The NC NAACP Commends Governor Perdue for Upholding the Constitutional Rights of Poor and Minority Four-Year-Old Children

NC NAACP Statement Regarding Executive Order No. 100

For Immediate Release

August 12, 2011

Contact: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137

Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

Atty. Jennifer W. Marsh, Legal Redress Coordinator, 919-682-4700

The NC NAACP Commends Governor Perdue for Upholding the Constitutional Rights of Poor and Minority Four-Year-Old Children

In 1868, Blacks and Whites came together in Raleigh, NC to create a constitution that guarantees a sound, basic public education for all North Carolinians. Last month, 143 years after the historic gathering in Raleigh, Judge Howard Manning ruled that the budget passed by extremists in the NC General Assembly violates the constitutional rights of four-year-old children in North Carolina. The North Carolina NAACP commends Governor Perdue for fulfilling her duties to the North Carolina State Constitution by issuing Executive Order No. 100, demanding the state fulfill its moral and legal obligations to at-risk children. The Governor knows that not taking action is not an option. It is time the leadership in the General Assembly realizes the same.

"Apparently the radical right-wing forces in the General Assembly have the illusion that Judge Manning’s ruling is only a suggestion," said Rev. Dr. William J Barber, II, President of the NC NAACP. "They have been so blinded by an ideologically-driven agenda that they cannot bring themselves to see how their actions are hurting our most precious little ones. The legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, who voted for the destructive budget, are not denying their own children access to a sound, basic education. Instead, they targeted poor and minority four-year-olds to bear the brunt of unwise and devastating cuts to public education. Judge Manning’s ruling is a confirmation of what the NC NAACP and other progressive organizations have argued all along: the people running the NC General Assembly are breaking the law."

The NC NAACP calls on the NC General Assembly to comply with the State Constitution and a higher moral law and correct the funding problem. They should provide the money to properly fund a sound basic education as ordered by the courts and constitution.

The budget required the state to cut spending on pre-kindergarten programs by 20 percent. It also required 80 percent of families to pay up to 10 percent of their income to participate and limited the enrollment of at-risk children to 20 percent of the four-year-old children served in the pre-kindergarten program.

These barriers would all but eliminate the pre-kindergarten program for the children who needed it the most. It is unfathomable to ask families of at-risk children to pay thousands of dollars so their child can attend public school. Asking most families to pay 10 percent of their income would mean a family scraping by on $20,000 per year would be asked to pay $2000 for their child could attend a public school program. It is ridiculous to believe that families who have children meeting the requirements for the pre-kindergarten programs would have the disposable income to pay 10 percent of their income for these programs.

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NC NAACP Statement Regarding Judge Howard Manning’s Ruling on State Budget

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NC NAACP Statement Regarding Judge Howard Manning’s Ruling on State Budget

For Immediate Release

July 19, 2011

Contact: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137

Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

Atty. Jennifer W. Marsh, Legal Redress Coordinator, 919-682-4700

On June 23, 2011 the NC NAACP joined several organizations in submitting an amicus ("friend of the court") brief in support of the plaintiffs in a suit filed by a group of low-wealth, rural and urban North Carolina counties claiming that the devastating budget cuts to preschool and public schools will undermine North Carolina’s constitutional obligations. Judge Howard Manning ruled yesterday that the state budget, with regard to pre-kindergarten education, does in fact undermine the state’s constitutional obligations to all children.

In his opinion, Judge Manning wrote, "Simply put, it is the duty of the State of North Carolina to protect each and every one of these at-risk and defenseless children, and to provide them their lawful opportunity, through a quality pre-kindergarten program, to take advantage of their equal opportunity to obtain a sound basic education as guaranteed by the North Carolina constitution."

"Judge Howard Manning’s ruling yesterday that the state budget, passed by ultra-conservative extremists in the NC Legislature, violates the constitutional rights of our most precious and vulnerable pre-kindergarten children is a confirmation of what the NC NAACP and other progressive organizations have argued all along: the people running the NC General Assembly are breaking the law," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II. "The frontal attack on public education waged by the current majority in the General Assembly passed an illegal budget in June of this year. Judge Manning’s ruling leaves no doubt that the General Assembly’s adoption of the draconian budget not only broke the constitutional law but violated a higher moral law that promises all children the right to a sound, basic education no matter what race or socio-economic status they may be."

The NC NAACP’s goal remains that every child receives a constitutional, high quality, well-funded, diverse public education. All educational decisions must be guided by the standards of the law with respect to civil rights, the data of sound research, which continually proves that resources and diversity are key components to student achievement, and the lessons of history, which remind us we must go forward and not backwards.

We are proud to have joined these other organizations in signing on to the amicus brief: American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation, Advocates for Children’s Services of Legal Aid of North Carolina, Disability Rights NC and the NC Justice Center.

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NAACP NC

NC judge orders pre-kindergarten services restored – Source: WRAL

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina cannot limit enrollment in a pre-kindergarten program for at-risk children that saw its budget reduced by the General Assembly, the judge overseeing a long-running education-opportunity lawsuit ordered Monday. (Read more)

Hearing ordered on cuts to schools – Source: News & Observer

In a move that could complicate the already tense state budget negotiations in Raleigh, a judge has ordered a court hearing about whether proposed school cuts would compromise children’s constitutional right to a quality education.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard E. Manning Jr. issued an order for a hearing June 22 at the Wake County Courthouse. (Read more)

Note: So what is the damn difference in what the NAACP is fighting for as it relates to Education in North Carolina? So similar but it is just that different folks is saying it so it ain’t a problem. So since that being the case then it all boils down to RACISM when black folks question the system. Again this means black folks ain’t suppose to question white folks and they are to shut the hell up, sit down and speak when they are spoken to.

Well folks this is a prime example of why our children are suffering because folks make it about the persons who are loud, noisey and etc. but how in the hell can you get something accomplished being quiet? if you keep your damn mouth closed and don’t ask for anything do you think the oppressors (Republicans) are going to change their attitude in the middle of their ignance. Oh hell no.

I commend all persons, groups and etc. who are taking a stand for the future of all children and remember I didn’t say black, brown, white and other because they will all benefit. However don’t get it twisted because if and when I do say black and brown children because I am black and let it be known when I speak up for what is best for them. I can speak strongly when I use black as a talking point since I am black and I am not ashamed of my who I am. Although I say black I recognize and understand that all children will benefit.

When people stop allowing ignance to get in the way things change. Curmilus Dancy II – DCN Publisher

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Wake County Public Schools

NAACP