A landmark lawsuit is headed to trial over whether Connecticut's method of funding public schools is unconstitutional because it fails to provide equal opportunities to students in low-income areas.

A coalition of municipalities, school boards and education groups sued the state in 2005, alleging Connecticut wasn't providing full funding to cities and towns under the state's Education Cost Sharing program. The coalition says vast differences in test results, graduation rates and other factors between rich and poor towns show the funding system isn't fair.

A trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court.

The state attorney general's office says Connecticut is meeting its constitutional responsibilities for school funding, and disagrees with the plaintiffs that the state needs to spend an extra $2 billion a year on schools.

The Danbury Board of Education, City Council, state lawmakers and others held a public information session in October about what they say is the district being underfunded by some $30 million.  Pascarella said  funding to districts is being given out in lump sums now, with the state having suspended the Education Cost Sharing Formula in 2013. 

School officials say the grants are calculated in a way that higher mill rate towns get more money, and districts with lower costs for special need students or English Language Learners also receiving more funding. 

Pascarella says Danbury has the 7th lowest per student spending in Connecticut at $12,684, relying heavily on local funding.  Danbury contributes $9,061 dollars per student, or 70 percent.  Pascarella says the taxpayers need relief, and the state needs to help make sure every child is reaching his or her fullest potential.

A one-time Education Cost Sharing grant from the state could be requested to alleviate inequitable funding, or to call on the state to come up with a new way to fund the schools all together.