The group of local school districts that sued to force Kansas to increase funding for public education is considering another challenge to the state’s system for supporting education. A decision on whether to proceed is expected this month.
Representatives from several districts met recently in a closed-door session at Newton, sponsored by Schools for Fair Funding, to discuss their options.
The Kansas Supreme Court in July 2008 ruled in a suit filed by Schools for Fair Funding that the current state aid was inadequate and inequitably distributed.
The group said districts at the session represent more than 130,000 students, or approximately 30% of all public school students in Kansas.
Budget cuts have resulted in a drop in the state base aid per pupil for the next school year to $4,218. Districts had been expecting a stipend of $4,492.
A school finance report prepared by the group’s attorneys said state base aid is now lower than it was before the Legislature approved a three-year funding plan following the court decision.
