School finance lawsuit may be imminent

An Austin-based political newsletter is reporting that a coalition of Texas school districts is preparing to file a lawsuit challenging the school finance system. The Quorum Report notes that participating school boards must still authorize the action, but quotes Wayne Pierce, executive director of the Equity Center (which represents nearly 700 low-wealth districts): “I think you could safely say, there will be litigation filed against the school finance system.”

According to Pierce, the lawsuit will be based on assertions that the current system is inefficient, and inequitable. He also pointed out that the recent budget cuts increase the state’s vulnerability to a legal challenge on the issue of adequacy.

Previous legal challenges have resulted in legislative action to restructure the system and increase funding.