The parties in Pennsylvania’s historic school funding lawsuit will meet in Commonwealth Court once more in July, according to a new scheduling order from Commonwealth Court. The four-month trial in the case William Penn School District et al. v. PA Department of Education et al. concluded on March 10, and parties are currently preparing required post-trial filings.
The court order, filed April 18, announced that oral argument on legal issues in the case will be held on July 26, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 3001 of the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg. The order also updates approaching deadlines for post-trial filings, in response to a request for an extension from an attorney for Sen. Jake Corman:
All parties must file “findings of fact” and “conclusions of law” by May 2.
Amicus briefs from outside parties with an interest in the case are due May 16.
All parties must file post-trial briefs on the legal issues in the case. Due dates are as follows: Petitioners–June 1; Respondents–July 1; Petitioners’ reply brief–July 15.
Following oral argument, the Court will make its decision. A final decision could come several months after the July 26 oral argument.
Oral argument will highlight several central themes presented through witness testimony during the school funding case.
“One of the central legal questions of the trial is what kind of education Pennsylvania public school students have the right to receive, according to the Pennsylvania state constitution,” said Michael Churchill, counsel for the Public Interest Law Center. “Pennsylvania’s education clause directs the state legislature to support ‘a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the commonwealth.’ There has been substantial disagreement throughout trial about what this constitutional provision means, but we believe it means a quality education that prepares students for today’s world.”
“We are also challenging the current school funding system on the ground that it discriminates against students who live in low-wealth communities, in violation of their right to equal treatment under the law in the Pennsylvania state constitution.” said Maura McInerney, legal director of the Education Law Center. “Our state constitution guarantees that all students receive a high-quality public education: one that prepares them for life after graduation, ready for careers, higher education, and civic participation.”
At trial, petitioners presented an analysis of state data showing that the poorest 20% of school districts have $4,800 less to spend on education per student than the wealthiest 20% of districts. Legislative leaders argue that disparities between local school districts do not violate the state constitution and are justifiable in a system that provides for local control of education. Petitioners argue that the right to education is a fundamental right, and that the disparities that exist in Pennsylvania public schools cannot be justified by local control.
The July 26 court proceedings will be livestreamed by Commonwealth Court on their YouTube page.
Petitioners are represented by the Education Law Center-PA, the Public Interest Law Center, and pro bono counsel from O’Melveny. A summary outline of the witnesses and evidence in the trial is available on the law centers’ Fund Our Schools PA website.
The case was filed in 2014 in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court by six school districts, two statewide organizations, and several parents against state legislative leaders, state education officials, and the governor for failing to uphold the General Assembly’s state constitutional obligation to provide a “thorough and efficient” system of public education and for violating the rights of students in low-wealth school districts to equal protection under the Pennsylvania Constitution.