Chairs: Jeanne Smith & Lucy Bond
Monthly Zoom meetings, 3rd Wednesdays at 5:30 pm
Be a Public Education Advocate!
Public education is a foundation of our democracy, and decisions made by elected officials at the state and local levels directly affect North Carolina’s public schools. Teacher shortages, school funding, access to early childhood education, and other challenges affect students, families, educators, and communities across our state.
The LWVNC Public Education League Action Team works to help North Carolinians understand these issues and make informed decisions as voters. The resources on this page can help you learn which elected officials influence public education policy and funding, understand how North Carolina funds its public schools, explore the potential impact of proposed constitutional amendments, and research candidates and the issues that matter to public education.
Learn. Ask questions. Share what you know. Vote informed.
Ask candidates and elected officials where they stand on public education. Raise questions at candidate forums, town halls, and community meetings, or contact officials by email, letter, or phone. You can also review elected officials’ voting records; legislative votes are available through the North Carolina General Assembly website.
Use and share the presentations, handouts, candidate questions, webinars, and other resources below to help inform your community. Working with others and allied organizations can help broaden the conversation about the value and future of North Carolina’s public schools.
Interested in getting involved with the Public Education League Action Team? Email us at communications [at] lwvnc.org.
Most NC students attend public schools.
Public schools educate the large majority of North Carolina’s K–12 students and play an important role in preparing students for college, careers, and participation in their communities.
Responsibility is shared.
State government establishes much of public education policy and is constitutionally mandated to provide the largest share of funding. Counties fund school facilities and provide supplemental funding, while local school boards make important decisions about the operation of school systems. Federal funding supports programs including school nutrition and services for certain student populations.
Your ballot matters.
Many elected officials—not just school board members—make decisions that affect public education. Governors, state legislators, county commissioners, school board members, and others influence education policy, funding, facilities, and implementation. Learn who makes decisions about NC public education.
Resources:
- Understand Public Education and Your Ballot
Start here to learn which elected offices affect North Carolina public education and how decisions about policy and funding are made.
- 2026 Ballot: Elected Officials Who Impact NC Public Education — English | Spanish
- Presentation: Who Makes Decisions About NC Public Education? — Elected offices, funding responsibilities, and the current funding landscape
- The Value of Public Education — English | Spanish
- Learn About the Consitutional Amendments
Explore the three proposed constitutional amendments on the 2026 ballot and their potential implications for public education and other state and local services.
- LWVNC: Three Constitutional Amendments on North Carolina’s 2026 Ballot
- Public Schools First NC: Constitutional Amendments on Taxation
- NC Budget & Tax Center: 10 Reasons NC’s Income Tax Cap Amendment Is a Bad Deal for the State’s Future
- NC Budget & Tax Center: Amendment One-Pagers
- NC Budget & Tax Center: Funding Local Services — County-by-County Data
- Three Constitutional Amendments Palm Card — English | Spanish— Coming soon
- Research the Candidates
Public education decisions are made at multiple levels of government. Use these resources to learn where candidates stand.
- Questions to Ask Candidates About Public Education — Coming soon
- Palm Card: Researching Candidates — Coming soon
- Shareable Graphics: Researching the Candidates — Coming soon
- Shareable Graphics: Public Education Issues & Candidate Questions — Coming soon
- Watch and Learn
- Education Is Everyone’s Business with Tom Oxholm — Watch the recording
- Charlotte Talks: Constitutional Amendments on the Ballot — September 24 | WFAE & LWV in-person forum | Register
- LWVNC & Public Schools First NC: Constitutional Amendments Webinar — October 7 | Save the date
- Frequently Asked Questions
Public Education FAQ — Answers to common questions about public education policy, funding, elections, and advocacy in North Carolina. — Coming soon
Get Involved
Want to help educate voters about public education? Join the LWVNC Public Education League Action Team. Contact communications [at] lwvnc.org
