Ala. Judge Sets Deadlines for Developing Finance, Reform Plan

By Millicent Lawton

An Alabama judge has given state officials six months to create a system for equitably and adequately funding public schools, and another six months to implement that system.

The judge's order gives the state more time to put into place other reforms, however, such as 18 months for a plan for secondary school reform and two years for new graduation and promotion requirements.

The order issued last month by Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Eugene W. Reese closely parallels the proposed remedy earlier submitted to him by the plaintiffs and defendants in the state's educational-equity lawsuit. (See Education...