Education Funding in North Carolina
Leandro Plan (Every Child NC)
The state constitution guarantees that all North Carolina children have access to a sound, basic education. However, since the Leandro v. State of North Carolina case was filed in 1994, the courts have consistently found that far too many students are not receiving an education that meets the state’s minimum standard.
As a remedy for Leandro v. State, the state submitted a Comprehensive Plan in 2021 that details the policy changes and budgetary provisions that are to be instituted by the North Carolina legislature over a period of eight years. The Comprehensive Remedial Plan was submitted to the North Carolina Superior Court in March of 2021 and signed by Judge David Lee in June 2021.
Despite having billions of dollars in unallocated revenue and being under court order, the General Assembly refuses to commit the funding to successfully implement the Leandro Plan. To learn more about the community-led response to Leandro and the advocates leading the fight for equitable funding, visit https://everychildnc.org/ To see what children are owed in your county and school district, see our Leandro Impact Analysis for Early Education and our Leandro Impact Analysis for K-12.
Current Research
For over a decade, North Carolina’s legislative leaders have prioritized tax cuts over providing students with public schools that meet constitutional standards. The obvious results of these policy priorities have been well documented. Current research reveals that North Carolina’s school finance system is among the worst in the nation.
Per Pupil Spending
North Carolina’s cost-adjusted per-student funding level NC’s per pupil spending for 2019-2020 was almost $3,000 below the national average ($13,597 vs. $10,632) -- placing North Carolina 39th in the country for expenditures per student.
Teacher Compensation
Teachers in North Carolina are not being compensated fairly. According to the NEA’s 2021 Rankings and Estimates, the projected national average teacher salary for 2020-2021 is about $9,000 less than the national average. When compared to other college graduates, North Carolina teachers make 25.3% less than professionals who have similar levels of education.
School Repair Needs
Schools all over the state, both urban and rural, are in desperate need of repair. North Carolina has a nearly $13 billion backlog in new school construction and renovations, according to the 2020-21 Facility Needs Survey. An increase of more than $4 billion over the $8 billion reported in the Facility Needs Survey five years ago. Due to these shortfalls, North Carolina students are suffering in sometimes deplorable conditions.
The responses received from the T.R.U.E. portal from all over North Carolina only confirm these research findings. Educators and students are overly stressed and working with little resources in unhealthy environments.
Methodology
This report utilized first-person testimonials to analyze the current conditions of public schools in the state.
In order to gain the most diverse amount of information from as wide of a swath of the state as possible, we developed a testimonial collection instrument through a website form. Respondents were able to share their own experience surrounding the current state of public schools, how chronic underfunding has impacted them, and/or share what they would like to see lawmakers change in order to help.
The website was marketed through various means, including news media, emails and social media platforms, in order to maximize responses from educators and parents in North Carolina. The website form was fielded between September 29, 2021 and October 29, 2021.
Once collected, comments were analyzed and issue-cited based on seven recurring indicators reported by respondents:
- Shortage of resources/supplies: Remarks on low and/or lack of resources and classroom supplies.
- Low wages: Remarks on low salary, slim raises, multiple jobs.
- Long hours and burnout: Comments on working overtime, teaching multiple classrooms, performing duties outside of their designated roles and signs of emotional toll, pressure to produce quality work. I.e; limited planning time, short test preparations, catching up students.
- Class Size: Signs of overcrowded class and/or lack of teachers, instructors per pupil.
- Infrastructure: Signs of crumbling buildings, poor quality systems, lack of structure, unsafe conditions, lack of accessibility and new appliances.
- Staff Shortages: Comments on lack of available personnel, including teachers, teacher assistants, nurses, counselors, bus drivers, cleaning staff, etc.
- Safety: Remarks on unsafe conditions for students and staff. Lack of PPE and failing to adhere to CDC guidelines to keep educators, personnel and students safe.
These seven indicators represent the most frequent concerns reported from teachers, school staff, parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens. Descriptions of the indicators and example submissions can be found in the next section.
To protect the anonymity of respondents, all identifying information has been removed from this report.
Responses were acquired from across the state, with the most concentrated responses centering in the largest school districts. Between September 29, 2021 and October 29, 2021, 592 reports were submitted.
Responses were acquired from across the state, with the most concentrated responses centering in the largest school districts. Between September 29, 2021 and October 29, 2021, 592 reports were submitted.
Submissions By Geographic Location
Through the collection of zip codes from respondents, the following map illustrates the geographical distribution of comments submitted to the website.

Geographically, the issues being experienced by the respondents are not localized and are, in fact, being experienced by the entire state, both urban and rural.
Testimonials from North Carolinians
Conclusion
Since the state Supreme Court’s decision in Leandro v. State of North Carolina case, a quality education has become even more mandatory for North Carolina students to gain the skills necessary to navigate our ever-changing world, and it is clear that North Carolina continues to deny those educational opportunities by failing to adequately fund public schools.
The first-person testimonials from teachers, school staff, parents, grandparents and concerned citizens document the prevalence of chronic neglect and underfunding within schools across North Carolina. Overwhelmingly, the impact of low salaries, lack of resources and underfunding have denied educators and students of a healthy, well-resourced learning environment.
It is clear that real, systemic change is needed for the wellness and success of North Carolina public schools, and that change must come from state policies like the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan, which details how public school funds are equitably and adequately allocated.
Through this report, we call on policymakers to ensure educational opportunities are delivered to North Carolina students as designated by the state constitution and the Leandro v. State of North Carolina ruling.