TBTPSAmicusBrief

Americans for Prosperity-Texas Files Amicus Brief in Texas Supreme Court School Finance Case
Group Says Lower Court’s Ruling Could Lead to Tax Hikes, School Shutdown.

AUSTIN – The free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity-Texas today filed an Amicus
Brief in the Texas Supreme Court school finance case Alvarado Independent School District v.
Neeley, urging the Court to reverse a District judge’s ruling that the Legislature increase state
spending on taxpayer-funded schools.

“Americans for Prosperity–Texas first asks this Court to reverse the lower court judgment and, once
and for all, extricate itself and the entire Texas judiciary from the policy question of school finance,”
the brief states. “Short of that, we ask this Court to reverse Judge (John) Dietz’s ruling because
there is no connection between spending per student and educational outcomes.”

In its brief, Americans for Prosperity points to numerous examples of how lavish spending on public
education does not improve education quality or student performance. For instance, Utah recently
spent less money per student than every other state in the union, yet its students ranked fourth
nationally in SAT scores. In addition, AFP points out that Texas Education Agency statistics show
that the three school districts that have the lowest cost per student – Texhoma, Red Lick and Wyle
(Taylor) – are all rated “exemplary” or “recognized,” while the Reagan County and Dime Box school
districts spend nearly twice as much per pupil, but are rated “unacceptable.”

“Judge Dietz failed to consider that there is no demonstrable correlation between education
spending and results and that existing funding would certainly be sufficient if it were not being
squandered on bloated administration, excessive salaries for administrators, fiscal mismanagement,
unnecessary programs, and inefficient state mandates,” the brief says. The group also asks the
Court to make clear that the Legislature may choose consolidation, merit-based pay for teachers
and school choice as alternatives that could improve education.

AFP-Texas also urged the Supreme Court to overturn Judge Dietz’s decision because it “threatens
to shut down Texas schools in October unless the Legislature addresses the violations Judge Dietz
found by increasing state spending on government schools. Americans for Prosperity-Texas and its
membership are deeply concerned that Judge Dietz’s erroneous findings and conclusions, if
allowed to stand by the Court, could result in an enormous tax increase without any educational
benefits for Texas children.”

To read the full Amicus Brief, visit http://www.americansforprosperity.org/news/tx_0050706a.html
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to
advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the
size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and
prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and
federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more
information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
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