Commonwealth Court Nixes Lawsuit Over 'Adequate' Education in Pennsylvania
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Commonwealth Court panel today turned aside a lawsuit that claimed the state of Pennsylvania was failing to adequately fund public schools.
In dismissing the suit brought by six school districts, parents, and the NAACP, Commonwealth Court ruled that funding schools is an issue for the state legislature, not the courts.
Jennifer Clarke, executive director of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, says her group will appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
"Our argument is that the Comonwealth Court just got it wrong," she said today, "that the courts do have an important role in enforcing the Constitution of Pennsylvania, that says that children should get a thorough and efficient system of public education."
Previous similar school funding suits have failed, but the plaintiffs say what's different this time is that the state's adoption of tests and standards define what an "adequate" education is.