Students from across North Carolina gathered at the General Assembly on Tuesday to urge lawmakers to invest more in public schools.
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The students were participating in a Youth Advocacy Day organized by Every Child NC and partner organizations. They raised concerns about mental health services, school discipline policies and the impact of immigration enforcement on students and families.
Earlier in the day, North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls told students that the state constitution guarantees a right to a sound basic education, pointing to the long-running Leandro case as an effort to enforce that obligation.
Later, students gathered outside the General Assembly and pointed to what they said were gaps between that promise and conditions in their schools.
Aisosa Limon, a rising sophomore at Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy, cited racial disparities in school discipline and argued that schools should invest more in student support services rather than relying on suspensions.
Limon referenced district data showing Black students are more likely to be suspended than than their white peers.
“A suspension is not just a punishment, “Limon said. “It is a student losing school time and having something that will plague their academic record forever.”
He called for more social workers, psychologists and mentors to help students address challenges before they lead to disciplinary action.
Mental health resources emerged as a recurring theme throughout the event, with students and advocates arguing that many schools lack adequate support staff.
Republican state lawmakers point to the fact that school funding has increased each year they’ve been in the majority in the legislature. They’ve also earmarked additional funds in recent years for psychologists and support staff. But education advocates say the increases in funding haven’t kept up with the state’s needs.
Other speakers focused on the impact immigration enforcement can have on students and families.
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Victoria Rodriguez, a rising sophomore at Wilson Academy of Applied Technology, said recent immigration enforcement activity has created fear in immigrant communities and affects students’ ability to focus at school.
“The fear of hearing sirens outside of schools is not normal,” she said.
Rodriguez said some students worry whether their family members will be home when they return from school.
Marceline Privado Zarate of Full Circle Mentoring in Winston-Salem called for schools to remain safe environments for all students.
“Fear should never walk into a classroom,” Zarate said.
Full Circle founder Shante Graham said students were seeking greater investment in their communities and schools.
“We are not asking for a charity,” Graham said. “We are insisting on dignity, opportunity, and a future that matches the potential of our youth.”
She said many of the challenges facing students stem from policy decisions rather than a lack of community resources.
“Our community is wealthy,” Graham said. “What has been lacking is political will, not resources.”
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Earls also encouraged students to remain engaged in civic life, warning that voting access for young people could be affected by decisions made by lawmakers and election officials. She pointed to efforts to eliminate preregistration for 16- and 17-year-olds and the removal of some early voting sites on college campuses as examples of issues students should pay attention to.
Organizers said students planned to meet with lawmakers throughout the day to discuss school funding, mental health services, legislation affecting diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools and universities, and other education issues.
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