Tex. Court Overturns State School-Finance System for 3rd Time

By Lonnie Harp

The Texas Supreme Court late last week struck down the state's school-finance system for the third time in 28 months, forcing lawmakers once again to develop a new funding plan.

While the court's 7-to-2 decision to invalidate the system was widely expected across Texas in recent weeks, the justices surprised observers by voting 5 to 4 to allow the legislature to wait until next year's regular session to come up with another solution to the problem of funding disparities between rich and poor school districts.

Although the extension will give lawmakers more time to prepare a plan, it is unlikely to change the alternatives, according to legislative aides. Most observers believe that the only options available to the state are either a massive district-consolidation program or constitutional amendments establishing a statewide...