TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Attorney General Pam Bondi is appealing
an appellate court's decision in a school funding lawsuit to the
Florida Supreme Court.

Bondi noted in papers filed Monday that the 1st District Court
of Appeal has certified the matter to the justices as a question of
"great public importance."

The appellate court last year turned down a request from state
officials to prevent the case from going to trial.

The suit alleges state public school funding and policies fail
to meet constitutional requirements to provide children with a high
quality education.

It was a rare and divided ruling by the full appellate court rather than just a three-judge panel. The judges split 8-7. The suit was filed on behalf of two advocacy groups and parents and students in Duval and Pasco counties.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)