By Adam Allington, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – A judge has upheld Missouri's school funding method, rejecting claims by some schools that it distributes money unfairly and inadequately.
The case, brought by half of Missouri's public school districts, alleges that it is a violation of the Missouri State Constitution for poorer districts to receive less funding then richer ones.
Tyler Laney is the vice chairman of the Committee for Educational Equality which represented the schools.
"The gut response to that is that people made the choice to live there," says Laney.
"The kids don't have the wherewithal to give $100,000 to a political campaign to direct policy to the needs that they posses."
Attorney Josh Schindler from St. Louis argued against the suit.
"What's most troubling about this lawsuit is that this lawsuit was brought by school districts and they used tax dollars to sue the legislature. To me that is just an unacceptable waste."
Schindler's attorney fees were paid for by a group of businessmen associated with the Show-Me Institute, a conservative think-tank based in St. Louis.
Missouri allocates 25% of state revenue toward education; it used to allocate 50%. The state provides no funding to schools for facilities or infrastructure.
Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan ruled that the constitution provides no guarantee of absolute equality in the dollars spent or in the facilities available from one school district to another