Education funding gets day in court
NewsTimesLive.com
DANBURY -- A coalition of town leaders will take a big step in a lawsuit against the state to garner more education funding with an appeal of a lower court ruling Tuesday before the Connecticut Supreme Court.
The ruling decided that students don't have a right to an adequate education, according to the state constitution.
Appellate courts in more than 20 states, including those from New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, have recognized the existence of such a right.
It's the new theory in education funding -- that states should adequately fund schools to meet the needs of children so they can reach the goals expected of them rather than satisfy the more familiar -- but less encompassing -- requirement to provide an equitable education.
The lawsuit was filed more than two years ago by 15 students and their families and the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding. The coalition wants to lessen the reliance on local property taxes and substantially shift the school funding burden to the state.
The plaintiffs charged that the state's failure to suitably fund its public schools has irreparably harmed thousands of children. Three of the complaints address adequacy of funding and one is on equity in funding....
... also an equitable one, so the kids in Danbury would have the right to the same high-quality education as those in
Greenwich." Regardless of the outcome of the hearing, which is expected to be decided by the fall, the coalition will continue to ...
For more information, visit:
www.ccjef.org/about.htm
Contact: Eileen FitzGerald
at eileenf@newstimes.com
or at (203) 731-3333
IF YOU GO: WHAT: Oral arguments before Connecticut Supreme Court
WHEN: Tuesday, April 22, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Supreme Court, 231 Capitol Ave., Hartford
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