https://www.publicedworks.org/2025/06/

Summer is almost here and school is out, but let’s not forget to celebrate the great work of our public schools, our educators, students, and supportive families!

RALEIGH (June 4, 2025) – In NC, the vast majority of our K-12 students are enrolled in public schools. Throughout our state, there are about 2,700 public schools and more than 1.5 million students! 

Public Schools ARE Important! Public schools unite us – they bring students together from diverse backgrounds, welcome all students, and give them an opportunity to receive a quality education. They provide a strong economic foundation for our communities by preparing citizens who are equipped to fully participate in society and in our nation’s democracy. High-quality public schools bolster real-estate values and help businesses thrive. Public schools are a HUGE PART of our communities.

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.” 

Join Us In Celebrating Our Public Schools Together!  Public Schools First NC and Public Ed Works have teamed up to celebrate the valuable contributions of educators and education advocates in our public schools and the communities they serve throughout our state.

When it comes to educating our state’s children, public Schools should be funded First because our constitution requires it and because Public Ed Works! Help us celebrate the many ways that public education is working for both our students and our communities. Tell us how your school is making a difference and why your public school is AWESOME! 

Email us at info@highereducationworks.org or at info@publicschoolsfirstnc.org so we can share your pride!