TOPEKA — A Shawnee County court ruled Friday that the present level of funding for public schools is unconstitutional. The three-judge panel ruled that the legislature can’t reduce school education financial aid to school districts from 2008 levels. The state can’t alter the previously-set $4,492 per pupil basic funding level, chief Judge Franklin Theis said in his lengthy legal ruling. Because of previous state funding cuts, the current per pupil basic rate is $3,838 per pupil. The rate is adjusted from district to district for a variety of factors. Theis’ decision in “Gannon vs. the State of Kansas” said the present level doesn’t meet the state constitution’s mandate for providing a suitable education to Kansas public school students. The reaction from Gov. Sam Brownback and the conservative Republican leaders of the legislature was swift and predictable and are similar to other comments after other court cases that have found school funding levels to be unconstitutional. They say it’s up to legislators to appropriate money for education and not the courts. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said he is filing an appeal. The outcome of the appeal is expected to take several months.
Monday, Jan. 14, 3 p.m.
