Kansas Supreme Court gives lawmakers until June 30 to fix school funding inequities
The latest Kansas law aimed at fixing school funding inequities violates the state constitution, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled on Friday.
The court gave lawmakers a June 30 deadline to increase funding for poor districts, report the New York Times and the Kansas City Star. How Appealing links to the opinion (PDF) and additional coverage.
According to the New York Times, the ruling is “the latest volley in a long battle over public education in Kansas.” The state supreme court ordered the legislature to increase funding for poorer school districts in 2014, and the court and the legislature “have been at odds ever since,” the Times reports.
Lawmakers are struggling with budget issues following state tax cuts in 2012 and 2013. Gov. Sam Brownback, who supported the tax cuts, issued a statement accusing the state supreme court of “engaging in political brinksmanship.”
The case is Gannon v. Kansas.
