What the path looks like from a lawsuit to achieving meaningful change through the Legislature.

Pre-Trial & Pleadings: Plaintiffs file a complaint outlining allegations and requesting relief. Defendants’ answer, which sometimes includes a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Then a judge holds a conference to set deadlines and other case milestones.

Discovery & Pre-Trial: If a case survives any filed motions to dismiss, parties then exchange information through requests for documents, answers to questions, and depositions. Parties may also file motions for summary judgment (meaning the case is resolved in their favor without a trial) if there are no material facts in dispute.

Trial Phase: The case can then proceed to a bench trial before a judge, and eventually, a formal judgment is issued. Often, there is a ruling “from the bench,” followed by a written decision.

Appeal Process: The losing party can appeal. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has the final word on questions of Wisconsin state law.

Legislation: If this lawsuit is successful, the Court will declare that the Legislature is unconstitutionally underfunding public schools. The Court may include some parameters for what is required to bring the public school finance system into compliance. Then the Legislature will work through its regular process to develop and enact legislation to implement the Court's order. Ideally, this legislation will be carefully crafted to address the deep structural problems driving repeated referenda, program cuts, staffing shortages, and growing inequities between districts.

Right now, this lawsuit is in the pre-trial phase – and in these early days. Understanding the roadmap to ending the school funding crisis.