Attorneys ask court to lift stay in school funding lawsuit

Attorneys for Kansas school districts suing the state over its school funding formula have asked the Kansas Supreme Court to lift a stay on a lower court ruling, but the state responded that the lower court failed to properly evaluate the case.

The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/1Vt152v) reports a three-judge panel found the state’s newly enacted strategy for financing 285 school districts and cuts to low-income districts were unconstitutional. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt responded by asking the Supreme Court for a stay while he pursued an appeal, which the court granted.

Attorney Alan Rupe argued the state is refusing to comply with its constitutional obligations, but Schmidt noted that performance of Kansas students in reading and math is solid, despite “doomsday hyperbole” by the plaintiffs.


Information from: The Salina (Kan.) Journal, http://www.salina.com.