Judge: Texas school finance plan unconstitutional
Source: Associated Press
Judge: Texas school finance plan unconstitutional
By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press | February 4, 2013 | Updated: February 4, 2013 7:17pm
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The system Texas uses to fund public schools violates the state's constitution by not providing enough money to school districts and failing to distribute it fairly, a judge ruled Monday in a landmark decision that could force the Legislature to overhaul the way it pays for education.
Moments after closing arguments in his packed courtroom, state District Judge John Dietz ruled the funding mechanism does not meet the Texas Constitution's requirements for a fair and efficient system that provides a "general diffusion of knowledge." He declared that funding was inadequate and that there were wide discrepancies in state support received by school districts in wealthy parts of Texas versus those in poorer areas. He also said the system is tantamount to an income tax, which is forbidden by the state constitution.
It was the second time in less than a decade the state has been ordered to remake its school finance system. Dietz said he would issue a written ruling elaborating on his announcement in about a month. The state can then appeal the case directly to the Supreme Court, which could order the Legislature to remake the system.
But a ruling from the high court is not likely to come until the end of the legislative session in May, meaning Gov. Rick Perry would need to call a special session in 2014. In the interval, the state's school finance system remains unchanged.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Judge-Texas-school-finance-plan-unconstitutional-4249459.php
loudsue
(14,087 posts)in Texas for generations. Now, all the money goes to the oil company CEO's and shareholders, and they just pay the State of Texas a portion of what Texas used to have available.
DhhD
(4,695 posts)TX Legislature, will not allow it to be used to added in to and cover for the educational funding shortfall. Governor Perry said that since more students were graduating, the usual school funding formula for years, 2010-11 and before, was too much. Texas was and is still near the bottom of the 50 states of graduating Seniors.
Perry wants to spend the money on toll roads, business and commerce which is more important to him and a few other Texans than educating the children. Thousands of teachers have been lost. More will be terminated.
In my opinion, if the State appeals this decision, many Texans will wake up and it will be a big 2014 campaign issue. Texas may Blue very fast!
nikto
(3,284 posts)Same story in Ohio, same results. Schools still supported by property taxes, not income, and lottery/casino revenue.
cstanleytech
(26,293 posts)as an educated voter base is harder to manipulate.
DhhD
(4,695 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)which is the real driving factor to create good workers and not educated ones. Both parties are guilty of going after education, because their bosses on Wall Street tell them to.
Goodells2ndChin
(3 posts)how to educate their kids properly?
Shocking
I always thought slashing education funds and only allowing the top 2%'s kids to attend college was the way to go.....