March 25, 2015 11:46 AM

Updated: Public Ed Chairman says House will likely tackle school finance during regular session

Chairman Aycock said House lawmakers won’t wait for the courts on school finance: "Do you try to do what's right for children in the state of Texas or do you try to outguess the lawyers?”

Saying that funding of public schools is "foundational" and a "core responsibility" of state government, Texas House Public Education Committee Chairman Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, on Wednesday said lawmakers in the lower chamber are making a significant course correction: They will probably work to fix the school finance system during this regular session.

Aycock and Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, said they’re ready to add $800 million to the $2.2 billion that House budget writers have already added to public education funding, bringing the total to $3 billion.

"To change the system that is pretty badly flawed will require some great courage,” Aycock said during a press conference in which he was flanked by Republicans and Democrats alike. He noted the complexity of the school finance system and the great pressure to work out a solution that treats all school districts as fairly as possible. “It won't be possible to fix it all," Aycock said, but “we'll get as close as we can get."

The announcement of this goal is a development that might have been unheard of last week or even the day before it was made.

By Scott Braddock