Attorneys delivered opening statements Monday in Austin in the lawsuit, which has been joined by hundreds of Texas school districts rich and poor. Testimony is set to begin Tuesday.

During the statements Monday, an attorney for the districts, David Thompson, said Texas can and must do better.

Another plaintiffs attorney, George Bramblett, told the court that many districts are taxing at the legal limit, population has exploded and academic standards have gone up.

Assistant attorney general Jeff Rose said he looks forward to
presenting evidence of the progress and achievement that Texas
public education has made.

The districts claim the so-called Robin Hood school funding system
prevents districts from meeting the state constitutional requirement that all students have equal educational opportunities.

Attorneys for the state contend that Texas exceeds the basic
minimum requirements of the constitution.

The current funding plan depends on property taxes to pay for
school maintenance and operations costs.

Money from property-wealthy districts helps fund poorer
districts.

The trial could last more than a month and whatever the final ruling of state District Judge John Dietz, the decision is expected to be appealed to a higher court.

The Legislature, meanwhile, has yet to agree on reworked school finance plan even though most lawmakers say they want a new system that's equitable for all districts.

Property tax relief is another issue.

A first special legislative session on the issue failed.

Gov. Rick Perry could call another special session or let
lawmakers take up the issue in the 2005 regular session, which
begins in January.

Here are a few key numbers the lawyers will refer 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