Merrick Says Equalization May never be Achieved

Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick says it might be impossible to keep all Kansas School district equalized.
Equalization is providing all school districts a uniform method of paying for its students need school needs. It does not mean each district gets an equal amount of money.
“It’s a moving number. A moving target,” Merrick said Olathe Monday afternoon.
Equity, equity, equity,” That’s a problem that will never be solved, he added.
Equalization is a key element to the on-going dispute between the Kansas Supreme Court and the Legislature.
The courts ruled earlier this year that the state’s equalization plan was not constitutional. The court gave lawmakers until June 30 to come up with the plan the Justices will accept, or risk a school shutdown in the fall.
Lawmakers passed a new school funding bill and Governor Sam Brownback signed the measure last week.
“We did take a piece of the formula the court had already declared was constitutional for equalization and applied that formula to the rest of the plan. So it should pass a constitutional challenge,” Brownback said Monday.
The Kansas Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on the legislature’s school funding plan on May 10.