USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Filed on behalf of San Antonio’s Edgewood Independent School District, six other school districts and 25 families, the suit, known as Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, argued that Texas school funding violated the state constitution’s requirement that the legislature provide an efficient and free public school system.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Texas Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s decision that the system violated the state constitution. The system did not address disparities in the ability of different districts to raise revenue, and did not assure every student receives an “efficient”, meaning “productive” or “effective” education.

Detailed explanation-3: -The plaintiffs appealed the decision, however, taking it to the Texas Supreme Court on July 5, 1989. On October 2 the Court delivered a unanimous 9-0 decision that sided with the Edgewood plaintiffs and ordered the state Legislature to implement an equitable system by the 1990-91 school year.

Detailed explanation-4: -Q: Why was the decision of the Texas Supreme Court in Edgewood ISD v. Kirby of special importance to Mexican Americans in Texas? A: It brought additional funds to schools in many of the state’s poorest districts.