Perspective | State Board Chair Eric Davis: Mini-budget stops short of providing the resources public schools need

Over the past several weeks, the N.C. General Assembly has been working through an extended budget process, while we had hoped for a comprehensive two-year budget that reflects the urgency of investing in our children, what we have instead is another mini-budget.

This mini-budget takes some actions so that our schools can continue operating and our educators can keep doing their work.

But we must also speak the truth that this mini-budget stops short of providing the resources our public schools and our public school educators so desperately need.

There are no new raises for educators, and it cuts or reallocates funds in ways that reduce our Department of Public Instruction’s flexibility.

This comes against the backdrop of numerous North Carolina Supreme Court rulings over the last decade, each one affirming that we’re not yet meeting our constitutional duty to adequately fund public education in North Carolina.

At the same time, the General Assembly has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in private school vouchers.

These choices send a clear message about the challenges we face as a public school system that aspires to give every child in every community an equal shot at a bright future.

The best investment our state can make is to fully fund our public schools by passing a budget on time.

And yet today I am hopeful because of the leadership of the State Board and in public schools across our state.

This afternoon, our State Board Strategic Planning Committee and our superintendent will unveil a bold strategic plan — one that dares to envision North Carolina public schools as the very best in our nation.

This plan does not deny the reality of challenges, and it faces them head on with creativity, commitment, and the unwavering belief in our teachers.

Our students deserve nothing less than our full commitment to excellence.

We will focus on empowering educators, innovating classrooms, and closing the opportunity gaps that persist in so many of our communities.

We’ll leverage every resource, build strong partnerships with families and communities, and hold ourselves accountable to results that matter, like student growth, teacher support, and thriving schools in every corner of North Carolina.

We’re called to do more than react to budgets. We’re called to lead with vision.

Our students are watching. Our families are counting on us.

History will judge us not by the obstacles we faced, but by how fiercely we pursued our mission to prepare every child for success.

Let’s move forward with resolve.

Let’s show this state and our nation what public schools can achieve when passion meets purpose, when vision meets action, and when adults put the future of children first.

Let’s give our lawmakers a glimpse of what is possible so that all of us can see clearly how much further we can go with a fully-funded investment in our children and our state’s future.

Editor’s Note: Chair Davis delivered these remarks at the state Board meeting on Aug. 6, 2025. You can see the transcript and listen to the remarks here at 3:22 (the audio begins at 4:01).