In the latest of several significant milestones regarding Maryland school funding this year, Judge Joseph Kaplan of Baltimore City Circuit Court granted a motion by the ACLU, which represents parents of Baltimore City's at-risk schoolchildren, and the Board of School Commissioners of Baltimore City for the court to retain jurisdiction and continue judicial supervision in Bradford v. Maryland State Board of Education.

In a 2000 Bradford decision, the same court declared that the State "is still not providing the children of Baltimore City . . . a constitutionally adequate education" and needed to provide additional funding of $2,000 to $2,600 per pupil. The legislature then established a commission to analyze funding options and, In April of this year, adopted a new education finance system to be implemented over the next six years.

The court's recent ruling, issued June 25, 2002, will provide support for full funding of the new system, and, if funding falters, will allow plaintiffs to return to court without the delay and expense of filing a new case.

Prepared July 12, 2002.