The ACLU of Maryland leads a coalition to sue the State of Maryland over inadequate school funding in Baltimore.

A years-old court case challenging the adequacy of state education funding has been revived. The Bradford vs. Maryland State Board of Education litigation played a significant role leading up to the state’s passage of the Thornton Commission legislation in 2000, the last major overhaul of state school funding formulas.

From an ACLU press release:

The request filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City would reopen the historic Bradford lawsuit that ordered a revamping of the state’s education funding formula. It would also hold the State accountable for its failure to provide the necessary funding to both provide a quality education and to address the abysmal physical conditions of school facilities that disrupt students’ ability to learn.

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According to the state Department of Legislative Services, the gap between what was judged by the State to be required for the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) to provide a quality education and what was actually funded – was $290 million in FY 2015. An independent analysis mandated by the General Assembly for that year found BCPSS deserved $358 million. Over time, Baltimore City students have been deprived of over $2 billion in constitutionally required funding.

A history and timeline of the Bradford case is also available on the ACLU of Maryland website.