Today, North Carolina ranks dead last—51st out of 51— in public school funding. The state also received an “F” grade for funding effort, which measures investment in PreK-12 public education as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This was reported by the Education Law Center in their report that assesses the condition of school funding across the United States.

In response to these funding concerns, advocacy efforts have begun to take shape. Kids Over Corporations has organized a rally to take place on May 1 in downtown Raleigh. Kids Over Corporations is a campaign launched by the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) and community allies advocating to prioritize public education funding over corporate tax breaks. The campaign also has the ultimate goals of putting children first and reclaiming democracy—changes that they believe will allow the community to take back control of its future.

As the rally approaches, organizers are working to build momentum statewide. The NCAE is primarily leading this movement and working to increase turnout. Bryan Proffit, the association’s Vice President, has served in this role for six years. Proffit became a teacher himself to make a change and was inspired by the Chicago Teachers Union demonstration in 2013. Proffit speaks on the importance of participating in the upcoming rally, even if someone may be hesitant.

“We need to embrace the uncertainty of action and step up for our kids and coworkers,” Proffit said. “We tell people that they can’t wait on somebody else to come and save them, because it isn’t going to happen, but that they need to take action now.”

That urgency stems from long-standing financial challenges. North Carolina public schools have faced more than 15 years of underfunding. As of late 2025, the state spends approximately $5,600 less per student than the national average. North Carolina also currently lacks a finalized budget, meaning educators are not receiving raises. At the same time, new legal developments have taken place. Proffit weighs in on these recently intensifying concerns.

“The Supreme Court threw the Leandro court case out,” Proffit said. “And now we’re seeing school districts go into local budget conversations all over the state and call for cuts or school closures. It’s just too much; it’s adding up and we need to act.”

Leandro v. State of North Carolina is a landmark 32-year lawsuit regarding North Carolina school funding. It established that all children have a constitutional right to a “sound basic education.” The case was dismissed by the Supreme Court of North Carolina on April 2, ending the court-ordered remedial plan to fund education, particularly in lower-wealth districts of the state.

This dismissal comes amid an ongoing state budget stalemate, which lawmakers say has created continued uncertainty for school districts and educators across North Carolina. According to State Rep. and House Democratic Leader Robert Reives, disagreements between House and Senate Republican leadership have prevented a finalized budget from moving forward.

“The House and Senate Republican Leadership cannot agree on a number of items, which has left our state budget in limbo for a year,” Reives said. “Tax cuts–the speed at which they lower income taxes–are the main sticking point. But state employee and teacher pay is another important difference they are working through.”

Without a finalized budget, districts are left making decisions for the upcoming school year without clear financial guidance.

“The lack of budget creates a real headache for school districts that need to make plans for the coming school year,” Reives said. “And teachers are going without raises while the cost of living has increased, including for the State Health Plan. That means teachers in classrooms have effectively had a pay cut without a budget.”

Moreover, Reives stated House Democrats are advocating for stronger investment in public education and teacher compensation.

“We want pay that reflects the value teachers bring our students and communities, including real raises that keep up with the cost of living,” Reives said. “Every child is owed a sound, basic education in North Carolina as set out by our state constitution.”

While state-level decisions shape the broader landscape, their effects are felt most directly in schools. At the local level, educators say groups like the NCAE play a key role in mobilizing teachers and connecting them across districts. Russell Williams, a science teacher at Wakefield High School and the school’s NCAE representative, said the association allows educators to organize—even without traditional union protections.

“It’s not a union, but it kind of acts like one within the state,” Williams said. “You can organize. We’ve organized here at Wakefield… looking at what needs to be addressed and putting forward teacher-driven initiatives.”

For Williams, the values within this association translate into action. He plans to attend the rally, drawing on his experience from past demonstrations. While some critics question protests or walkouts, he shares how they can be effective in creating urgency.

“Sometimes the threat of action gets more accomplished than the action itself,” Williams said. “People start paying attention, and that pressure can lead to change.”

Williams expects the rally in Raleigh to draw educators from multiple nearby counties, including Wake, Durham and Chapel Hill—though participation may vary based on distance and local organizing efforts.

Beyond funding levels, many educators say compensation remains a major concern. Teachers are also facing challenges with the state’s salary structure, particularly the frozen pay scale. In 2014-2015, the salary schedule was condensed to six ranges, with the highest step capped at 25 years of experience. Wakefield High School math teacher Catherine Smith is in her 31st year of the profession. Smith reflects on the changes in salary throughout her many years as a teacher.

“We continue to drop down [in teacher salary], and that wasn’t the North Carolina I started with,” Smith said. “North Carolina was big on education when I started, and the funding was there. Yes, the recession caused problems and issues that had to be dealt with at the time, but we’ve come out of that, and the teacher pay scale never came out of that recession.”

Recent proposals aim to address these issues, but concerns remain. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein recently proposed a new salary schedule that would raise starting teacher pay from $41,000 to $53,120 by the 2026-2027 fiscal year and adjust the cap for veteran teachers. However, there is only a $5,630 difference in yearly pay between a first-year teacher and one with more than 25 years of experience. For veteran teachers like Smith, this can feel disheartening.

“You’re locked into this type of [system], and who wants to grow only [around] $5,000 over their career?” Smith said. “That’s the most frustrating part, seeing these proposals come out and not being recognized for what we have contributed to the field and to the profession.”

For many educators, those concerns extend beyond policy proposals and into their day-to-day experiences in the classroom. Wakefield High School biology teacher Doreene McGill, who is in her 25th year of teaching, said her decision to attend the rally is rooted in ongoing frustrations with funding and support.

“We haven’t had a passed budget in two years, so we’re standing in solidarity about that,” McGill said. “When we prioritize education, it sends a message that we care about our kids. You can’t say you care about them if you’re not making them a priority.”

McGill, who has participated in past demonstrations such as the 2018 “Red for Ed” protests, describes how many of the same challenges persist today.

“Teachers are doing more and more with less and less,” McGill said. “We’re dealing with large class sizes, a teacher shortage and having to pay for supplies ourselves.”

As educators prepare to gather on May 1, the rally highlights broader concerns about the future of public education in North Carolina. Teachers say the combination of funding gaps, pay issues and policy decisions has created a system that is increasingly difficult to sustain.

“Even if you’re not a teacher, students are going to become a part of your community,” McGill said. “Everything starts with public education, and we’re all affected by it.”

This story was originally published on The Howler on April 30, 2026.