State Capitol Highlights

Submitted by Canton1 on
By Ed Sterling TEXAS PRESS ASSOCAITON

High court rules school finance method is constitutional

AUSTIN — The current method devised by the Texas Legislature in 2011 to fund public education does not violate the state constitution, the Texas Supreme Court unanimously ruled May 13.

The lawsuit challenging the state’s education-funding method originally was brought in 2011 by more than 600 school districts identifying themselves collectively as the Texas Taxpayer and Student Fairness Coalition. Lawyers for the coalition argued that the state falls short of the constitution’s imperative of equitable funding by failing to provide enough money for school districts’ classroom instruction, maintenance and operation and other critical budget areas.

Article 7 of the constitution says: “A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.”

In a 100-page ruling, the court said the current system ensures that “all Texas children have access to a quality education that enables them to achieve their potential and fully participate now and in the future in the social, economic, and educational opportunities of our state and nation.” The court agreed that the current funding system, while imperfect, is “good enough” to satisfy the constitutional mandate, and going forward, it is up to the Legislature, not the courts, to amend the funding formula.

Gov. Greg Abbott called the ruling “a victory for Texas taxpayers and the Texas Constitution.” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Joe Straus, Attorney General Ken Paxton and many Republican lawmakers joined the governor in welcoming the ruling. Paxton echoed the ruling in saying school finance “must be debated and shaped by the Texas Legislature, not through decades’ worth of ongoing litigation in the court system.”

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