Law & Courts News in Brief

S.C. High Court Rules for Poor, Rural Students

By Denisa R. Superville — December 02, 2014 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A 21-year-old legal battle waged by more than two dozen districts that accused the state of South Carolina of failing to provide a “minimally adequate” education for poor and rural students has come to an end, after the state Supreme Court ruled in the districts’ favor.

In its ruling last month, the court said the state’s failure to address the “effects of pervasive poverty on students within the plaintiffs’ school districts prevented those students from receiving the required opportunity.”

But Chief Justice Jean Toal, who wrote the majority opinion, did not absolve the districts for their role in exacerbating funding inequities, saying that local spending priorities—for athletic facilities and other auxiliary services while students languished in “crumbling schools and toxic academic environments"—were also part of the problem.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the December 03, 2014 edition of Education Week as S.C. High Court Rules for Poor, Rural Students

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Boosting Student and Staff Mental Health: What Schools Can Do
Join this free virtual event based on recent reporting on student and staff mental health challenges and how schools have responded.
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
Curriculum Webinar
Practical Methods for Integrating Computer Science into Core Curriculum
Dive into insights on integrating computer science into core curricula with expert tips and practical strategies to empower students at every grade level.
Content provided by Learning.com

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 What the Supreme Court Had to Say About School Board Members Blocking Constituents
The justices take up a case involving school board members who blocked some constituents from posting comments on public social media pages.
7 min read
The sun rises behind the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Nov. 10, 2020.
The sun rises behind the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Nov. 10, 2020.
Alex Brandon/AP
Law & Courts 41 States Sue Meta Over the Social Media Giant's Impact on Kids
States are suing Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, saying the social media giant harms children’s mental health.
7 min read
Image of a phone on the floor near the feet of a girl sitting on the floor.
iStock/Getty
Law & Courts School Board Members' Use of Social Media Faces Key First Amendment Test in Supreme Court
The justices will decide whether school board members engaged in government action when they blocked parents who posted repetitive comments.
9 min read
The setting sun illuminates the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 10, 2023.
The setting sun illuminates the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 10, 2023.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Law & Courts State Judge Says 'Racially Isolated Districts Persist' in New Jersey
A state judge allows a narrowed claim to go forward that the state may be liable for pervasive racial isolation in its public schools.
7 min read
Law themed still life featuring Themis statue, judge gavel and scale of justice in a law library.
iStock / Getty Images