When community members get frustrated with local public schools, one common refrain I hear is that the state legislature has been underfunding public education for years and we must VOTE!
Yes, voting is a critical component to an engaged electorate. However, in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, our representatives in the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) – Representative Allen Buansi and Senator Graig Meyer (both Democrats) – are already strong proponents for public education and are doing everything they can to advocate for increased funding.
As long as they are in the minority party, little progress is made. So what CAN you do? Read on…
Get involved with your child’s school
To whatever extent you can “show up”, participate in the life of the school: attend a PTA meeting, read the School Improvement Plan, send a note to the teacher(s) recognizing their hard work as an educator and professional.
Pound the pavement
If you have the time, canvass for pro-education NCGA candidates in OTHER districts that are competitive. Knocking on doors and talking to voters is the most effective and impactful outreach for persuasion and turnout in the current election season. One local organization doing this work that we recommend is Neighbors on Call. They have identified districts in the Triangle area that have the best chance to flip, and they run a well-oiled machine!
Talk to family and friends who live in other parts of the state, and encourage them to get involved and contact their state legislators.
Provide contact information for their reps to make it easy for them.
If you work in a medium- to large-sized business, let your company executives know that public education is an important issue to you.
They have the ear of government leaders in Raleigh.
Join statewide organizations.
Whether you are an auditor or an ophthalmologist, the North Carolina associations for your profession will connect you to others in different parts of the state. As you get to know them, through conferences or service, talk to them about how public education affects your community, your family, your work. Encourage them to advocate in their own communities for a strong public education system.
If you want to go down a rabbit hole, Google “Leandro North Carolina.” Trusted sources of reliable information are Public Schools First NC and the Public School Forum of NC. If public education in North Carolina was fully funded, it would be a game-changer!