AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The state judge hearing arguments in the Texas school finance trial denied a motion to allow districts to resubmit evidence after errors were uncovered.
Judge John Dietz said Monday he would not allow the schools suing the state to recalculate a study that found Texas needs to spend an additional $7 billion a year to adequately fund public schools.
Dietz is now unlikely to use the study when determining his final judgment, a significant setback for the 615 schools which brought the lawsuit. They argue that Texas lawmakers are not providing enough funding to cover the cost of educating the state's children.
Attorneys for the state uncovered the errors in the study by William Duncombe during cross examination. The trial is expected to last into January.
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