A district judge ruled in favor of hundreds of Texas school districts Aug. 28 when he decided Texas' school finance system is unconstitutional.

The school finance trial took more than two years to complete. Hundreds of school districts throughout Texas, including Pflugerville ISD and Hutto ISD, sued the state.

District Court Judge John Dietz ruled Texas' public school system is not funded, structured and operated in a way that provides the "constitutionally adequate education for all Texas schoolchildren," according court documents.

Dietz also ruled the state's school finance system unconstitutionally creates a de facto state property tax rate, court documents state.

"The school finance system is constitutionally inadequate because it cannot accomplish, and has not accomplished, a general diffusion of knowledge for all students due to insufficient funding," Dietz's ruling states.

The Legislature cut $5.3 billion from the public education budget in 2011, and about $3.5 billion of that was reinstated in 2013.

The education budget cuts came at a time of increased student growth, raised academic expectations and a more diverse student population including a higher number of economically disadvantaged students, court documents state.

The state is likely to appeal the decision to the Texas Supreme Court. Lawmakers could tackle the issue during the next legislative session, which begins in January.