Updated 10/22/2012 07:24 PM
State attorneys: Schools are not properly using resources
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Opening statements were delivered Monday by both sides in the state-wide school finance lawsuit.
The class action lawsuit features about two-thirds of Texas school districts as plaintiffs and could change the way Texas funds its public education system.
Under the current system, property taxes are collected at the local level. Then, those taxes are re-distributed to districts outside of those taxing zones.
"Public education is purposed to provide an equal life chance irrespective of the circumstances of birth or child's current home circumstance," Lloyd Graham, La Porte ISD Superintendent, said.
Plaintiffs claim the state is ignoring the need to better fund the Texas education system.
"The state has set standards for state and college readiness which are absolutely great standards and we all want that for our students, but they have not provided the resources to provide that education," Christy Rome, Executive Director of the Texas School Coalition, said.
Attorneys for the state told the judge that public education is sufficiently funded, but that districts are not using their resources wisely.