As Chief Supreme Court Justice Burley Mitchell summarized, A The North Carolina Constitution requires that access to a sound basic education be provided equally in every school district. A The inability or indifference of local governments to provide funds does not excuse the General Assembly from a duty specifically imposed on it by the Constitution. The public policy issue, however, is larger than the constitutional one. Inequality in school funding is about basic issues of citizenship and fairness, class advantage and disadvantage, and investments in the future economic development of the state. The issue is, of course, more complex than simple fairness.
Schools cost money.
To reduce funding inequalities that derive from variations in the local tax base requires increased state funding for education. Legislators have been reluctant to use state money to reduce educational inequalities. There are large differences across North Carolina in the amount of money spent on education. Poorer counties have poorer schools. State and federal funds also contribute to school spending.