Educators, school districts, parents file landmark lawsuit
against the state

Charge that inadequate and inequitable school funding violates Alaska Constitution

The lawsuit filed today charges that the state's funding of kindergarten through high school (K-12) education violates the Alaska Constitution for two reasons:

1)      because the state does not invest enough money in its schools to provide an adequate education for all students; and

2)      because the state's funding formula treats children of differing circumstances differently.

“Adequacy and equity in school funding is THE civil rights issue of our day,” said NEA-Alaska President Bill Bjork.

Over the past two decades, while Alaska has enjoyed unparalleled wealth, we have systematically reduced our investment in our schools.  Inflation alone has eroded the value of each education dollar to just 52.7 cents.

Moore vs. State of Alaska is a natural extension of the Brown vs. Board of Education case that struck down segregated schools 50 years ago.  The litigation is also the latest in a series of school finance lawsuits filed in states around the country over the past half century.  

 “The overwhelming majority of these lawsuits have been successful,” said Bjork.  “And I'm confident that we'll prevail in ours.”

Bjork also noted that the suit is about resource development.  “Alaska's greatest resource is our children, and all of us know the important connection between a well educated work force and economic prosperity.  Every Alaskan has a real stake in making sure our children get the best possible education.”   

Kim Langton, superintendent of Kuspuk Schools and chair of Citizens for the Educational Advancement of Alaska's Children (CEAAC), puts the legal action into context in Alaska:   “Moore vs. State of Alaska is the necessary and logical next step from the landmark case, Kasayulie vs. State of Alaska.”   That case, brought by CEAAC, successfully challenged the disparity between large and small districts in terms of funding school facilities. 

The new lawsuit charges that all education funding is discriminatory—that the state is violating the Alaska Constitution by treating poor, minority and special needs children different from majority children.  The state does this by arbitrarily and irrationally restricting funding for districts where children are overwhelmingly minority and economically disadvantaged.

“Here we are, 50 years after Brown struck down school segregation, and huge numbers of children in Alaska still don't have access to an equal education,” noted Langton.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are:  Kristine & Gregory Moore of Wasilla; Mike and Maggie Williams from Akiak; Melvin and Rosemary Otton from Koyuk; Wayne and Martha Morgan from Aniak; Yupiit School District; Bering Strait School District; NEA-Alaska; and Citizens for the Educational Advancement of Alaska's Children, or CEAAC.

Plaintiffs ask that the court order a cost analysis for providing a constitutionally adequate education, and then fund that education accordingly.  ##