Raleigh, NC — The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), alongside thousands of educators, parents, and community allies from across the state, will gather for the “Kids Over Corporations Rally” on May 1 at Halifax Mall in Raleigh. The rally represents the culmination of growing frustration among educators, students, and communities over the state’s continued failure to adequately invest in public schools, the 1.5 million students they serve, and the educators who support them.
For more than a decade, the North Carolina General Assembly has advanced policies that have systematically underfunded public education. Lawmakers have repeatedly failed to pass budgets that fully support public schools, including failing to adopt a budget in 2025—making North Carolina the only state in the nation without one.
This sustained lack of investment has contributed to North Carolina ranking 50th in the nation in school funding effort. At the same time, lawmakers expanded private school voucher programs, which cost the state more than $625 million last year and are projected to cost more than $551 million annually by the 2032–33 school year.
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI):
- Public schools lose funding when students use vouchers to attend private schools.
- Expanded voucher programs do not significantly increase access for new students but instead subsidize families already enrolled in private schools.
- Private schools receiving vouchers are not held to the same accountability or transparency standards as public schools, despite receiving taxpayer dollars.
- Voucher programs can negatively impact student academic performance.
- Many of North Carolina’s top private schools do not accept vouchers, while some participating schools have faced scrutiny for misusing public funds.
Access to private schools is also uneven across the state. Most are concentrated in Wake and Mecklenburg counties, leaving many rural counties without a single private school option. Research further shows that voucher programs can exacerbate racial and economic segregation.
While millions of public dollars have been redirected to largely unaccountable private institutions, lawmakers have also enacted more than $18 billion in tax cuts benefiting corporations and the wealthiest residents. At the same time, revenue projections indicate a growing gap between state income and spending needs, placing increased pressure on essential public services, including education.
Governor Josh Stein has warned that North Carolina could face a $3.5 billion budget shortfall within the next two years, largely driven by tax cuts. Public education is expected to be among the hardest-hit sectors if corrective action is not taken.
These issues combined with the failures of the North Carolina Supreme Court and their decision to throw out the three decade old Leandro Case, which would have forced the General Assembly to uphold the constitutional promise of a basic, sound education for all have pushed public schools to a breaking point.
“This is our line in the sand," said Tamika Walker Kelly, NCAE President. "We will not back down when it comes to ensuring our children receive the education they need and deserve. We will not back down in demanding qualified educators in every classroom and safe, well-resourced schools for every student.
Our lawmakers have shown time and again that the resources exist—they have simply chosen not to invest them in our children. If they will not act, we will. And that starts with making our voices heard on May 1.”
