A fund designed to help poor school districts provide an education comparable to what’s available in wealthier systems was slashed $112 million in so-called “equalization” funding for the fiscal year that starts July 1, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The “equalization” cuts, which were approved in April with little notice, come as some districts are considering restarting a legal fight over what they see as an inadequate school funding system that leaves children behind in poor and rural areas of Georgia. School funding, particularly for dozens of poor, rural systems across the state, has been a sore spot for years. Rural systems generally can’t raise as much in property taxes as urban and suburban districts and school systems across the country in rural communities have won several lawsuits to force states to increase funding for poor districts. –BB