Wyoming Supreme Court rules state funding system constitutional
The Wyoming Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s system of funding public education meets its state constitutional duty to provide a “thorough and efficient education.” The court concluded that the evidence supported a trial court’s finding that the state had made the necessary changes to address at-risk students, administrative and classified salaries, small schools and small districts, teacher beginning and average salaries, funding of health insurance costs, and inflation and that the state’s recalibration of the model used to determine and distribute adequate funding was “cost-based and reasonably and accurately captured the cost of education.” While conceding that some deficiencies in the system exist, the court determined that the state legislature is acting in good faith and has a genuine commitment to address all deficiencies remaining, and thus found no further reason to retain jurisdiction over the case. The court reiterated its earlier rulings that “the legislature’s role to determine what should be included in an adequate education for Wyoming children and then it is the legislature’s responsibility to adequately fund the programs necessary to deliver that education.”
Campbell v. State, Nos. 06-74/06-75 (Wyo. Jan. 8, 2008)
[Editor’s Note: Reactions to the ruling are reported below. For background, see the NSBA link. The state legislature had significantly increased funding for schools.]
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle By staff and wire services
NSBA School Law pages on Campbell v. State