This case presents question as to whether trial court properly dismissed for failure to state viable cause of action plaintiffs-school districts’ action against defendant-Governor, alleging that defendant violated article X, section 1 of Illinois Constitution by failing to provide efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services. Appellate Court, in affirming instant dismissal, observed that: (1) under Edgar, 174 Ill.2d 1, question of whether educational institutional and services in Illinois are “high quality” is outside sphere of judicial function; and (2) it was bound by decision in Edgar. It similarly found that plaintiffs could not proceed on claim that defendant’s failure to fully fund plaintiffs in manner set forth in Funding Act, which was enacted to address local funding disparities between school districts, violated their equal protection rights, since court in Edgar had already concluded that instant system of funding public education is rationally related to legitimate State goal of promoting local control. (Partial dissent filed.)
Illinois Supreme Court PLAs
Civil Court
School Law