The school funding system and fairness depend on state, as well as local, support. But state funding has dropped, not risen. During the last two decades, the state has reduced its contribution from 52 percent to 36 percent. Each percentage point represents millions of dollars.

As the state defaults in its responsibility to fund education, most school districts in Texas, and especially property-poor districts, are stressed to raise taxes and are unable to deliver the quality education that all students deserve.

Sources: Legislative Budge Board. "Trends in Texas Government Finance 1984-2009 (Austin, Texas: LBB, January 2001). Legislative Budget Board. "Fiscal Size-up 2004-05 Biennium (Austin, Texas: LBB, 2005).