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The state fails to comply with court order to pay $730M for NC Public Schools

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The following is a press release from the NC School Boards Association

The NC School Boards Association along with many school districts are filing a new complaint on August 1, 2018 in this longstanding lawsuit.

  • The NC Supreme Court ruled that the State Constitution entitles the public schools to civil penalties collected by various state agencies. The NC legislature declared in 1997 that those funds should be used exclusively for technology.
  • The courts determined that civil penalties collected by state agencies between 1996 and 2005 were diverted to other purposes in violation of the Constitution. A 2008 Judgment against the defendants totaled nearly $750M. The court noted at the time that “the ultimate responsibility for the satisfaction of this judgment will depend on the manner in which the General Assembly discharges its constitutional duties.”  
  • Fast forward to 2018 – The legislature and defendants have still not fulfilled their constitutional obligation to provide funding to make up for the vast majority of funds that were diverted.  
  • The plaintiffs are seeking a win/win and remain willing and eager to work with the legislature and defendants to reach a mutually beneficial resolution.
  • More details about the new complaint, the longstanding lawsuit, and its impact on North Carolina’s public schools will be shared at the press conference – George Watts Elementary at 10am on Wednesday, August 1, 2018.