RES-2022-029-RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE TO FULFILL ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO PROVIDE EVERY CHILD ACCESS TO A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION

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RES - 2022 - 029 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE TO FULFILL ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO PROVIDE EVERY CHILD ACCESS TO A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION WHEREAS , for more than 25 years , North Carolina lawmakers from both parties have failed to meet their constitutional obligation to provide all children in the state with a sound basic education; and i WHEREAS, far too many students, particularly students of color, students from economically- disadvantaged families , students with disabilities , English learners , and rural students , have been denied the opportunities promised to them under the North Carolina Constitution; and WHEREAS, the North Carolina State Constitution and North Carolina General Statutes place the responsibility to fund a public school system that provides every child in the state with access to a sound basic education with the State of North Carolina, both the executive and legislative branches ; and WHEREAS, on March 15 , 2021 , the State submitted to the court a long-term comprehensive remedial plan ( "Leandro Plan" ) detailing specific steps State leaders must enact to remedy the ongoing constitutional violations in our public school system and ensure that all students have access to the education they are owed under the State Constitution; and i WHEREAS Governor Roy Cooper ' s Budget Recommendations for 2021 -23 demonstrated that the Leandro Plan could be fully implemented within then- existing State resources ; and WHEREAS, on June 7 , 2021 , Judge W. David Lee ordered the state to implement the Leandro Plan "in full and in accordance with the timelines set forth therein" ; and WHEREAS, Judge Michael Robinson has found that the state budget passed in 2021 underfunds the comprehensive remedial plan ( CRP ) for Leandro by approximately $ 785 million; and WHEREAS , receiving a quality education is paramount to catalyzing the full growth and self- actualization of students , families , as well as being critical for workforce development and the economic prosperity of our communities and our State as a whole , I, WHEREAS, Representative Verla Insko filed House Bill 1032 , which would appropriate $ 784 million in non-recurring funds for fiscal year 2022 -2023 to carry out the requirements of the Leandro Plan; WHEREAS , Orange County is grateful to Representative Verla Insko and others for sponsoring House Bill 1032 ; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners stands with the Orange County Schools Board of Education and the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Board of Education and requests that the North Carolina General Assembly fully enact the policy and funding reforms included in the Leandro Plan to ensure that all North Carolina students have access to a sound basic education by the 2028 school year . Adopted this 24th day of May, 2022 . eve AW Renee Price, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners