Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington’s highest court scrutinized equal funding of schools Thursday.  A lawyer for a suburban Seattle school district asked the justices to order a rewrite of the state school funding formula.  Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

The Washington State Constitution requires the legislature to pay for “a general and uniform system of public schools.”

The Federal Way School District and some of its parents and students claim the state is falling short of uniformity.

Attorney Buzz Porter argued their challenge before the state supreme court.

Buzz Porter: “We have the same student who would be treated differently and the state is going to send that same child more money.”

Assistant State Attorney General David Stolier replied that precise equality is impossible because of all the different money sources school districts draw from.

David Stolier: “The allocations as they exist today are the product of rational legislative policy decisions.”

The Washington Supreme Court justices peppered the attorneys with questions, but didn’t display obvious leanings. 

The court typically takes about half a year to make its rulings.

Online:

The case is: 80943-7 Federal Way School District No. 210 et al vs. State of Washington et al