School Funding Fight Will Be Heard in Court Next Week

"The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court will hear oral arguments this Wednesday in the ongoing lawsuit claiming public school funding across the state is inequitable and violates the state Constitution.

Attorneys from the Education Law Center and the Public Interest Law Center will ask the court to reject preliminary objections and a motion to dismiss from the state Legislature, according to a news release from the organizations. They want the case to proceed directly to trial.

In September, the state Supreme Court ordered the Commonwealth Court to hold a trial and reversed a lower court decision to dismiss the challenge to how schools are funded.

Wilkes-Barre Area and five other school districts — William Penn, Panther Valley, Lancaster, Greater Johnstown and Shenandoah Valley — initiated the litigation in 2014.

The Education Law Center, the Public Interest Law Center and pro bono counsel from O’Melveny & Myers LLP in New York City have helped spearhead the litigation..."

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