Texas charter schools sue state over funding rules

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Published: 6/26/2012 7:07 pm

Updated: 6/27/2012 7:55 am

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas Charter Schools Association has filed the sixth major lawsuit over the way the state funds public education.

It argues that charter schools should have access to public money for facilities, and a statewide cap limiting the number of charter schools statewide to 215 is unfair.

The group teamed up with six parents from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin to file a complaint Tuesday in Travis County District Court in Austin.

Charter schools receive state funding for operations. But their ranks are capped at 215.

State rules also prohibit charter schools from seeking taxpayer permission to issue bonds for school construction.

Four previous lawsuits on behalf of hundreds of school districts statewide have been filed in response to school finance legislation passed by the Texas Legislature last summer.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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FreeHole - 6/27/2012 3:08 PM

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DrPhil...that's a brilliant idea. I thought I was the only one thinking that way. Not only could the community at large get the benefit of low-price services in the mentioned areas, but young students would become self-sufficient in trades that would help them for the rest of their life. On top, if girls and boys become proficient in diagnosing and fixing their own cars or ACs, for example, stablished businesses would lower their outrageous fees and they'd try to be more competitive. Ahhh. Utopia and wishful thinking.

DrPhil - 6/27/2012 2:17 PM

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Why dont we turn schools into profit ventures? Teach the older ones auto mechanics, plumbing, electrical, etc...Then sell their services in the public sector. All monies can be put back into the school to use as revenue.

FreeHole - 6/27/2012 7:50 AM

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Mike...your comment is full of logic...but education in the US has everything but logic. In one hand is maybe the most expensive activity the tax-payers have to fund (Texas lotery contributes billions, and still there are deficits), and in the other the academic level in the country is mediocre at best, and students are falling a little lower every year. In contrast, school district top echelons live like royalty. Absurd, isn't it?

FreeHole - 6/27/2012 7:41 AM

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Schools are suing not because the kids' education is suffering for lack of money, but because the "executives" demand all the time higher and higher perks. The "Academia Mafia" is so powerful and so vile that these days we have school districts' "administrators" taking home more money that state governors and federal congressmen. Restructure education organigrams, eliminate hundreds of preposterous positions that benefit students little or nothing, ban the construction of luxury school buildings and sport facilities (just look at the ridiculously expensive "press box" in eithr of the NEISD semi-profesional stadiums), and there will be plenty of money to better the school system and the children.

BANNED - 6/27/2012 7:37 AM

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if charter schools get access to additional public funds then private schools should have access to the funds as well

mike mike - 6/26/2012 10:25 PM

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several necessary facts are missing. what is the actual law? is the actual law being followed? if so, a lawsuit is not the correct way to change it. if it is not, what is not being followed or needs clarification? on the side, what were the last 5 major lawsuits? how many minor ones? seems like a decent opportunity to recycle news, maybe even fully report it. really tired of half news stories that feel like someone scribbled down a hasty phone conversation instead of in-depth and serious from a completely personal point of view, arbitrarily limiting schools seems against the intent of charter in general. if it works, great. if it doesnt, change or get rid of it. its just really hard to compare actual performance to potential or theoretical ones. measuring a persons ability to both function academically and socially, as a good citizen and member of society...its just not as easy as a simple test.

trutex - 6/26/2012 8:24 PM

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Texas needs to implement looser pays. You file a lawsuit and you loose, you pay the expenses. This goes double for anyone who sues the government where the taxpayer has to foot the bill.

Zhao Kalin - 6/26/2012 7:54 PM

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This number, 215, is suspicious. Limitnig schools is dangerous precedent.

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