February 26 to March 2 is Public Schools Week 2024! In NC, nearly 90% of our K-12 Students Are Enrolled in Public Schools – one of the highest percentages in the nation! Throughout our state, there are about 2700 public schools and more than 1.5 million students!
Why are Public Schools Important? Public schools unite us – they bring students together from diverse backgrounds. Public schools welcome all students and give them an opportunity to receive a quality education. They provide a strong economic foundation for our local communities by preparing citizens who are equipped to fully participate in society and in our nation’s democracy. Public schools are a HUGE PART of our communities.
Public Schools Week is a time when our students, parents, educators, business and community leaders can work together to highlight the strength and potential of our state’s public schools and our students’ futures.
WE ARE PROUD OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS! In 1868, our legislative leaders affirmed that a free, sound, basic education is so important to the well-being of our state’s social, cultural and economic well-being that they included this right to education in our state constitution! North Carolina gives its children a right to an education through both the state constitution and state laws.
The North Carolina Constitution addresses a right to education in two places.
Article I, Section 15 says “The people have a right to the privilege of education, and it is the duty of the State to guard and maintain that right.”
Article IX: Education has ten Sections; several about primary/secondary education are critical: Section 1 says “… the means of education shall be forever encouraged,” Section 2 addresses the duty of the state and local government to provide a uniform system of free public schools “…wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students,” and Sections 5, 6 and 7 reference “free public” schools.”
State laws also make education a right in North Carolina. For example, N.C.G.S. 115C-1 states that “A general and uniform system of free public schools shall be provided throughout the State, wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students, in accordance with the provisions of Article IX of the Constitution of North Carolina. Tuition shall be free of charge to all children of the State, and to every person of the State less than 21 years old, who has not completed a standard high school course of study.”
In 1997, the North Carolina Supreme Court determined that all children in North Carolina are entitled to a “sound basic education,” which means there is a qualitative component to the North Carolina’s system of public schools. The State is obligated to meet a quality standard and not simply provide buildings and teachers. In Leandro v. State, 346 N.C. 336 (1997) the Court defined “sound basic education” as that which provides children and youth with all the opportunities necessary to become an adult possessing:
- Sufficient ability to read, write, speak English and sufficient knowledge of fundamental math and physical science to enable students to function in a complex and rapidly changing society
- Sufficient fundamental knowledge of geography, history, basic economic and political systems to enable students to make informed choices about issues that affect the student personally, or affect the student’s community, state, and nation
- Sufficient academic and vocational skills to enable the student to successfully engage in post-secondary education or vocational training and to compete with others in further formal education or gainful employment.”
In summary, North Carolina’s forefathers made public education an essential part of North Carolina’s duty to prepare students for responsible citizenship. Our state’s constitution proclaims that no child is denied access to learning based on their socioeconomic status, race, ability, disability, income, zip code or other factors. They recognized hundreds of years ago that public schooling was a way to promote cohesion across social classes and improve social outcomes for all students.
Over 150 years later, our teachers are the most qualified in the nation with the most National Board Certified teachers and more in the certification process than any other state. In addition, there are 134 early college high schools in North Carolina that allow students to earn college credit while in high school and every district in the state has a career tech program that connects students with real-world job experiences and career pathways.
Join Us In Celebrating Our Public Schools Together! Throughout 2024, NCPTA and Public Schools First NC are teaming up to celebrate the valuable contributions and achievements of educators and education advocates in our public schools and the communities they serve throughout our state. We invite you to share stories about the great things happening at your school – lift up the successes of your educators, your volunteers, your students, and administrators. Help us celebrate the fabulous programs going on in your schools. Tell us why your public school is AWESOME!
Email us at [email protected] so we can share your pride!