Panel Discussion Marks 35th Anniversary of Key Education Ruling

Texas lawmakers have had their share of federal courts ruling against some of their public policies over the past couple of years, including the voter ID law and redistricting maps of congressional districts.But this week marks the 35th anniversary of one of the most significant court decisions, and it wasn't limited to just Texas — the Plyler vs. Doe ruling that states cannot deny undocumented students access to a free public education.The 5-4 majority of the U.S. Supreme Court found that any state policy that withheld state funds for educating children not legally brought here violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It also struck down the Tyler Independent School District policy of charging $1,000 for each unauthorized immigrant child.The court essentially said all children deserve an education.That ruling remains as important today as it was 35 years ago, said Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel for MALDEF, which had lead attorneys in the case.  Continue reading...

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