Montana High Court Strikes Down State's School Funding System

The Montana Supreme Court has ruled that Montana's public schools aren't adequately financed because the current funding system isn't based on "educationally relevant factors."

In a unanimous decision on Nov. 9, Montana's highest court upheld the ruling in April of Helena District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock that state funding for public schools is not sufficient. The three-page preliminary order also upheld Judge Sherlock's finding that the state's public education system is violating a mandate in the state constitution for schools to teach children about the heritage of American Indians.

The supreme court gave the Montana legislature until Oct. 1 of next year to come up with a better system for financing public education. Having rushed to issue a preliminary order on the matter so the legislature could address it in its upcoming session, the court will issue a full opinion at an unspecified, later date. State legislators are set to resume work Jan. 3 for a session expected...