Editor’s note: This is part two on a two-part series about education funding and the politics behind it.

North Carolina is at a crossroads in public education funding and the path taken in the near future will likely be determined by who wins in the November election.

While Democratic legislators are pushing to restore education funding from early childhood to the university level, Republicans generally favor a reform platform based on belt tightening, school choice and more local control.

Bill Nolte, associate superintendent of schools for Haywood County, notes that state budget cuts started as early as 2009 when N.C. Gov. Beverly Perdue rescinded a portion of the funds earmarked for education as part of a statewide budget balancing effort after state revenues didn’t meet expectations. ...