Munich Co-Authors Book Examining U.S. Education Policy, School Finance and Resources

01.19.2024

Stinson LLP Partner John Munich co-authored the book, "School Resources, the Achievement Gap, and the Law: Reconsidering School Finance, Policies, and Resources in US Education Policy," with George Mason University Professor Emeritus David J. Armor and Boston University PhD student Aron Malatinszky.

The book examines whether increasing traditional school resources fosters academic achievement and mitigates disparities leading to educational divides between socioeconomic groups. The authors evaluate current sources and analyses on the issue of educational opportunity to provide a comprehensive review of the topic, building on James S. Coleman's 1965 report on the Equality of Educational Opportunity.

Munich authored the book's third chapter, "The State of Education Adequacy Law," and co-authored chapters six through eight, which detail education funding cases in the states of New York, New Mexico and South Dakota. He evaluates education adequacy litigation cases and details the challenges of presenting complex statistical data in court and the evolution of adequacy law cases.

Munich, a well-known figure in Missouri's legal community, has been instrumental in several high-profile cases, including the Missouri v. Jenkins Supreme Court desegregation case. He leads the firm's Education Funding Litigation practice group, which represents states, counties, cities, school districts and other public bodies in the areas of education funding, school desegregation and constitutional and statutory law claims. Munich frequently speaks and writes on topics related to charter schools and school choice, and education adequacy lawsuits and their effects on state budgets, school funding, accreditation requirements and federal mandates.

Preview the book.