State Supreme Court to Hear School Funding Debate

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Once again, attorneys for Washington state will appear before the state Supreme Court to argue that lawmakers have complied with court orders to boost public school funding.

On the other side of the courtroom will be attorneys for a coalition of parents, school districts and education groups that maintain lawmakers haven't done enough.

The News Tribune reports that Wednesday's hearing marks the latest development in the McCleary case. The court ruled in 2012 that the Legislature failed to fully fund education and must correct those problems by 2018.

The state is now in contempt of court and accruing fines of $100,000 a day.

On Wednesday, the court will hear arguments to help them decide whether to lift the sanctions or impose more serious penalties that could dramatically alter next year's budget debates at the state Capitol.