Parent & Concerned Taxpayer Reading List —
Understanding how Texas public schools are funded is not easy.
Not only does it involve an outdated, byzantine formula, but it’s loaded with a plethora of terms like “golden pennies”, “copper pennies”, basic allotment, recapture, and WADA–to name just a few.
Since PF3’s inception in December 2016, we’ve discovered that there are only a few people who truly understand the complexities and history of Texas school finance. Many of the legislators we met with this last session shared that they had received days-long “lessons” on school finance — and have the huge 5″ binder of information to prove it — and that they’re still not 100% schooled in the subject.
This byzantine, unnecessarily complex formula must be fixed. It is broken. There isn’t a school district in the state that isn’t being adversely affected by it. Recapture districts (like Spring Branch) are being allowed to “go over the financial cliff” and smaller, rural districts have been left out to dry due to the Legislature’s inability to tackle this problem head on.
We have reached the tipping point.
That’s why it’s essential to educate Texas parents and concerned taxpayers in the subject of school finance. It’s imperative that we elect state officials that make education and education funding a top priority. And do something about it.
We want leaders who will “keep education dollars in education” and work to make Texas public schools competitive, innovative and a source of community pride.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Get up to speed on the school funding issue. Parents are a powerful voice in Austin. Legislators listen to us — we are their constituents. They need our vote. The state’s 5.3+ million students are relying on us to vote in legislators that truly want the best for them. Lawmakers with an agenda to make the state’s public school institutions stronger — not weaker by withholding and diverting funds away from public schools.
ARTICLES RELATED TO THE 86TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Analysis: Without new state money, is it still school finance reform?
Podcast: How Rep. Dan Huberty’s wants to fix school finance.
Four-part Investigative Series by Houston Chronicle — Broken Trust: Texas’ Huge School Endowment Fund Pays Out Less and Less to Schoolchildren
- Part 1: Weak returns, dwindling payouts
- Part 2: Friends get benefits
- Part 3: Selling schools short. Plenty of big land deals, but some go bust
- Part 4: ‘Highly confidential’ — School fund’s investments shrouded in secrecy
- Related story — New bill: Lawmakers could take away School Land Board’s ability to invest the Permanent School Fund
HISTORY
Equity Center — Texas School Finance History
SCHOOL FINANCE 101
School Finance 101 — Texas Education Agency
Terms, Terms and More Terms — The Vocab of School Finance
Sounding Smart — “Talking to the Neighbors about School Finance”
The Story of Robin Hood — The Texas School Finance Version
Extra Credit — Links to Numerous Articles
SCHOOL FINANCE IN COURT
May 2016 Ruling — “Funding system is constitutional but broken. Band-Aid on Band-Aid.”
Will Texas Ever Fix the Way It Funds Its Schools
Texas Education Agency (TEA) Ruling: Recognition of property value loss for 50% of local optional homestead exemption for 2016-2017 school year (SBISD offers a 20% homestead exemption to its taxpayers, however, it must pay the state in recapture as if it had collected this money. This ruling offers a slight reprieve.)
Reaction to TEA Homestead Ruling: A Lawsuit
SCHOOL FINANCE RELATED TOPICS
Texas Tribune — School Finance Coverage
PROPERTY TAX —
The Long, Long History of the Texas Property Tax
Property Taxes Too High? Thank a Legislator
How Texas Gets Its Money, Spends Its Money, & Why It Doesn’t Add Up
Spring Branch ISD-SPECIFIC
District Profile — Property wealthy yet 56% of student population economically disadvantaged
At a Financial Crossroad — Facing a Financial Cliff
85th Legislative Session
Overview — Priorities of the House & Senate, Speaker Joe Straus, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
House Bill 21 — Public Schools Only Hope During the 85th
House Bill 21 — School Finance Legislation Pronounced Dead
Education Issues — Special Session
Parents for Full & Fair Funding of Texas Public Schools (PF3) — Join our parent-driven grassroots movement on a mission to make funding for Texas public schools full and equitable. Our great state has the constitutional mandate to provide a free and public education to the state’s 5.3+ million students. That number increases by roughly 80,000 each year,We are parents and constituents — therefore, we are a powerful voice. Join us and make your voice heard in Austin.
