Washington basic education trial begins

A trial to determine if the state is adequately paying for basic public education began Monday in King County Superior Court, with about 50 witnesses expected to testify over the next six weeks.

The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of school districts, parents, teachers and community groups, who are demanding the state start paying the full cost of education.

Much of the testimony before Judge John Erlick will focus on how much it costs to run a school district, whether the state is meeting its obligations, if student achievement is connected to school funding, and whether the Legislature's attempts at school reform have been adequate.

The case is in some ways a continuation of a lawsuit decided by the state Supreme Court 30 years ago. Both sides will be arguing their interpretation of Seattle School District v. State that said Washington must fully pay for its definition of basic education.

State and federal dollars pay most but not all the cost to educate Washington's students. The rest of the money comes from local tax levies, donations and PTA fundraisers. The Washington Constitution makes education the state's highest priority.

After opening statements, the group calling itself Network for Excellence in Washington Schools called the superintendent of the tiny Chimacum School District, which educates just over 1,000 students on the Olympic Peninsula.

Mike Blair, who is also chair of the network, gave attorney Thomas F. Ahearne a nearly item-by-item explanation of the costs to run his school district, explanations of where the money comes from, and places where a lack of money has caused cutbacks.

Blair spoke of the grandmother who pays for classroom supplies for the kindergartens. He told of the computers that need to be replaced, and the heating system that works only some of the time.

"We just are a group of folks who are very frustrated by the lack of resources," he said. "We have been waiting. We have been working with the state."

He called the 2009 Legislature's efforts at school finance reform a long overdue first step.

Lawmakers passed a bill this year aiming to reform the way the state distributes education dollars but did not actually implement the reforms. Instead it has formed several task forces to decide how to take the next step.

Assistant Attorney General Bill Clark maintains the state is meeting its education duties as mandated by the state Supreme Court in 1978.

During his opening statement, he showed charts illustrating the increase in state dollars for education, ahead of any student population increases. Clark said he will call expert witnesses who will show more dollars do not translate into higher achievement.

The state of Washington also will argue that education reform is the responsibility of the Legislature, not the courts, Clark said.

"There's been precious little foot dragging," Clark said. "We've been working hard at this problem."

Ahearne called the reform efforts a collection of promises and studies.

"Despite the passage of 30 years, the state still is not amply providing all children in our state with the knowledge and skills they need to compete in today's economy and meaningfully participate in today's democracy," Ahearne said.