Suit seeks full school funding

SEATTLE – A coalition of teachers, parents, community groups and school districts has sued the state for not spending enough on public education, nearly 30 years after a similar lawsuit forced the Legislature to revamp the way it pays for schools.

The Network for Excellence in Washington Schools said Thursday it wants a King County Superior Court judge to declare that the state has failed to live up to the constitution, which defines education as the state’s paramount duty.

“We’re reminding everyone the constitution is clear. It doesn’t say ‘a’ paramount duty. It says ‘the,’ ” said James Kelly, president of the Seattle Urban League, a member of the network.

Kelly said he discussed the lawsuit with Gov. Chris Gregoire before it was filed and explained that although the coalition strongly supports her proposed education budget, it was time to go to court.

The group said the state’s education system relies on an outdated formula for allocating money that leaves schools strapped.

The state uses sales, business and state property taxes to pay 84.3 percent of what it costs to educate Washington’s 1 million school children. The other 15.7 percent comes from local levies and some federal money.

The bulk of state dollars go to teacher salaries. The state also matches local bond money for school construction.

The coalition’s lawsuit seeks to force the Legislature to pay 100 percent of the cost to educate K-12 students but does not suggest how.