The Texas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Sept. 1 in the long-running case challenging the states school-finance system.

We are very pleased that the court is moving so expeditiously, attorney David Thompson, representing the Houston Independent School District, Fort Bend ISD and dozens of others, said Friday. We think its a recognition of how important this issue is to every community in the state.

More than two-thirds of Texas districts sued the state in 2011 after lawmakers cut $5.4 billion from public education amid a budget crunch while raising academic standards.

State District Court Judge John Dietz of Austin ruled in August 2014 that the finance system was unconstitutional. His order came after state lawmakers had restored about $3.4 billion of the funding and relaxed some graduation and testing requirements. Then-Attorney General Greg Abbott, now governor, appealed the ruling directly to the state Supreme Court.

House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, had promoted school-finance reform this year but withdrew his bill with the session deadline looming. State lawmakers are not set to meet again until January 2017 but could reconvene in a special session.

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