North Carolina public education is in trouble and the future of our children is at risk.
The cause: Years of underfunding by North Carolina legislators.
Public Ed Works has spent the past two years raising awareness and the torch has been taken up by many across our state, including Duke basketball alum Jay Bilas:
You might not know it, but:
- In 2025 NC public schools started short 2,000+ teachers.
- The NC legislature is underfunding public schools.
- NC starting teacher pay ranks 42nd in the country with average teacher salary almost $13,000 below the national average.
- Alabama starting teacher pay is over $3,000 ABOVE NC’s.
- 53% of at risk NC 4-year-olds can’t access public pre-K.
- NC fell to #50 out of 50 states in K-12 per pupil funding.
- Legislators fund vouchers for private schools (called Opportunity Scholarships) with tax dollars that are meant for public schools. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being funneled into this program.
- SC leads NC in GDP% invested in K-12 education.
- NC is the 10th largest state, but per student spending ranks 50th.
- Pre-K fuels college readiness, but NC won’t expand pre-K access.
- There is still no budget to address the teacher pay issue in NC.
- NC fell to #46 out of 50 states in K-12 spending.
Article IX Section 2.1 of the North Carolina constitution mandates adequate legislative funding of NC public schools:
“The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months in every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students.”
This commitment to public education began in 1776, when the right to public education was included in our original constitution. We all know that a strong, well-funded, well-resourced public education prepares students well for the workforce needs of today and in the future. A sound, basic public education also enables our poorest citizens to achieve mobility out of poverty. Without quality education credentials, 47% of these citizens are likely to remain stuck.
So, it is critical that our public schools be properly funded and supported.
AS OF JANUARY 2026, North Carolina is the only state that has failed to pass a state budget, operating instead on “mini” budgets from last spring that fail to adequately support our schools. This lack of funding disadvantages not only our teachers, but students and other important school personnel as well. Until the state passes a budget- as it is their job to do- our schools will continue to suffer.
We ask legislators to:
- Invest in teachers and early childhood education, not tax cuts for the wealthy.
- Use public money for public schools, not private academies.
- Keep politicians out of the classroom, textbooks and lesson plans.
Here’s what you can do:
- Learn about the positions of legislators and candidates regarding North Carolina public education funding.
- Contact your legislator! Not sure what to say? Here’s a resource that might help.
- Vote to save public education! Your voice matters.
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- Learn more about what’s going on in your county:
