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Five low-wealth rural school districts and families file a lawsuit (Leandro v. State of North Carolina) claiming the state is failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide a sound basic education for every child. -
The North Carolina Supreme Court states that every child's right to sound basic education is guaranteed by the state constitution and remands the case to the trial court to determine whether the state is fulfilling its constitutional duty -
Superior Court Judge Howard Manning finds that the state has not upheld its obligation, particularly to at risk students. Also directs improvements in the quality of teachers and principals and adequate resources.
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The NC Supreme Court clarifies that the state is responsible for the guarantee of a sound basic education for every child. Instead of the counties themselves.
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In 2017, when Judge Manning retired from the Leandro case, Judge David Lee stepped in to continue overseeing the case. -
Judge Lee commissions WestEd to prepare an independent report to assess what the district will need to do to comply with the constitutional mandate. developing a new action plan. -
The WestEd report finds that North Carolina still is not fulfilling its obligations. Then creates and presents a multi-year plan to improve education across the state. -
In 2020, Judge Lee issued a consent order in the Leandro case. As part of his order, he ruled that the state was to comply with the recommendations set forth in the WestEd report. The order required the state to develop and implement a long term plan to meet its constitutional obligations.
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Judge Lee ordered the state to transfer about $1.75 billion to the appropriate state agencies for the Leandro remedial plan. These funds would be utilized to help implement the first two years of effective educational improvements in order to meet the educational standards prescribed by the state constitution. -
The North Carolina Supreme Court reviewed Judge Lee's order to fund the units. The court determined Judge Lee did order the state to fund $1.75 billion for educational purposes. The court also reaffirmed that the state has a constitutional obligation to provide every child with a sound basic education.
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Once again, the North Carolina Supreme Court has a new group of judges. These new judges decided to rehear the Leandro case. In February 2024, they began to hear new arguments on the case. This case is not yet finished.