Florida's highest court is going to take up a far-reaching lawsuit that contends the state is not properly funding public schools.
The Florida Supreme Court late Monday agreed to consider the lawsuit that was first filed in 2009 by education groups and parents. The lawsuit asserts that a lack of a funding for schools has been most damaging for minorities and students from poor families.
An appeals court last year dismissed the lawsuit and said it raises "political questions" that cannot be answered by judges. The high court ruled by a 4-1 margin to accept the case.
The lawsuit maintains Florida legislators and leaders are ignoring a constitutional amendment passed in 1998 that says a "high quality system of free public schools" is a "paramount duty" of the state.
