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Pass Or Fail? Pa. Supreme Court To Hear School Funding Lawsuit

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Meeting in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Tuesday in an appeal brought by advocates who say the state's education funding is inadequate.

The suit brought by six school districts two years ago claimed the state was violating the Pennsylvania constitution by failing to provide enough money for schools.

"What it says is that the General Assembly shall support and maintain a thorough and efficient system," said Deborah Gordon Klehr, Executive Director of the Education Law Center, co-representing the plaintiffs. And what we know is that that's not happening."

The Public Interest Law Center is also representing the plaintiffs. The state is arguing against a full trial in Commonwealth Court. Governor Tom Wolf's spokesman Jeff Sheridan says the judicial branch should not overreach its authority.

"The governor has made no qualms that we need more education funding," Sheridan said. "He does not believe it's the court's role to tell the General Assembly and the governor how to budget money, though."

Commonwealth Court, last year, turned down the suit, saying school funding was a legislative responsibility. The narrow issue before the Supreme Court on Tuesday is: Should the plaintiffs get a full trial in Commonwealth Court?

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