Governor Greg Abbott today announced that his call for school finance reform is generating growing support across Texas. School finance reform is part of the Governor’s 20-item agenda for the ongoing special legislative session.
“The current school finance system is complex, inefficient, and not family-centered. We hope that the legislature establishes a commission to study the system, and recommend fundamental reforms which will benefit all Texas children.” – Michael Barba, Associate Director of Public Policy, Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops
“Governor Abbott is right: we can pay teachers more by reprioritizing education spending. While funding to school districts in Texas continues to increase, only half of those funds are spent on instruction. The State of Texas has put a high priority on education spending, with 52 percent of the general revenue spending going to K-12 and higher education. Students, teachers and taxpayers are being shortchanged by ISD spending priorities. At TPPF, we believe it is time we get more education for our money, not simply put more money into education bureaucracy.” – Stephanie Matthews, Director, TPPF’s Center for Education Freedom
“We commend Governor Abbott for prioritizing school finance reform by placing a school finance study on the special session call. Our children are the state’s most precious resource, and more than 90 percent of them depend on public education to prepare them for the future. The current school finance system is inadequate and outdated, and we must work to implement a new system that funds our public schools equitably and improves the quality of the public school system throughout the state.” – Kathryn Freeman, Director of Public Policy, Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission
“Texans deserve an efficient system of funding our public schools that is fair to every child and taxpayer in the state, regardless of where they live. School finance reform should be focused on providing relief and equal treatment to all schools and taxpayers, beginning with those who are burdened with low funding per student and higher than average tax rates. We are thankful that Governor Abbott has made fixing our public education funding system for all schools a priority and hopeful that the legislature provides a response that guarantees educational and taxpayer equity throughout the state. Our system shouldn’t pick winners and losers among our children.” – Josh Sanderson, Deputy Director, Equity Center
“Every Texas child deserves the education that best meets their needs and should not be penalized for exercising choice within the public school system. This is why TCSA supports Governor Abbott’s call for a school finance commission that will put meaningful, real reforms in place to help all students.” – David Dunn, Executive Director, Texas Charter Schools Association
“We applaud continued focus on the school finance system to improve public education and to provide greater accountability with taxpayer dollars.” – Todd Staples, President, Texas Oil and Gas Association