Brigham v. State of Vermont
Vermont Supreme Court
692 A.2d 384 (1997)
- Written by Katrina Sumner, JD
Facts
The state of Vermont (defendant) recognized the importance of public school education by providing for the establishment of public schools in its first constitution in 1777. However, Vermont’s current system for funding public schools relied on local property taxes, which resulted in significant disparities in the amount of money that was available to various school districts. This system resulted in substantial differences in per-student spending among Vermont’s school districts, leading to inequities in the educational opportunities available to students based on where the students lived. Amanda Brigham and other claimants (plaintiffs) sought a declaratory judgment that Vermont’s funding system violated Vermont’s constitution by denying them equal educational opportunities. The constitution’s Common Benefits Clause was interpreted as requiring equal protection. The case came before the Vermont Supreme Court, which assessed whether Vermont’s system for funding public education provided equal educational opportunities to all students.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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