69ý

Education Funding A State Capitals Roundup

Study for Ark. High Court Faults State on School Aid

By Kathleen Kennedy Manzo — October 11, 2005 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Arkansas has not made education its “first priority” as required by a 2002 state supreme court decision in a school finance lawsuit, a special investigation concludes.

The report, commissioned by the state’s high court, criticizes legislators for holding per-pupil spending steady in fiscal 2005, despite an anticipated state surplus of more than $100 million.

In 2002, the state supreme court in Lake View School District No. 25 v. Huckabee declared Arkansas’ school aid system unconstitutional.(“Court Orders Arkansas To Fix K-12 Funding,” Dec. 4, 2002)

In the following two years, the legislature approved more money for education and a preference for schools in funding decisions. Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican, said in a statement that the report is based on conclusions that are “factually incorrect.” He added that he assumed the case was over when the court ruled last year that the state had done an adequate job addressing funding issues.

A version of this article appeared in the October 12, 2005 edition of Education Week

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
AI and Educational Leadership: Driving Innovation and Equity
Discover how to leverage AI to transform teaching, leadership, and administration. Network with experts and learn practical strategies.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School Climate & Safety Webinar
Investing in Success: Leading a Culture of Safety and Support
Content provided by 
Assessment K-12 Essentials Forum Making Competency-Based Learning a Reality
Join this free virtual event to hear from educators and experts working to implement competency-based education.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Education Funding Gun Violence Takes a Toll. We Need More Support, Principals Tell Congress
At a congressional roundtable, school leaders made an emotional appeal for more funds to help schools recover from gun violence.
5 min read
Principals from the Principals Recovery Network address lawmakers on the long-term effects of gun violence on Sept. 23, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Principals address Democratic members of Congress on the long-term effects of gun violence on Sept. 23, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Courtesy of Oversight Committee Democrats Press Office
Education Funding ESSER Is Ending. Which Investments Accomplished the Most?
Districts have until Sept. 30 to commit their last round of federal COVID aid to particular expenses.
11 min read
Illustration of falling or declining money with a frustrated man in a suit standing on the edge of a cliff the shape of an arrow dollar sign.
DigitalVision Vectors
Education Funding Explainer How One Grant Can Help 69ý Recover From Shootings
69ý can leverage a little-known emergency grant to recover from violence or a natural disaster. Here’s how.
9 min read
Broken piggy bank with adhesive bandage on the table
iStock/Getty
Education Funding A Funding Lifeline for Rural 69ý Is at Risk, and Not for the First Time
Rural schools near national forests rely on dedicated federal funds. But so far, lawmakers haven't renewed them.
7 min read
School bus on rural route, Owens Valley, CA.
iStock/Getty