Texas school funding remains unconstitutional

A Texas district judge ruled Thursday the state’s school finance system does not meet the requirements of its constitution even after lawmakers pumped an extra $3 billion-plus into classrooms last summer.

His 21-page written decision reaffirms a verbal decision he delivered from the bench in February of last year. He said not only is the established funding formula inadequate, it doesn’t offer fair access to funds. In addition, the judge found the system levies property taxes unconstitutionally – in a way tantamount to a state income tax, according to the Associated Press.

The case, which is expected to be appealed, grew out of the Lone Star State legislature’s 2011 move to slash $5.4 billion from public education.

Read more from the Associated Press.