RALEIGH, (AP) — The North Carolina NAACP's president says the civil rights group is launching a campaign targeting Republican legislators who have resisted full funding for the state's pre-kindergarten enrichment program.

 

The Rev. William Barber said Friday the group planned to hold events statewide drawing attention to GOP leaders' plans to further challenge a state Appeals Court ruling last week.

 

A unanimous three-judge panel of the state Court of Appeals upheld an earlier ruling that legislative changes would deprive most children from benefiting from the state program designed to help disadvantaged 4-year-olds gear up for school. The court said any at-risk child whose parents seek admission to the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program must be admitted.

 

Spokesmen for House and Senate GOP leaders declined comment.