When lawmakers approved changes to education funding late last week, they expected the Kansas Supreme Court would approve the adjustments.
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Shortly before 5 pm Tuesday, justices announced the plan had found their favor.
The high court said the “planned implementation of HB 2001 and full funding of that formula for fiscal 2017 would be compliant” and thus satisfy the court’s demand on funding equity between larger and smaller school districts.
The Kansas Supreme Court has given its blessing to school funding legislation passed in a special session last week.
The court issued its three-page order a day after Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed the school finance measure into law. The court warned that schools might be unable to reopen after Thursday if lawmakers didn’t make more revisions.
Although the court has determined that the $38 million plan is equitable, it is still reviewing whether education funding overall is adequate in the state.
“It keeps the schools open”, Brownback said after signing the measure.
The dispute over equitable funding came on the heels of recent income tax cuts in Kansas that have reduced resources for education and other services.
A legal brief signed by school district lawyers and Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle said, in part, “Kansas schools are now funded”, and “No remedy is necessary or appropriate at this time”.
“We’ve got this chapter behind us”, said John Robb, an attorney representing the four districts suing the state.
The legislation boosts aid to poor school districts by $38 million and redistributes some funds from wealthier districts.
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“It was important from the equity standpoint to let those kids have equal access to an educational opportunity, not based on where they live”, said Alan Rupe, who’s argued in favor of equitably funding schools. Additional funds are being tapped from motor vehicle fees and the state’s share of a national legal settlement with tobacco companies from the 1990s.
