Leandro

North Carolina Democrats and public education advocates blasted the Senate budget plan Tuesday, saying it shortchanges public schools.

A North Carolina appeals court has blocked enforcement of parts of a trial judge’s order that demanded $1.7 billion be spent by state agencies to address public education inequities. The majority on a three-judge panel hearing a request by the state controller agreed Tuesday that Superior Court Judge David Lee crossed the line by appropriating money.

A North Carolina trial judge has ordered the state to pay out $1.75 billion to help narrow the state’s public education inequities. The move angered Republicans who said the directive usurps lawmakers’ constitutional authority over the state coffers.

The Leandro case started in 1994 when families from five low-wealth counties sued the state, claiming North Carolina was not providing their students with the same educational opportunities as students in higher-income districts.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper says he'll aim to get Republican lawmakers to fund North Carolina public education improvements a judge says the state must start implementing. Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore are expected this week to send to Cooper an initial joint offer on state government spending for the next two years.

A North Carolina judge has set a mid-October deadline for state lawmakers to provide funding for improving public education or he will take action himself. News outlets report State Superior Court Judge David Lee said he was “very disheartened” that the General Assembly is funding a small part of a plan calling for at least $5.6 billion in new education funding by 2028.

Superior Court Judge David Lee signed a court order this week approving the proposal, which calls for at least $5.6 billion in new education funding through 2028. But it can’t be carried out without funding from the legislature. The “Comprehensive Remedial Plan” addresses failures in meeting the constitutional duty, as declared by the state Supreme Court, to provide every student the opportunity for a sound basic education.

This story is part of the NPR reporting project "School Money," a nationwide collaboration between NPR's Ed Team and 20 member station reporters exploring…

Lawyers representing low-income school districts say North Carolina has abandoned its efforts to make sure it provides all students a sound, basic…