Quality Public Education

Thousands of children in North Carolina are denied their constitutional right to a “sound basic education” because schools do not have the necessary resources. The Justice Center’s NC Education & Law Project seeks to improve the state’s public education system so it better serves low-income and minority children.

Through legislative advocacy and community education, we seek to secure:

  • Adequate funding for public schools, especially for the education of disadvantaged students
  • Fairness in suspension and expulsion policies
  • Effective dropout-prevention programs
  • Fairness in high-stakes testing
  • Meaningful parental involvement
  • Increased awareness of the racial achievement gap

Recent Victories
The 2008 state budget included numerous funding increases for education, including more money for dropout prevention grants and for the education of disadvantaged and disabled students. These come on top of increases the Justice Center helped to secure in 2007 for the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund, the Low-Wealth Supplemental Fund, and the Small School Supplemental Fund – all of which provide additional money to schools with underserved student populations.

In 2007 and 2008, the Justice Center successfully advocated for several laws that provide additional protections for special-needs students in the disciplinary process.  The Justice Center also helped pass a law requiring schools to ensure that parents are notified when a student is expelled or suspended, and that allows students on short-term suspensions to take their textbooks home and have access to homework assignments.

In 2008, the Justice Center assisted in a case alleging that Durham Public Schools’ rules regarding gang-related symbols and clothing were unconstitutionally vague, making it almost impossible for students and parents to know if they were in violation. The court agreed. We anticipate this ruling will prompt schools throughout the state to revise their policies.

Take Action

  • Join NCCARE – North Carolina Community Advocates for Revitalizing Education. NCCARE is a grassroots coalition of parents and community leaders dedicated to advocating for children’s education rights. This includes making suspension and expulsion policies fairer, ensuring that every district gets adequate and equitable state funding, and supporting programs that seek to close the racial achievement gap.
  • Subscribe to the Education & Law Project’s e-newsletter, From the Ground Up, which will keep you informed about critical education policy issues.
  • Apply to attend the next Education Leadership Institute. This intensive, 30-hour workshop will provide you with the knowledge and advocacy skills you need to improve public education in your community and throughout North Carolina.