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ATTACHMENT B <br /> Apart from the constitutional provisions,a major change in the Over time the delineations proscribed by the School Machinery <br /> school funding structure occurred during the Great Depression. Acts and the School Budget and Fiscal Control Act have given <br /> Under the School Machinery Act(enacted in 1931 and amended way to increased local investment in instructional expenses. Even <br /> in 1933),the state assumed responsibility for all current expens- so,the North Carolina Supreme Court has made clear that it is <br /> es necessary to maintain a minimum eight-month school term the state that bears responsibility for fulfilling the constitutional <br /> and an educational program of basic content and quality(in- obligation to guard and maintain the right of every North Carolina <br /> structional and program expenses). In exchange for the state's child to receive a"sound basic education."Leandro v.North Caroli- <br /> expanded role, local governments assumed responsibility for na,346 N.C.336(1997). <br /> school construction and maintenance(capital expenses).The <br /> School Machinery Act established counties as the basic unit for <br /> operating public schools,which is maintained today with large The North Carolina Supreme Court has made <br /> county-wide school systems,except in the 11 counties that also clear that it is the state that bears responsibility <br /> have city school systems. for fulfilling the constitutional obligation to guard <br /> In 1975,the General Assembly enacted the School Budget and and maintain the right of every North Carolina <br /> Fiscal Control Act,which delineated responsibility for school child to receive a "sound basic education." <br /> funding: <br /> To ensure a quality education for every child in North Carolina has been engaged in litigation defending its <br /> North Carolina,and to assure that the necessary system of school finance for more than twenty years.The legal <br /> resources are provided, it is the policy of the State action was instigated in part by spending inequities between low- <br /> of North Carolina to provide from State revenue wealth and higher-wealth counties—inequities that persist today. <br /> sources the instructional expenses for current <br /> operations of the public school system as defined <br /> in the standard course of study. It is the policy <br /> of the State of North Carolina that the facilities <br /> requirements for a public education system will <br /> be met by county governments. <br /> SOURCESOF • SCHOOL <br /> ulTHE LEANDRO CASE <br /> governments"Because the North Carolina Constitution expressly states that units of local <br /> responsibility for public education may provide additional funding to supplement the educational programs <br /> provided by the state,there can be nothing unconstitutional about their doing so or in any inequality of <br /> opportunity occurring as a result...Clearly then,a county with greater financial resources will be able to <br /> supplement its programs to a greater degree than less wealthy counties, resulting in enhanced educational <br /> opportunity for .- <br /> Leandro v.State,488 S.E.2d .. <br /> 7< <br />