October Term 2008 · Docket 08-289
Does a state meet its duty to fund equal education for English learners?
the sides that brought the case seek to end court orders requiring Arizona to fund English learner programs. the opposing sides argue the state still fails to provide equal educational opportunities.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Mr. Srinivasan argued the district court found systemic violations of the Equal Educational Opportunities Act.
Mr. Starr stated the district court found the Nogales school system failed to provide equal opportunity.
Ms. Saharsky noted the sides that brought the case asked for complete dissolution of the court's immediate orders.
Ms. Saharsky argued the district court did not place remedial orders in the 2000 judgment.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case concerns school funding for English learners in Arizona. the sides that brought the case want to end court orders that require the state to fund these programs. the opposing sides argue the state still fails to provide equal educational opportunities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 20, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-45
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want to end all court orders requiring state funding for English learner programs.
the opposing sides want to keep court orders requiring the state to fund equal educational opportunities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the state has improved its programs and no longer needs court oversight.
the opposing sides argue the state still fails to provide equal educational opportunities for English learners.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if the district failed to provide funds for its adopted plan.
Justice Breyer cited test failure rates for English learners in Nogales compared to the state average.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
Why it matters
This case determines how states must fund education for English learners. It affects whether courts can order states to pay for equal educational opportunities. It shapes the balance between state control and federal civil rights enforcement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
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 4, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
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 28, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
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.