Join the Freedom Hill Coalition in Our Fight for Equitable Public School Funding
The Freedom Hill Coalition is a group of North Carolina organizations which meets to plan initiatives that advance equity in educational spaces. Some of the organizations who are a part of the FHC are CREED, the Education Justice Alliance (EJA), Latinx Ed, and We Are. The full list of organizations can be found on our website at https://www.creed-nc.org/freedom-hill-coalition.
Through diversified dialogue and engagement with community members, these organizations all share the common goal of ensuring educational opportunity for students from marginalized backgrounds.
In this work, the coalition monitors nationwide and statewide legislative updates, including funding cuts. These can inhibit fair access to technology, textbooks, and other resources for students.
As such, the FHC now is calling on you for support. We are circulating a petition urging the NC legislature to accomplish four main objectives by the 2026-2027 academic year. These include:
Revising the state’s current funding approach – Currently, there is a gaping disparity that exists between NC’s wealthier and poorer public school districts. Without changes to the current funding formula, teachers will continue to lack the resources and materials needed for proper classroom instruction.
Ensuring fair compensation for all school staff – Governor Stein has proposed a 10.6% increase in teacher salaries. However, the revised budget plan should ensure that all school personnel, including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, etc., are funded equally, not just teachers.
Funding comprehensive services supporting student well-being – Providing more funding for mental health counseling and restorative justice solutions can help students learn and grow from problematic behaviors. This can be crucial in helping to reduce the school-to-prison pipeline.
Funding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives – Our current funding plan does not account for DEI programs which can track and efficiently address the needs of all students, especially those whose learning barriers and challenges are overlooked. Making space in budget plans for such programs can ensure that every student is being seen and heard.
More details on these objectives can be found on the petition site.
This petition is open to any and everyone to sign. Our current goal is to reach 1,000 signatures by Labor Day (September 1st).
Equitable school funding can advance academic success for all our children, including students of color, students with learning disabilities, and those from low-income households. We firmly believe that regardless of one’s political stance, public education is for the common good, not just a select few.
In pursuit of a more just and inclusive school system, we urge you to consider signing and sharing this petition. Together, we can expand the possibilities for our next generation.
