Olsen v. State Ex Rel. Johnson

The plaintiffs contend that the system of Oregon public school financing is contrary to Art I, § 20, of the Oregon Constitution, Oregon’s Equal Protection Clause. Plaintiffs also contend that the system is contrary to Art VIII, § 3, of the Oregon Constitution which provides that the legislature shall provide a "uniform and general system” of schools. The trial court found against the plaintiffs and they appeal.

The essence of plaintiffs’ argument is that under the Oregon system the amount of money available for education depends upon the value of the property in the individual school districts…