AUSTIN (October 21, 2012)--The sweeping school finance lawsuit going to trial Monday in Austin isn't just about money, but the $5.4 billion in cuts to public education approved by the Texas Legislature in 2011 will certainly be a focal point of the case.
The trial involves lawsuits filed on behalf of about two-thirds of the school districts in the state, which argue that budget cuts have come at a time of soaring enrollment driven by low-income students.
They say students from poor families are more expensive to educate.
Also, Texas has imposed tougher standardized tests and schools say they can't afford to prepare students adequately for them.
The districts argue that the school finance system is now so inefficient and inadequate that it violates the Texas Constitution.
The state counters that the system while not perfect is constitutional.
