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Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools faces a massive budget gap, but decades-old court rulings known as the Leandro case could provide funding.
WFMY NEWS / WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Aug., 27, 2025) — As Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools face a major budget deficit, some wonder if something called “Leandro funds” could help.
What Are Leandro Funds?
Leandro funds come from the 1994 Leandro v. State of North Carolina case. Families in five low-wealth counties sued the state for better school funding. Since 1997, the North Carolina Supreme Court has ruled the state must provide every child a “sound, basic education.” In 2022, the court said it could force lawmakers to fund the plan — but after elections shifted the court’s makeup, new justices reversed course, halting the funds and agreeing to rehear the case.
What Experts Are Saying
Kris Nordstrom, Senior Policy Analyst, NC Justice Center:
“Winston-Salem/Forsyth [County] Schools have a $45 million hole in their budget. The Leandro plan, if funded, would give the district almost $100 million above where it is now. That’s more than enough to fill the gap.”