Lawsuit: California school funding system is unconstitutional - Inside Bay Area

Lawsuit: California school funding system is unconstitutional - Inside Bay Area

Lawsuit: California school funding system is unconstitutional

Second case in two months filed Monday in Alameda Superior Court

By Katy Murphy
Oakland Tribune

Posted: 07/12/2010 04:18:17 PM PDT

Updated: 07/12/2010 09:32:46 PM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

Attorney John T. Affeldt holds up a copy of a lawsuit against the State of California for...

• 1
• 2
• »

OAKLAND — California's substandard school system is depriving students of the opportunity to receive a meaningful education and to meet the standards the state has set for them, a coalition of parents, students and civil rights advocacy groups argued in a lawsuit filed Monday in Alameda Superior Court against the state and the governor.

The plaintiffs argue that education is a fundamental right under California's constitution, and far too many students are failing to read and write at grade level or graduate from high school.

To remedy the problem, the coalition is demanding equal access to preschools, increased school funding, better data systems and an efficient, coherent school finance system that

provides more resources to children with greater need.

The Campaign for Quality Education suit was filed less than two months after a similar case, Robles-Wong v. California, began to make its way through the court system. Attorneys involved with the second suit said the two cases are complementary, but that Monday's complaint gives voice to the needs of the state's low-income students.

Both cases were initiated in the context of ongoing school budget cuts, which have led to teacher layoffs, shortened school years and elementary school class sizes of 30 students or more in some districts. Per-student funding, already below the national average, dropped 14 percent from 2007-08 through 2009-10 during the state budget crisis,

according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.

1,500 mourners expected at Locatelli funeral at Santa Clara University At least 1,500 mourners are expected to attend the outdoor funeral service Friday evening for the Rev. Paul Locatelli, Santa Clara University's chancellor and former president who guided the university through tremendous change and revitalization. Day care programs suspended at Hayward schools No spring admission to SJSU Education Report: California's school funding system and report of an ACT inequity Save Fremont Students hoping for late surge in donations Judge will reconsider previous ruling that kept Peralta colleges document secret Rev. Paul Locatelli, former Santa Clara University president, dies at 71 Stanford University confronts the graying of academia

The Education Report Adults sure are scarce in CA schools School finance in CA: Will it take a lawsuit (or two) to fix it? Oscar Grant/Mehserle verdict protest, arrests: a teacher’s account Reducing the dropout rate: the economic argument Suburban mom reports substandard ACT administration at West Oakland high school » More from The Education Report

Featured Article Organization Tips at home for the entire family Learn what parents across the country are doing. Get the whole family organized for the busy year ahead. Help your child get organized with basic time-management and organizational skills. Important tips and advice for the year The Survival skill your child will need through high school and beyond. School Attendance may determine student success. Helping your child without interfering in his freedom. Articles in Espanol La enseñanza efectiva de la escritura a estudiantes con problemas de aprendizaje Effective Writing Instruction for Students With Learning Problems View all Spanish articles