Washington high court says Legislature could be held in contempt over school funding

OLYMPIA – Recent efforts to improve the state’s school system have been so inadequate the Washington Supreme Court said today the Legislature could be held in contempt. The state’s highest court said the latest update on how the state can meet its constitutional duty of funding basic education did not follow the instructions the court issued in January. The court ordered a hearing in September and said attorneys for the Legislature should come ready to explain why the court shouldn’t issue a fine or take over the state budget until education is properly funded.