TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Attorneys for Kansas hope to persuade the state Supreme Court to accept recent changes made by lawmakers in the state’s system for funding public schools. The court is set to hear arguments Tuesday on whether the technical changes approved earlier this year are fair enough to poor districts that the justices can abandon a threat to shut down public schools.
The court in February ordered the Legislature to improve funding for poor school districts. The justices gave lawmakers until June 30 to fix the problems or face having schools shut down.
Lawmakers’ changes leave most school districts’ aid unchanged and don’t boost overall education spending.
Lawyers for four school districts suing the state contend legislators’ work shouldn’t satisfy the Supreme Court’s order because aid to poor districts didn’t increase.