The Crisis of Public Education in North Carolina
North Carolina public schools are facing multiple crises. NC General Assembly's reactionary policy privatizing education through vouchers for charter schools is increasingly bankrupting the public schools. A significant number of Black, Brown, and working class students, who make up more than 50% of public school population (source: NC Newsline, February 24, 2022 ), attend deteriorated public schools since funds have been siphoned to private schools in the form of vouchers (source: Public School First NC, September 2022 ). The draining of funds is also putting already underfunded Pre-K Schools and child care centers (where low income families are eligible) on the verge of closure ( Source: WUNC August 30, 2024). On top, NC teachers’ salaries are consistently declining (source: CBS17, May 2, 2024 ), forcing many teachers to quit (source: WRAL, April 3, 2024) . Teachers who remain in the profession operate with scarce resources and support, spending a record $1300 annually ...