Published: May 22, 1985

Kentucky Districts Plan To Sue State To Achieve Equal Funding

A coalition of school districts in Kentucky has announced plans to file suit against the state within three weeks, in what it calls the "last chance" to achieve equal funding among school systems in that state.

The Council for Better Education, founded last May, represents 66 of the state's 180 districts. Its members claim that Kentucky's school-finance system favors wealthier districts at the expense of poorer ones and that the state has not spent enough money to equalize resources.

"We think the basic question needs to be answered: Should a child's educational opportunity be subject to the wealth of the district he or she happens to live in?" said Frank Hatfield, superintendent of the Bullitt County schools, who was recently named president of the council. Mr. Hatfield confirmed that the council has directed its...