3 Judge Panel Says Education Funding In Compliance

A three-judge state court panel in Kansas has ruled that an education funding law approved by legislators in April complies with a state Supreme Court mandate on aid to poor school districts.

But the panel in Shawnee County District Court on Wednesday also declined to dismiss all claims about the fairness of the school funding formula in a 2010 lawsuit brought by school districts.

The judges said they are ready to consider whether the state is spending enough money overall on public schools to meet its duty to provide an adequate education to every child.

The Supreme Court ruled in March that past cuts to poor districts created unconstitutional gaps in aid. Legislators responded by passing a law increasing aid to poor districts by $129 million during the next school year.