Law & Courts

Kansas Supreme Court Orders Higher Spending for Schools

By Robert C. Johnston — June 03, 2005 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Saying time was of the essence, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled unanimously in a decision posted online June 3 that the state legislature has failed to satisfy a court mandate to adequately finance K-12 public schools. The court ordered lawmakers to double the increase in school aid approved for the 2005-06 school year by July 1.

The education budget for fiscal 2006, which became law on April 16 without Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ signature, raises K-12 state aid by about $142 million, to nearly $2 billion over the current fiscal year. Under the new court-ordered remedy, the amount of the increase would total $285 million.

That increase is one-third of the $853 million recommended by a consulting firm retained by the legislature in 2001 to determine the cost of educating students in Kansas.

Funding beyond the 2005-06 school year will be contingent upon the results of a cost study ordered by the legislature this year. The court said that if that study is not completed in time for lawmakers to act on it in the 2006 session, or is not considered adequate by the court or is not acted on, the remaining two-thirds—or $568 million—in added funding recommended in the 2001 cost study could be ordered by the court.

A summary provided by the court said that the Kansas state board of education’s suggestion that the 2005 legislation be accepted as an interim step was “initially attractive.” The court, however, concluded that “… we cannot continue to ask current Kansas students to be patient. The time for their education is now.”

The court also delayed provisions passed by the legislature this year that would have authorized districts to raise local property taxes for education above state caps, and would have allowed for weighted state aid to reflect variations in local cost of living and radical shifts in local enrollment.

The June 3 decision is the latest action in the case known as Montoy v. State of Kansas, which was filed in 1999. On Jan. 3, the high court declared that the state inadequately finances its public schools, and ordered the legislature to adopt “corrective legislation” by April 12.

The budget passed by the legislature this spring increases per-pupil base spending from $3,863 to $4,222 annually, a hike of nearly 11 percent, and funding for special education and bilingual programs.

Events

Student Well-Being Webinar After-School Learning Top Priority: Academics or Fun?
Join our expert panel to discuss how after-school programs and schools can work together to help students recover from pandemic-related learning loss.
Budget & Finance Webinar Leverage New Funding Sources with Data-Informed Practices
Address the whole child using data-informed practices, gain valuable insights, and learn strategies that can benefit your district.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
ChatGPT & Education: 8 Ways AI Improves Student Outcomes
Revolutionize student success! Don't miss our expert-led webinar demonstrating practical ways AI tools will elevate learning experiences.
Content provided by Inzata

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Law & Courts How a Court Ruling on a School’s Admission Policy Could Impact Others
Legal experts say a coming U.S. Supreme Court decision on race in college admissions could be relevant for the magnet school's policy.
8 min read
James Pan, the parent of an eighth-grader, speaks about a lawsuit he and other parents filed against the Fairfax County School Board over its plans to change the admissions process at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, an elite public schools regularly ranked as one of the nation's best on Nov. 5, 2020 in Fairfax, Va.
James Pan, the parent of an 8th grader in Fairfax, Va., speaks Nov. 5, 2020, about a lawsuit he and other parents filed against the Fairfax County district over its plans to change the admissions process at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
Matthew Barakat/AP
Law & Courts Biden Administration Urges High Court to Reject Case on Legal Status of Charter Schools
The case about whether a North Carolina charter school is a "state actor" when it enforces its dress code is being watched closely.
4 min read
This artist sketch depicts Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, right, presenting an argument before the Supreme Court, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Washington.
U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, shown in a November 2021 sketch arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court, has filed a brief urging the justices not to take up a closely watched case about the legal status of charter schools.
Dana Verkouteren via AP
Law & Courts Appeals Court Upholds Admissions Policy at Elite Virginia High School
Critics say the new admissions policy discriminates against highly qualified Asian Americans.
3 min read
Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Erin Wilcox speaks at a news conference outside the federal courthouse on March 10, 2021, in Alexandria, Va., where her organization filed a lawsuit against Fairfax County's school board, alleging discrimination against Asian Americans over its revised admissions process for the elite Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, upheld the constitutionality of a new admissions policy at the elite public high school in Virginia that critics say discriminates against highly qualified Asian Americans.
Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Erin Wilcox speaks at a news conference outside the federal courthouse on March 10, 2021, in Alexandria, Va., where her organization filed a lawsuit against Fairfax County's school board, alleging discrimination against Asian Americans over its revised admissions process for the elite Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, upheld the constitutionality of a new admissions policy at the elite public high school in Virginia that critics say discriminates against highly qualified Asian Americans.
Matthew Barakat/AP
Law & Courts District That Restricted Access to Over 100 Books Sued by Publisher, Free Speech Group
Penguin Random House, PEN America, and several banned book authors are suing a Florida school district over removing and restricting books.
6 min read
Jennifer Wilson, a Largo High School English teacher, wears a shirt against banning books at the Pinellas County School Board meeting in Largo, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2023. In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles.
Jennifer Wilson, a Largo High School English teacher, wears a shirt against banning books at the Pinellas County School Board meeting in Largo, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2023. In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles.
Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times via AP