News & Updates
School Finance testimony in House
The Coalition provided testimony to the House Public Education Committee on school finance. Since HB 3, inflation has increased by 12%, while school funding has been flat. Since recapture was reduced by HB 3, it has increased by 25%.
As state surpluses surge, schools struggle with rising costs
Statement from Christy Rome, Executive Director of the Texas School Coalition, concerning the revised estimate of a state surplus and the funding needs of public schools.
School Finance testimony in Senate
The Coalition provided testimony to the Senate Education Committee on school finance. Since HB 3, inflation has increased by 9%, while school funding has been flat. Since recapture was reduced by HB 3, it has increased by 22%.
Balanced, measured approach needed for tax relief
The Coalition provided testimony to the Senate Finance Committee on property tax relief. Limitations to relief mean some taxpayers are paying more, while schools are not beneficiaries of the increased payments. Schools do not receive automatic increases, and a balanced approach is needed.
Inflationary Costs Impact Schools
The Coalition provided testimony to the Senate Finance Committee as they studied the impact of inflation on state and local governments. Schools are struggling to keep up with inflationary costs and to attract and retain a highly qualified teaching workforce.
March 2022 Primary Election Results
Texas voters had their say in the March 2022 Primary Election. While more than 25% of those registered to vote cast ballots in the 2020 Presidential Primary, only 17.3% of registered voters cast ballots in this Midterm Primary.
State’s Reliance on Local Dollars to Balance Budget
The State of Texas is increasingly and alarmingly removing local property tax dollars from school districts through the process of recapture, the Texas School Coalition explains in a newly released report.
Testimony on SB 1
The Texas Senate is seeking to provide taxpayers with additional property tax relief, but only on a temporary basis. The legislature must make sustainable investments in tax relief and in our schools.
Recapture Takes Nearly $3 Billion From Local Schools
Texas school districts must send nearly $3 billion in local taxpayer funding to the state by Sunday under the state’s school finance law — a record amount that puts a crushing burden on taxpayers throughout the state while taking needed dollars away from their local schools.
House Bill 1525 – 2021 School Finance Legislation
The school finance bill of the 2021 legislative session is on its way to the Governor. Find all the details on the wins and losses for students and schools here.
CSHB 1525 Limits Local Funding
The Texas Senate’s Committee Substitute for HB 1525 includes a limitation for how much local funding school district are allowed to spend on students. The…
Extending 313 Agreements: Good for Schools, Good for the Economy, Good for Texas
HB 1556 and HB 4242 would extend Chapter 313 agreements, tax incentive that has attracted significant investment to the state — and to the state’s school districts.
Statement on release of federal funds to schools
Statement from Christy Rome, Executive Director of the Texas School Coalition, concerning federal education funding.
Texas legislators must allow federal money to flow to schools
An opinion editorial co-authored by Justin Henry, President of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees and Tammy Richards, President of the Plano ISD Board of Trustees
Testimony on Senate & House Budget Bills
In testimony, the Coalition asked members of the Senate Finance Committee & House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article III to provide aid to schools to address the learning loss caused by disruptions, and allow for local control in the use of those dollars.
Statement on Initial Budget Proposals
The Texas budget-writing process will play out over many months, and we encourage supporters of public education to continue to advocate for meaningful state investments in our students. These base budget proposals provide a very encouraging start.
Joint Letter to Governor Abbott
Educators and other school staff members have put their lives on the line to keep schools open. The least we can do is protect their jobs and provide the resources they need to serve our students in a crisis.
As 2021 Approaches, Uncertainty Surrounds Education Funding
The state’s economic outlook has worsened considerably over the last year, which affects public education’s fiscal outlook going forward.
Information for the November 3 Election
Voters will be asked to make many decisions during the November 2020 Election, from national and state elections to important races at the city and…
Public Schools Have Stepped Up in a Crisis. We Can’t Abandon Them.
By Kelli Moulton and Dana Bashara There is no shortage of heroes in our nation’s coronavirus crisis, from the doctors to the first responders to…
March 2020 Primary Election Results
Over 4 million Texans cast their ballots in the March 3 “Super Tuesday” Primary Election. That number is down compared with turnout from the 2016…
As Commission Wraps Up, It’s Time for Legislators to Invest in Students
AUSTIN, Texas– The Texas Commission on Public School Finance concluded its work today and adopted its final report and recommendations to the 86th Texas Legislature. …
The Growth of Recapture in Texas
State law requires certain school districts (known as Chapter 41 districts) to send local property tax dollars to the state through a process called recapture.…
Taxparency
There are a lot of taxpayers throughout our state who are asked to pay more in school property taxes each year. It makes sense that…