Problems often arise with the distribution of this money. Under this system, local property taxes provide most of the funds for districts to run their public schools. Wealthy districts can often operate their schools from these funds alone. Poorer districts, with less valuable property, often come up short. The state then steps in with funds to bring these districts to the foundation-program level.
Inequities often result.
The low foundation is a level of subsistence that will raise a district to a point at which its schools are able to provide a 'minimum' or 'basic' education, but not an education on the level found in the rich districts. It guarantees that every child has 'an equal minimum' but not that every child has the same. Such situations have led to lawsuits against states. There are more than 20 such suits under way across the country. One of the earliest cases was a class-action suit filed against the state of Texas in 1968.