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West Texans Help Oklahoma Victims
Texas School Finance Trial Takes Holiday Break 12/14/12
Associated Press
December 14, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas' school finance trial is going on a holiday hiatus until Jan. 7.
More than 600 school districts responsible for educating three-quarters of Texas' over 5 million public-school students have sued the state.
They claim that $5.4 billion in cuts to public education and grant programs approved last year by the state Legislature have made funding inadequate and inequitable.
The districts spent nearly two months calling witnesses and presenting evidence of the effects of the cuts to state District Judge John Dietz.
The state attorney general's office argues that funding is adequate. It is now calling witnesses and will do so for about two weeks after the break, which begins Friday.
Testimony will likely continue until Jan. 31. Dietz says he plans to rule quickly once the case is over.