Dive Summary:
- Lynn Moak, a school funding expert, testified that Texas will need to restore the $2.5 billion in education cuts as well provide an additional $6 billion per year for students to meet the state's new education standards.
- The testimony is part of a lawsuit brought against the state of Texas by two-thirds of its public schools, who argue that the state's school finance system is unconstitutional and disproportionately disadvantages low-income and minority students.
- Moak stated that 47% of ninth-graders failed the STAAR tests, meaning they are not on track to graduate.
From the article:
"... Moak’s testimony to state District Judge John Dietz is part of an ongoing lawsuit brought by two-thirds of Texas public school districts that alleges the state’s current school finance system is unfair, inadequate and unconstitutional.
According to Moak, 47 percent of Texas’ ninth graders — about 150,000 — failed at least one of the state’s more rigorous standardized tests, known as STAAR, last school year, meaning they are not on track to graduate. That number is closer to 60 percent among low-income students, the Associated Press reports. ..."
