December
Groups Sue to Stop Consolidation as Budget Shortfalls Prompt New Calls for Mergers Alliance Study Calls for New-Teacher Induction Programs Mobile Area Education Foundation Brings Together Discordant School Factions Ohio Supreme Court Declares School Funding System Unconstitutional, in DeRolph V Amidst Widespread Budget Shortfalls, States Consider Tax Increases and Funding Cuts Federal Judge Declines to Hear MCAS Case, Retains Jurisdiction on Some Issues After Negotiations Fail, CFE Appeal Proceeds November
Rethinking Testing: Recent Studies Discuss Student Assessments Alabama Organizers Step Up Advocacy After Lawsuit is Dismissed Arkansas Supreme Court Declares School Funding System Unconstitutional; State Must Prepare Adequacy Study and "Chart a New Course for Public Education" Idaho Judge Appoints Special Master in School Facilities Funding Case 2002 Election Results Coalition Seeks Tax Reform in Alabama
October
Massachusetts Advocates Launch Latest State Early-Education Campaign Arizona Judge Orders State to Return Money Diverted from School Facilities Williams Plaintiffs Release Experts' Reports Tennessee Supreme Court Reaffirms Its Holding: Constitution Requires Equal Educational Opportunity and Cost-Based Funding Study Finds that Achievement Gap Begins Before Kindergarten Small Schools Work Better, Cost Less, Study Finds
September
Study Finds 6 Million Children in Danger of Being "Left Behind" New Jersey's Abbott Case Goes Back to Court MCAS Lawsuit Filed New York Governor Changes His Position on Eighth-Grade Standard As Appeal Proceeds New Jersey Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to School Facilities Funding Ohio Supreme Court Decision Attempts to Resolve School Funding Impasse New Hampshire School-Funding Case Back in Court Montana Seeks Adequate, Cost-Based Funding Formula ACCESS Supports Proposed "Students Bill of Rights"
August
Study Reveals Widespread Out-of-Field Teaching in High-Poverty and High-Minority Schools Montana School Funding Study Calculates Cost of Meeting State and Federal Standards North Carolina Court Orders State to Specify How It Will Help "At-Risk" Students Five Public Engagement Efforts Move Forward In Support of High Standards New Report Reveals Major Funding Gaps in School Districts Educating Low-Income or Minority Students "Starting at 3" Project Launched by Education Law Center and Rutgers University
July
Secretary of Education Outlines Adequacy Provisions under No Child Left Behind Act Maryland Court Retains Jurisdiction in Adequacy Case Tenth Circuit Decision in Kansas Favors Plaintiffs' Disparate Impact Claims Public School Choice and Supplementary Education Services to be Available this Fall to Students at Schools Needing Improvement
June Federal Reserve Focuses On Education Economics Intermediate Court Holds Eighth-Grade Education Adequate Under New York State Constitution: Appeal Will Be Taken To State's Highest Court One-Year "Relaxation" of Remedies in New Jersey Institute for Wisconsin's Future Costing-Out Study Calls for 32% Increase in School Funding
May
Alabama Supreme Court Dismisses Funding Case It Previously Affirmed U.S. Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Education Equity North Carolina's Governor Seeks Expedited Appeal and No Stay in Leandro
April
New Hampshire Court Says State Must Hold School Districts Accountable Maryland Revamps State Funding for Schools: Adds $1.3 Billion Based on Adequacy Cost Study Major Victory for Schoolchildren in North Carolina Court Ruling Iowa Suit Seeks Equitable and Adequate School Funding
March
Mediation Fails; DeRolph Case Returns to Ohio Supreme Court
February
NJ Governor Announces New Collaborative Approach to Implementing Court-Ordered Urban School Reforms Texas School Funding Debate Raises Controversial Issues
January
Arkansas Public Interest Groups File Amicus Brief in Education Finance Case In Wisconsin, Hundreds Rally for More School Funding Alabama Supreme Court Will Review 1993 Decision It Previously Affirmed New Hampshire Supreme Court Hears Claremont Argument NY Appeals' Court Affirms Right to Sound Basic Education but Rejects Rochester Students' Claims
Prepared December 30, 2002
