Trial over Connecticut school funding set to begin

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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A landmark lawsuit is headed to trial over whether Connecticut's method of funding public schools is unconstitutional because it fails to provide equal opportunities to students in low-income areas.

A coalition of municipalities, school boards and education groups sued the state in 2005, alleging Connecticut wasn't providing full funding to cities and towns under the state's Education Cost Sharing program. The coalition says vast differences in test results, graduation rates and other factors between rich and poor towns show the funding system isn't fair.

A trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court.

The state attorney general's office says Connecticut is meeting its constitutional responsibilities for school funding, and disagrees with the plaintiffs that the state needs to spend an extra $2 billion a year on schools.