Education Advocate Warns of Funding Crisis as NC Legislature Convenes
Wake Ed Partnership’s Keith Poston warns that planned tax cuts and property tax restrictions could worsen North Carolina’s chronic school funding crisis.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Education funding challenges are taking center stage as the North Carolina General Assembly begins its 2026 legislative session, with a prominent education advocate warning that upcoming tax cuts could further damage already struggling public schools.
Keith Poston, president of the nonprofit Wake Ed Partnership, told NC Newsline this week that North Carolina’s public schools have been “struggling mightily for several years thanks to a chronic lack of funding.” He cautioned that the situation could deteriorate further unless lawmakers reconsider planned tax reductions.
Tax Cuts Could Worsen School Funding
Poston expressed concern about regressive tax cuts scheduled to take effect in the coming period, arguing that legislators should “pause” these reductions to protect education funding. The advocacy leader emphasized that even wealthy counties like Wake County, which supplement state funding with local resources, face potential constraints.
“Even the efforts of well-off counties like Wake to supplement state school funding could be in jeopardy if lawmakers follow through with a new plan to enact one-size-fits-all rules on local property taxes,” Poston noted during his interview with the news outlet.
Legislative Session Priorities
As lawmakers return to the state capital, education policy has emerged as a top priority on the public agenda. However, Poston suggested that despite rhetoric from legislative leaders about education support, the reality on the ground tells a different story for North Carolina’s school districts.
The Wake Ed Partnership president’s comments come at a time when school systems across the state are grappling with resource limitations that have persisted for multiple years. His organization advocates for educational improvements in Wake County, one of North Carolina’s largest and most affluent school districts.
Property Tax Concerns
Beyond state-level tax cuts, Poston highlighted another potential threat to school funding: proposed uniform rules governing local property taxes. Such regulations could limit the ability of counties to use property tax revenue to bolster their education budgets, potentially creating additional financial pressure on school systems.
The interview with Poston was part of NC Newsline’s ongoing coverage of education issues as state legislators work through their 2026 session priorities. His warnings underscore the ongoing tension between tax reduction policies and maintaining adequate funding for public education in North Carolina.
