ABBOTT BY ABBOTT v. Burke

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

HANDLER, J.

Plaintiffs are children attending public schools in school districts located in poor urban areas, classified as “special needs districts.” For many years they have been denied their constitutional right to a thorough and efficient education. We previously held that in the absence of legislation that would assure a constitutionally adequate education, these school children are entitled to judicial relief directed toward the improvement of the educational opportunity available to them.

Plaintiffs contend that recently-enacted legislation, the…