The Topeka & Shawnee County Courthouse (Photo Credit: Cheryl Unruh, via flyoverpeople.net)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A three-judge panel has ruled in favor of parents and schools who say the state's formula for funding education is unconstitutional. Parents and school districts had argued the state has failed to live up to its promises to increase elementary and secondary education funding as ordered by the Kansas Supreme Court in 2006. They say schools have had to make cuts that have hurt student achievement. Friday's ruling from the Shawnee County District Court will likely trigger an appeal from the state, though it's unclear how quickly that case would be heard. In the ruling, the judges barred lawmakers from further cuts to per-pupil spending. But the ruling also acknowledged the state would likely appeal its findings.
UPDATE: Multiple news outlets are reporting that Kansas attorney general Derek Schmidt says the state will appeal the district court ruling to the Kansas Supreme Court.