Kansas school districts sue for funding

June 21, 2012

Topeka, Kansas: 54 Kansas school districts have sued the state for deficiencies in education funding. The state Constitution requires the state to spend enough money to provide kids a "suitable" education. The lawsuit claims that the Legislature has not allotted the schools enough money to meet this requirement. The case is before a three-judge panel of the 3rd Judicial District in Shawnee County. Testimony began June 4 and is expected to continue until June 28.

Brad Neuenswander, Deputy Education Commissioner, explained, "There’s more to a kid being prepared for beyond school than just a (test) score." He testified that more funds are needed, not only to help test scores, but to ensure that the kids are prepared for college and the workforce.

Eric Hanushek, a school finance expert with the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, testified on behalf of the state. He explained that spending more money per student did not necessarily increase their chance of success. He pointed to Kansas students' scores on national tests compared to those of states with more education funding. He concluded, "Kansas schools are doing quite well."