Early voting for the 2026 election is underway, and education is on the ballot. From federal funding decisions to local school budgets, elected officials shape the resources and policies that affect public schools. As voters weigh their choices, reliable information is essential, particularly when misleading claims about ballot measures can influence public understanding.
Education Is On and Across the Ballot
Every level of government has a role in shaping public education. Here’s what voters should know about the offices on their ballots:
- U.S. Congress: Congress influences federal education policy, funding, and the role of the U.S. Department of Education. Changes to federal programs, grant administration, and funding timelines can affect schools and students in North Carolina.
- NC Supreme Court: The state Supreme Court interprets the state Constitution, including its provisions related to public education. The court can play an important role in determining how the state’s constitutional responsibility to prepare children for the world they live in is understood and enforced.
- NC Senate & House: The General Assembly sets state education policy and appropriates funding for public schools. The Public School Forum invited candidates to respond to questions about education policy and school funding. You can review their responses here.
- Boards of County Commissioners: County commissioners approve local budgets that include funding for public schools.
- Local School Boards: School boards hire superintendents, establish district policies, oversee budgets, and make decisions about school facilities and other local priorities. They also develop local policies and procedures to implement state mandates, including more recent laws addressing the Right to Religious Instruction and the Parents’ Bill of Rights provisions for challenging instructional materials.
Ballot Measures Matter, Too
Beyond candidate races, voters will decide on statewide constitutional amendments and, in some communities, local school bond referenda.
- State Constitutional Amendments: Two proposed amendments would change how state and local governments can raise revenue. One would lower the constitutional cap on the state income tax rate from 7% to 3.5%. The other would require the General Assembly to limit increases in local property tax levies. If approved, these amendments could constrain future revenue options for state and local governments.
- County School Bonds: School districts need ongoing investments in safe, modern facilities, but major construction and renovation projects can exceed what local governments can cover through annual budgets. School bonds allow counties to borrow money for these capital expenses, with repayment typically supported by property tax revenue. In 2021, DPI identified approximately $12.8 billion in statewide school facility needs. An updated facilities needs survey and cost estimate, likely to be significantly higher, will be released this fall.
What’s at Stake?
North Carolina ranks at the bottom of the nation in school funding level and funding effort. These rankings reflect how much the state spends per student and how much of its economic capacity it directs toward public education. Beyond funding, the choices made by elected officials shape students’ access to qualified educators, learning resources, safe facilities, school nutrition, and more.
As voters make their decisions, understanding the responsibilities of each office and the potential effects of ballot measures is an important first step. Education is not decided by one race or one vote. It is shaped by the collective choices voters make across the ballot, and by how elected officials turn those choices into policy and investment.
Leave a Reply