SCHOOL FUNDING LITIGATION AS A TOOL TO ACHIEVE EDUCATION ACCESS & OPPORTUNITY.

The article focuses on school funding litigation as a tool to improve access, adequacy, and equity in K-12 public education funding in the United States. It traces the history of such litigation from its federal origins, including key cases like Serrano v. Priest and San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez, to state-level litigation emphasizing equity and later adequacy claims, exemplified by Rose v. Council for Better Education. Research reviewed in the article indicates that successful school funding litigation often leads to increased and more equitable funding, with correlational evidence suggesting improvements in student outcomes such as graduation rates and academic achievement. While litigation is not presented as a complete solution to educational disparities, it is identified as an important mechanism for compelling legislative action when other advocacy efforts fail.