The History of Leandro
In May 1994, parents, school boards and students from five low-wealth counties (Cumberland, Halifax, Hoke, Robeson and Vance) against the State Board of Education and the State of North Carolina. Some of the poorest counties in the State said that the State did not provide enough money for them to provide their children with a quality education. The lawsuit is commonly known as Leandro, after a named plaintiff in the case.
Six urban school districts also asked to be parties to the Leandro lawsuit, stating that the state funding formula did not provide them with sufficient money to educate their at-risk students and students for whom English is not their first language. [ Asheville City, Buncombe County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Durham County, Wake County, and Winston-Salem-Forsyth]
Eventually the matter was heard by the North Carolina Supreme Court. In 1997, the Supreme Court breathed new life in the case by finding that our state constitution guarantees “every child of this state an opportunity to receive a sound basic education in our public schools.”
Definition of a Sound Basic Education
“(1)
Sufficient ability to read, write and speak the English language and
sufficient knowledge of fundamental mathematics and physical science to
enable the student to function in a complex and rapidly changing
society;
(2)
sufficient fundamental knowledge of geography, history and basic
economic and political systems to enable the student to make informed
choices with regard to issues that affect the student personally or
affect the student’s community, state, and nation;
(3)
sufficient academic and vocational skills to enable the student to
successfully engage in post-secondary education or vocational training;
(4) sufficient academic and vocational skills to enable the student to compete on an equal basis with others in further formal education or gainful employment in contemporary society.”
Leandro v. State , 346 N.C. 336,
347, 488 S.E.2d 249, 255 (1997)