The sweeping school finance lawsuit going to trial Monday in Austin isn't only about money.
But the $5.4 billion in cuts to public education approved by the Texas Legislature in 2011 will certainly be a focal point of the case.
The trial involves lawsuits filed on behalf of about two-thirds of school districts statewide.
The districts argue that budget cuts have come amid soaring enrollment driven by low-income students. They say students from poor families are more-expensive to educate.
Also, Texas has imposed tougher standardized tests and schools say they can't afford to prepare students adequately for them.
They argue that the school finance system is now so inefficient and inadequate that it violates the Texas Constitution.
The state counters that the system -- while not perfect -- is constitutional.
