The Trump administration has made the indefensible decision to withhold $165 million from North Carolina’s public education system. This is a direct blow to our state’s students, teachers, administrators, and staff. It’s estimated that this will result in approximately 1,000 educators losing their jobs. It is a cruel and deliberate assault on our public schools and those who rely on them most. Education Justice Alliance’s Co-Executive Directors, Jenice Ramírez-Garvin and Letha Muhammad, issue the following statement:

The Trump administration’s calculated decision to strip funding from public education is a targeted attack on North Carolina’s children, who come from some of our most vulnerable families living in under-resourced communities. It contradicts every claim this administration has made about expanding educational access and opportunity.

These funds would have supported every public school in the state, providing funding for teacher training, before- and after-school programming, and enrichment for students in struggling schools. President Trump says he stands against discrimination, yet this decision disproportionately harms students in low-performing schools, often in low-income and rural communities. The intent behind the administration’s decision may be hidden but the impact is unmistakable: public school students and educators of North Carolina are being sacrificed for political gain.

Today, Superintendent Maurice ‘Mo’ Green and Attorney General Jeff Jackson did what true leaders do: they stood up. By filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, they are fighting to restore vital resources to our schools. Their action is noAs  just commendable, it’s necessary.

Now, we turn to North Carolina’s lawmakers. There are a number of lawmakers who have argued that states are capable of handling their own public education system. This is the chance for them to demonstrate their faith in that belief. With the state budget still under debate, there’s space and opportunity for lawmakers to not just pass funding for our public schools, but to also fully fund Leandro. They need to write the check for public education and show parents they mean it when they say they’re committed to making sure all families have access to the best education possible.

We call on every North Carolinian to demand answers and action from their elected officials. Silence is complicity.

To our public school teachers, students, and families: you are not alone.
Education Justice Alliance will not back down. We will not allow this assault on public education to go unchallenged. As our state constitution mandates, every child in our state deserves a sound, basic education and we will fight until that promise is fulfilled.