October Term 2006 · Docket 05-1508
Does the Impact Aid Act require comparing schools to local agencies?
Zuni Public School District argues the law mandates a local comparison. The Department of Education claims the statute allows a national standard.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ronald Van Amberg argued Congress enacted the equalization formula in 1994.
Justice Alito questioned whether the statutory language is truly unambiguous.
Justice Ginsburg noted the Department proposed the formula to Congress.
Justice Scalia asked if the same Secretary issued the new regulation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case concerns how federal funds reach schools near federal lands. Zuni Public School District seeks a specific funding formula. The Department of Education defends its current calculation method.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 17-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
Zuni Public School District wants the Court to mandate a local comparison for funding.
The Department of Education wants the Court to allow its national funding standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 17-23
What each side says
Zuni Public School District argues the statute explicitly requires comparing schools to local agencies.
The Department of Education argues the statute permits using a national baseline for calculations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 17-23
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked when the prior regulations were promulgated.
Justice Breyer asked what specific items the agency distributes to schools.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-19
Why it matters
This dispute determines how federal funds reach schools near federal lands. The outcome affects the financial stability of these educational institutions. It clarifies the scope of federal funding formulas for public schools.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 17-23
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-19
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 17-23
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.