San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez

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San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez was a landmark case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States on June 9, 1973. The case, officially known as San Antonio Independent School District, et al. v. Rodriguez, et al., dealt with issues of educational funding and equal protection under the law.

Background

The case originated in the San Antonio Independent School District in Texas, where parents of students challenged the state's system of funding public schools. They argued that the system, which relied heavily on local property taxes, resulted in significant disparities in funding between wealthy and poor school districts.

Legal Proceedings

The case was first heard in the district court, where the plaintiffs were successful in arguing that the funding system violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The decision was later affirmed by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals before being taken up by the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Decision

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the San Antonio Independent School District. Justice Lewis Powell delivered the opinion of the Court, holding that education is not a fundamental right under the Constitution and that disparities in funding between school districts did not violate the Equal Protection Clause.

Impact

The decision in San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez had significant implications for educational funding across the United States. It established that disparities in funding between school districts were not inherently unconstitutional, leading to ongoing debates about the role of the federal government in ensuring equal access to education.

See also

• Equal Protection Clause
• Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• Education in the United States