Even before state courts decide whether Kansas spends enough money on K-12 public schools, an education funding lawsuit is complicating efforts by legislators and Governor Sam Brownback to close budget shortfalls.
A three-judge panel in Shawnee County District Court expects to rule by the end of December in a lawsuit filed in 2010 by parents of more than 30 students and the Dodge City, Hutchinson, Wichita and Kansas City school districts.
Both sides predict an appeal to the state Supreme Court, which might not rule until 2016.
Public school funding is the biggest item in the state's annual budget.
However, many legislators are wary of cutting it, particularly dollars for classrooms, with the lawsuit pending.
