Raleigh, N.C. — The Leandro case has circulated through North Carolina courts for nearly 30 years now, but many parents of school-aged children are hearing the name for the first time. WRAL’s investigative documentary reporter Cristin Severance and photojournalist Jay Jennings traveled across the state to uncover what’s really at stake when it comes to your child’s education. Leandro: The Case for a Sound Basic Education is hosted by Severance and premieres on WRAL-TV and WILM-TV Wednesday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m.

The landmark education case was filed in 1994 by five poor counties which said they couldn’t afford to give their students an adequate education. After almost 30 years, the lawsuit is still going on and affects funding for every school system in North Carolina. Parents say the problems in school districts across the state have gotten worse, and many blame politics for the lack in progress.

“When I heard about the Leandro case, started researching it and realized its impact, I knew this had to be my first documentary at WRAL,” said Severance. “We traveled all over the state, interviewed superintendents, teachers, students, advocates, former judges and lawmakers about the Leandro case. I hope after watching, viewers get a big picture understanding of this important case and why it should matter to anyone living in North Carolina.”

The latest WRAL Documentary dives into the facts of the case, its impact on students in North Carolina and why there could finally be a resolution that parents should be aware of in 2022.​