Written School Finance Ruling Expected Monday
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Written School Finance Ruling Expected Monday Save Email Print
Posted: 9:30 AM Oct 4, 2004
Last Updated: 6:13 PM Oct 3, 2004

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State District Judge John Dietz’s written ruling was expected Monday in the lawsuit that led him to declare portion’s of the state’s share-the-wealth school finance system unconstitutional.

Dietz ruled portions of the system unconstitutional on Sept. 15 after six weeks of testimony in lawsuit joined by hundreds of Texas school districts, rich and poor.

In an oral order, the judge said the state must stop funding education within one year if the 2005 Legislature doesn't find a solution.

Attorneys representing the state argued that the Texas system meets
constitutional educational requirements and changing school finance
falls to the Legislature.

Buck Wood, who represents property-poor districts, said there
are no school district's on the state's side.

Click Here For Texas Education Agency Web Site

Click Here For Equity Center Web Site

Here are a few key numbers attorneys referred to during the trial:

Number of public school districts in Texas: 1,037.
Number of public school students in Texas: 4.3 million
Overall state and local portion Texas education budget: $28 billion
Percent from local property taxes: 62 percent
Percent of districts at the $1.50 property tax rate cap: 48 percent
Number of students educated in those at-the-cap districts: 2.3 million

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