There are moments in this work when the path forward is clear and moments when it is deliberately disrupted. April 2, 2026, was one of those “deliberately disrupted” days. As a graduate from a Leandro district I know this fight for educational justice is one that must continue because there is a constitutional obligation that must not be denied.
Shortly after the NC Supreme Court ruling in the longstanding Leandro case, the Flood Center and our partners traveled to Montgomery—a journey that reinforced a hard truth: history repeats itself when it is not taught, and injustice persists when accountability is absent.
On this trip, we had many reflections, discussions, and opportunities to engage with many individuals, organizations, and our namesake Dr. Dudley Flood. He reminded us that the current times require us to deploy his proven “What, So What, Now What” framework to move from feeling defeated to action.
At the Legacy Sites, one reflection stood out. During desegregation, I. Beverly Lake. (a former attorney and eventual NC Supreme Court Justice) argued in 1956 that it would be better for students to receive an inferior education than to comply with the law of the land “with deliberate speed .” Today, a majority of our NC Supreme Court Justices would rather continue to prescribe to an inferior education rather than force the General Assembly to comply with its constitutional mandate – despite years of demanding a comprehensive plan to remedy the situation. Despite the comprehensive plan, the courts found a way to “resist to the end” as I, Beverly Lake, by not delivering justice for students whose education is forever guaranteed and continues to deny children across this state a “sound and basic education.”
What?
Let’s be honest about what this is and what it is not.This ruling does not:
- change North Carolina’s constitutional obligation.
- change what students need.
- change what we know works.
And it does not change our responsibility to act.
What it does change is the pathway. And that means our work must evolve not retreat.
North Carolina’s Constitution guarantees every child access to a sound basic education. The findings of the Leandro v. State of North Carolina case made clear what that requires:
- Competent, well-supported educators
- Safe and effective learning environments
- Access to resources that enable students to succeed
We have also been clear—and will remain clear—that this requires a diverse, representative educator workforce that reflects and effectively serves our students.
That promise has not been fulfilled. And now, it is no longer backed by a court-enforced funding mechanism.
So What?
So the question becomes, what does it mean to move from promise to practice when enforcement gives way to responsibility?
For years, Leandro provided both a legal foundation and a moral directive. Now, the legal pathway has narrowed, but the moral imperative has sharpened.
Now What?
We can no longer rely on the courts to compel action.
We must build the conditions that make inaction untenable.
That means:
- Greater clarity
- Stronger alignment
- More disciplined advocacy
- And deeper coordination across partners
This is the shift we are making.
Through Mapping the Movement and our broader coalition work, we have achieved something important: alignment.
There is broad agreement that North Carolina must:
- Fully fund public schools
- Invest in educators
- Strengthen mental health and student supports
- Address inequities in access and opportunity
But alignment alone does not move policy. Precision does.
That is why our next phase of work is focused on:
- Clarifying a coalition-ready legislative ask
- Defining what “fully funded” means in real, budget terms
- Establishing accountability for implementation—not just investment
- Maintaining message discipline across every partner and platform
We are moving from shared values to shared demands.
This moment does not call for more fragmentation. It calls for focus.
It calls for us to:
- Speak with one voice even when we come from different roles
- Anchor our advocacy in the Constitution not shifting political conditions
- Center students, educators, and communities not systems and structures
- Stay committed to long-term change, even when short-term wins are uncertain
And importantly, it calls for us to hold the line on what matters most:
A sound basic education is not optional. A diverse and supported educator workforce is not negotiable.Safe and supportive schools are not aspirational they are required.
We are not starting over. We are building forward.
The work ahead is not about recreating what was lost, it is about strengthening what must come next.
At the Dudley Flood Center, we will continue to:
- Translate shared priorities into clear, actionable legislative asks
- Align partners around consistent, disciplined messaging
- Elevate evidence, practice, and community voice
- Coordinate advocacy that is strategic, sustained, and collective
Because this has never been about a single ruling.It has always been about whether North Carolina will meet its responsibility to its students.
Strong schools require supported and diverse educators. A sound basic education requires sustained, equitable investment.
The question before us has not changed. Will we act with urgency and alignment or allow the promise to remain unfulfilled?
We are choosing to act – will you join us?
Sources
1. https://www.wral.com/news/education/nc-supreme-court-leandro-ruling-april-2026/
2. https://floodcenter.org/2024/a-request-from-a-nc-public-school-graduate/
3. https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/op-ed/article84485697.html
4. https://www.wested.org/resource/leandro-north-carolina/
5. https://floodcenter.org/2025/playing-charades-or-choosing-children/
6. https://www.ncforum.org/leandro/
7. https://floodcenter.org/mapping-the-movement/
8. https://floodcenter.org/