Ruling Expected On School Finance

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The ongoing dispute over how Texas finances public education is about to reach a milestone.  

State District Judge John Dietz's staff says an order of more than 400 pages should be filed in the case Thursday.

Last year, Dietz ruled verbally that how Texas pays for public education is unconstitutional. He said funding was inadequate and unfairly distributed among schools in wealthy and poor areas.

The case isn't resolved until his written ruling is filed, though. It arose from the Legislature cutting $5.4 billion from classroom funding in 2011, prompting more than 600 school districts to sue.

Lawmakers restored about $3.4 billion in 2013.

Dietz's final decision will eventually be appealed to the Texas Supreme Court. If it upholds Dietz, the Legislature will have to devise a new funding scheme.