Our history

From Robin Hood to today

“The Texas School Coalition is organized for the purpose of bringing together independent school districts that pay recapture and have an interest in improving the school funding laws of the state. The organization will provide research, information, and consultation regarding school finance legislation, school finance litigation, and other such actions consistent with its purpose.”

Founding districts

Alamo Heights ISD, Barbers Hill ISD, Deer Park ISD, Eanes ISD, Highland Park ISD, Plano ISD, and Seminole ISD.

Texas school finance has moved forward through a repeating pattern: a court ruling on the system's constitutionality, followed by a legislative response, followed by the next legal challenge.

1. 1973 — Rodriguez v. San Antonio ISD

   U.S. Supreme Court holds education is not a fundamental right under the federal constitution, pushing the fight to state courts.

2. 1989 — Edgewood v. Kirby

   Texas Supreme Court rules the state's school financing system unconstitutional.

3. 1990 — SB 1

   Legislature's first response: guarantees a minimum yield per penny of local tax effort, tied to the 95th-percentile-wealth district.

4. 1991–92 — Edgewood II and III

   SB 1 and the Legislature's next attempt are each challenged and struck down in turn.

5. 1993 — SB 7, the Robin Hood law

   Texas Legislature adopts a system forcing districts to share property wealth, following the earlier court rulings on funding equity.

6. 1995 — Edgewood IV upholds SB 7

   Affected districts challenge SB 7's constitutionality. The Texas Supreme Court rules it constitutional.

7. 1997 — “Texas School Coalition” is founded

   The Chapter 41 districts formalize their coalition. The Texas School Coalition is officially incorporated in January 1997.

8. 2005 — Neeley v. West Orange-Cove

   Texas Supreme Court finds the system has become an unconstitutional statewide property tax, ordering fixes by mid-2006.

9. 2006 — HB 1

   Compresses local M&O tax rates by about a third and adds state funding in response to the West Orange-Cove ruling.

10. 2016 — Morath v. Texas Taxpayer & Student Fairness Coalition

    The largest school finance suit in state history. Texas Supreme Court finds the system meets minimum constitutional requirements.

11. 2019 — HB 3

    Sweeping finance reform: more classroom funding, higher teacher pay, and a roughly 38% reduction in statewide recapture.

12. 2025 — HB 2

    89th Legislature passes an $8.5 billion school finance package — the first basic allotment increase since 2019 — plus new teacher pay, special education, and operating-cost funding. Recapture continues to grow alongside rising property values.

13. Today

    Texas School Coalition remains active on school finance at the Capitol year-round and continues its advocacy role.