Oral Argument Set in PA School Funding Lawsuit

Feb. 19, 2015 – The Commonwealth Court will hear oral argument in William Penn School District, et al., v. Pennsylvania Department of Education, et al. on Wednesday, March 11th at 9:30 a.m. in Harrisburg. This case challenges the failure of legislative leaders, state education officials, and Pennsylvania’s Governor to uphold their constitutional obligation to provide a thorough and efficient system of public education. The Education Law Center-PA, the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, and O’Melveny & Myers LLP are the law firms representing school districts, parents, and organizations as plaintiffs in the case.

State officials have asked the court to dismiss the case without a trial on the grounds that courts should not decide claims that school funding violates the state Constitution. On February 17, the petitioners filed a brief in response to the state’s preliminary objections in the case and several organizations filed amici briefs in support of the petitioners. Additional amici are expected to be filed in the coming weeks.

 

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Contact:

Brett Schaeffer, Education Law Center-PA
215-519-6522
[email protected]

Barbara Grimaldi, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
585-797-9439
[email protected]