In its decision released today, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the school-funding system approved by the Kansas Legislature is constitutionally equitable and adequate, ending a decade of school finance litigation.

On behalf of the Kansas State Board of Education, we would like to thank Gov. Laura Kelly, the Supreme Court and the legislature for their work and commitment to ensuring Kansas public schools are properly funded and Kansas students have access to quality public education.

Kansas’ academic standards are among the most rigorous in the country, and our students are working hard to achieve these standards. The board’s vision for education that Kansas leads the world in the success of each student recognizes that while academics are important, they are not the sole predictor of our students’ future success. Changing the culture of education is critical.

We believe that focusing on early childhood education, social-emotional growth, career exploration and civic engagement all play an important role in preparing our students for high school graduation and postsecondary success.

Kansas schools are redesigning the way they educate students by providing students with more choice in how they learn and at what pace they learn. Schools are focusing on ways to increase student, family and community engagement in the learning process; providing a safe and supportive space for students to grow socially and emotionally; and helping students identify what they like to do and what career opportunities align to those passions.

The needs of today’s students and workforce have changed dramatically over the years and so too must our education system. Today’s Supreme Court decision is an acknowledgement of that change.