The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Thursday to dismiss the long-running Leandro case, effectively ending decades of litigation over education funding. The decision shifts control of school funding from the courts to the Republican-led legislature, reversing a 2022 ruling that had allowed judges to order state funds for education improvements.
Core Facts:
- The court’s Republican majority ruled that judges lack constitutional authority to direct state education spending.
- The decision overturns a 2022 ruling that had mandated hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds for public schools.
Reactions and Implications:
Democratic leaders and education advocates condemned the ruling, calling it a 'moral failure' that undermines students' constitutional right to a sound education. Gov. Josh Stein (D) criticized the court for enabling legislative inaction on education funding, noting North Carolina ranks 49th in per-pupil spending. The North Carolina Association of Educators announced a May 1 protest in Raleigh.
Conservative groups and Republican lawmakers praised the decision, arguing it restores legislative authority over budgets. Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) said the ruling reinforces the state’s constitutional funding process. Donald Bryson of the John Locke Foundation stated that budgets should be set by elected representatives, not judges.
Background and Context:
The Leandro case began in 1994 as a lawsuit over education funding in one county but expanded into a statewide challenge to the adequacy of public school funding. In 2022, a Democratic-majority court ruled that judges could require state officials to allocate funds to improve education outcomes, including teacher salaries, prekindergarten programs, and support for students with disabilities. The 2024 ruling dismisses the case entirely, ending the court’s oversight role.
The decision comes as the Republican-led legislature has delayed passing a state budget, leaving Gov. Stein to rely on persuasion and veto power to advance education funding priorities. The ruling also raises questions about the future of education equity in North Carolina, where disparities in funding and resources persist.