Texans For Texas | Action Update

Action Update - Issue 60 :: November 30, 2005

The Texas Supreme Court did the expected last week and struck down the statewide property tax for funding public schools. But what was surprising and welcome was the Court's unanimous ruling that the Texas school system, which spends nearly $10,000 per student, satisfies the funding "adequacy" requirements of the state constitution. Most remarkable of all was the court's declaration that "more money does not guarantee better schools or more educated students."

Think about that one for a second. To our knowledge, this is the first time anywhere in the country that the judiciary has flatly rejected the core doctrine of the education establishment that more dollars equal better classroom performance. And it is potentially very good news for students, especially those from the poorest neighborhoods, because it shifts the policy emphasis from money to achievement. Better send the paramedics to check for heart failure at National Education Association Headquarters. <continued>

How To Reform The Public Schools

by Bill Murchison

The story goes that James A. Garfield defined the ideal college education as Mark Hopkins (a Garfield mentor at Williams College) on one end of a log and a student on the other end. I like to muse on this piece of splendid wisdom whenever -- now for instance -- moans and complaints rise from an education establishment -- the one in Texas, for instance -- that somehow never has enough money.

The Texas Supreme Court having just mandated an overhaul of the state's school finance system without simultaneously mandating a spending increase, the moans will rise fortissimo.

Well, you know what? Tough. Particular schools might need special grants. As for the Texas system as a whole, we would do well to appropriate, instead of more cash, the justices' insight -- "[M]ore money does not guarantee better schools or more educated students." <continued>

RECOMMENDED READING:

It's an Epidemic in Brownsville

Grading the President's Tax Reform Panel's Plan

Defending Call Centers

Striking a Balance on Immigration

Texas State Non-Federal Spending History (graph)

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Conservatives

React To The

Supreme Court Ruling:

Peggy Venable (AFP): we’re pleased that the Texas State Supreme Court has turned the question over how to equitably and adequately fund the state's schools back to the Legislature where it belongs. The Court agreed with us that Judge Dietz erred by ordering more spending without allowing the Legislature to consider other solutions such as meaningful education reforms that would give taxpayers more education for their money. more

Kent Grusendorf (R-Arlington)
The court has now ruled for the state on all issues except the statewide property tax. The justices rejected the call for huge injections of cash and increased taxes by the school leaders suing the state. Instead, the court repeatedly called for structural changes in the system. more

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The Capitol Office Wall!

The State of Taxes

Tough Texans Talk Back

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