Former State Board of Educator Certification Researcher Ed Fuller took the stand Wednesday in Austin in the trial of a lawsuit challenging the way Texas pays for public education.

He testified that property poor school districts in Texas have a greater
percentage of non-certified teachers.

Fuller also testified about the Texas teacher shortage, which he
blamed largely on low pay.

He said being assigned to teach classes outside their field
certification also was listed as a top reason for their departure.

On Tuesday, a curriculum expert testified that students who
speak limited English don't get an adequate education in Texas.

Curriculum expert Delia Pompa testified Tuesday as a fourth week of testimony continued in the trial of a lawsuit challenging the state’s share-the-wealth school finance system.

Pompa is executive director of the National Association for
Bilingual Education.

She said Texas does not provide the funds needed for students whose English is limited.

Pompa interviewed officials from eight Texas schools and
examined test scores.

For example, Pompa says the Edcouch Elsa school district could
offer only half-day preschool classes, when full-day classes are
considered necessary for limited English students.

Pompa says in Laredo, limited funds were available for
professional development of bilingual teachers.

At issue in the trial is the state’s share-the-wealth school finance system, which caps the rates districts can tax property.

The districts contend the cap amounts to an unconstitutional statewide property tax that still denies enough money to educate Texas children equally.

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