PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After two-and-a-half months of testimony from the plaintiff's witnesses, the defense is opening its case in the ongoing Pennsylvania school funding trial in Commonwealth Court.
Attorneys for legislative leaders are defending the current system of funding schools.
The first defense witness was Rev. Aaron Anderson, the CEO of Logos Academy, a private religious school in York.
He testified that the school relies on money from two Pennsylvania programs that provide tax credits to businesses donating to scholarship funds.
Under direct examination by an attorney for Senate Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Centre, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin counties), Anderson said income level doesn't determine academic success at his school, with his K-12 students above and below the poverty line scoring above the national average.
On cross-examination, Anderson testified his school did not accept everyone who applies and said there were students that private schools may not be able to serve.
The lawsuit contends Pennsylvania doesn't adequately fund public schools, causing the burden to fall on local taxpayers.
The case has been heard in Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg since mid-November, and defense testimony is expected to last for two or three weeks.
