Supreme Court Rules on Education Funding, “Not Enough”

The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that legislators did not increase spending on public schools enough this year and ordered a bigger increase.

The high court on Monday rejected the state’s arguments that a new law phasing in a $293 million increase in funding over two years was enough to provide a suitable education for every child. The state is projected to spend about $4.3 billion on aid to its 286 school districts during the 2018-19 school year under the new law.

The court ruled in a lawsuit filed in 2010 by four school districts and told lawmakers to write a new school funding law before July 2018.

The districts argued that the increase approved by lawmakers was at least $600 million short of what was necessary.

Attorney Alan Rupe who represented the four Kansas school districts that sued the state over education funding says a state Supreme Court ruling is bittersweet.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback said his office is reviewing the decision and will comment after a full review.