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Kansas high court says schools underfunded
Legislature has until April 12 to fix problem, justices ruleTOPEKA -
The Kansas Legislature has failed to provide adequate funding for the state's public school system, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled this morning.
However, the high court reversed a district court's ruling that the school funding law unfairly discriminates against minority and special-needs students.
The court gave lawmakers until April 12 to fix the underfunding problem or face court action. "Its failure to act in the face of this opinion would require this court to direct action to be taken to carry out that responsibility," the court wrote in a brief opinion.
"The Legislature, by its action or lack thereof in the 2005 session, will dictate what form our final remedy, if necessary, will take."
The lawsuit, funded by mid-size school districts, was filed in 1999. Defendants named in the case were 36 students from the Dodge City and Salina districts.
Last year, lawmakers rejected several proposals to raise taxes for schools, including a plan proposed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. The Kansas Constitution requires that the Legislature make "suitable provision" for financing education. The court ruled that, in commissioning a consultant's study on school finance, the Legislature defined suitable, then ignored the consultant's recommendations to increase funding.
The court did not specify how much more money is needed to adequately fund schools.
The brief opinion was issued one week before the Legislature convenes. The court said a full opinion would be issued later.
For more on this story, visit Kansas.com.
McPherson
Unified School District 418
514 N. Main
McPherson, KS 67460
620-241-9400
It is the policy of McPherson USD 418 not to discriminate on the basis
of sex, disability, race,
religion, color, age, or national origin in its educational programs and/or
activities, nor in its employment practices.
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