UPDATE: The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled -- unanimously -- that the state is not adequately providing enough money to fund public schools. In a decision released this (THUR) morning, the high court said the current level of funding is unconstitutionally low. The court gave the Legislature until June 30 to come up with a response to its ruling. Otherwise, the court said, the school funding system will be rendered invalid and void. Today's ruling sets up another showdown between the legislative and judicial branches. Hanging in the balance is the possibility that the supreme court might close public schools.
Click here to read the Kansas Supreme Court's decision.
The Kansas Supreme Court’s ruling requires lawmakers to write a new school funding formula, and to do it quickly. As Jim McLean, of the Kansas News Service, reports... that’s a tall order.
NPR's Report: Kansas Isn't Spending Enough on its Schools, State High Court Says
(earlier version)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Supreme Court is preparing to rule on whether the state is spending enough money on its public schools to provide a suitable education for every child. The court announced that it would issue a decision later this (THUR) morning in a lawsuit filed in 2010 by four school districts. The districts have argued that the nearly $4.1 billion a year the state provides in funding to its 286 school districts is about $800 million a year short of what's necessary. Previous rulings in the same lawsuit forced legislators and Governor Sam Brownback to boost aid to poor districts. The decision comes with the state facing projected budget shortfalls totaling more than $1 billion through June 2019. Lawmakers already are considering rolling back past income tax cuts championed by Brownback. The ruling is expected to be announced at 11 o'clock this (THUR) morning.