case.
Over the past few years, there have been billions of dollars in surpluses that were not invested in education. This election is about asking questions and making sure the people you vote with at the local, state, and federal level are aligned with your values and what you believe is important for students, educators, schools, and communities. This is your chance to check it out.
