School finance in the United States has been in turmoil for thirty years. Three things have contributed if not caused this turmoil. First, the courts have become very active participants in the design of school finance policy, and this is not something they are particularly well-equipped to do. Second, court decisions have reinforced a more general tendency to centralize school decision making at the state level. Third, school finance has been largely divorced from considerations of the performance of schools. The result has been that the outcomes have been disappointing both in terms of the levels of student achievement and in terms of measures of equity across schools. The State of Texas of course knows many of the problems, and I believe it is a very good sign that the Governor and the Legislature are prepared to address the issues.
Resourcing Texas Local Courts for Border-Related Crimes
The border crisis has called for record funding to resource Texas courts along the border to ensure that illegal aliens receive proper adjudication and courts can maintain their caseloads. As the increase in illegal immigration persists, local courts will continue to require additional resources, personnel, and funding. This research uncovers what resources have been allocated...