The Kansas Supreme Court on March 7 declared the level of state public school funding inadequate and unconstitutional and ordered state lawmakers to increase it by July 1.

The ruling comes after sweeping cuts to income taxes in 2012 and 2013 championed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback that reduced the amount of available resources for education. The latest ruling in a lawsuit filed in 2010 by parents and school districts found that funding disparities between school districts violated the state’s constitution but left it up to the lower court to re-examine how much the state should spend on education overall. As guidance, the court stated that the funding needs to produce adequate educational outcomes.

John Robb, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said the ruling was a victory for students because the justices rejected the state’s argument that school funding is a political decision to be determined solely by the Legislature and the governor.

Associated Press, March 7
Lawrence Journal-World, March 18