School Finance Trial Will Make Mark on 83rd Legislature
The Texas Tribune
by Morgan Smith – 12/20/12

A final decision in the school finance trail against the state, involving more than two-thirds of its districts and charter schools, likely won’t happen until after the lights go out in the 83rd Legislature.  But that doesn’t mean what’s happening inside of the courtroom now won’t have an impact on policy under the pink dome during the next six months.

Read more:  http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/school-finance/school-finance-trial-will-make-mark-83rd-legislatu/

School Finance lawsuits Provide an Out for Texas Lawmakers
The Texas Tribute
Ross Ramsey – 12/25/12

While the courts hold a big piece of the state budget hostage, they are also clearing the way for other issues to dominate next year’s legislative session.

Read more:  http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_6db8182a-4eec-11e2-a01f-001a4bcf6878.html

In court, TEA Official Surprises with New Definition of ‘College Ready’
American Statesman
by Kate Alexander – 12/10/12

The Texas Education Agency is recommending lowering the threshold for which students it deems “college ready,” a move that some called a retreat from the high academic standards laid out in state law.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/in-court-tea-official-surprises-with-new-definitio/nTR3G/

 An Updated Guide to Texas School finance Lawsuits
The Texas Tribume
by Morgan Smith – 7/3/12

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/public-education/an-updated-guide-to-texas-school-finance-lawsuits/print/

Texas’ latest round of school finance litigation adds some new players to the courtroom, with interests that are more varied than ever before. We’ve created a cheat sheet to help you keep all six lawsuits — and the plaintiffs’ basic arguments — straight.

Charter schools and a newly formed organization pushing for more school choice are both suing the state for the first time. Four different groups of school districts, by now veterans in the school finance wars, are returning once again.

A judge has already consolidated these five lawsuits into one trial, and will likely do the same with the latest claim, filed by the Texas Charter School Association. In many instances, the plaintiffs’ arguments will overlap, but in some, their interests will conflict — that’s why there are so many different parties.

(And note that at least one party doesn’t agree their cases should all be heard at once. MALDEF has filed a petition to dismiss the complaint from Texans For Real Efficiency and Equity in Education, saying that group should be making their argument to the Legislature, not the courts.)

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Legal wrangling over school finance, which in Texas dates back to the 1970s, tends to hinge on three issues: efficiency, adequacy and what’s called “meaningful discretion.”