Texas Schools Get a Financial Boost

Texas is finally making some moves to boost its public schools. Lawmakers have agreed on a plan to inject $8. 5 billion into the system. This deal is a mix of old and new ideas. It keeps the smaller increase of $55 per student but adds $500 million for fixed costs like transportation and health insurance. This extra money is meant to help schools deal with the increased costs that come with teacher pay raises. The plan also sets aside money for special education, school safety, and charter school facilities. It's a start, but many school leaders wanted more flexibility with the funding. They argued that a larger basic allotment would give them more control over how to spend the money. Instead, the deal ties the funds to specific uses, which some see as a limitation. School districts across Texas are feeling the pinch. Many are struggling to balance their budgets. Some have even had to close campuses or cut staff. The deal comes just in time for districts to finalize their budgets for next year. But will it be enough? Inflation has eaten away at the value of the basic allotment. In 2019, the same amount of money went much further. The compromise also includes a reduction in the proposed teacher pay raises. The dedicated funding for this has been lowered from $4. 4 billion to $4. 2 billion. Some of this money will go towards increasing pay for support staff. It's unclear how experience or merit will factor into these raises. Charter schools have been pushing for more help with facilities. They don't receive money through property taxes like traditional public schools. A 2017 law created a facilities fund for charters, but it was capped at $60 million per year. This deal addresses that need, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. The school finance bill is part of a broader plan for education in Texas. Earlier this year, a voucher-like program was created to allow public dollars to fund private schooling. This deal on school finance could also help move forward a bill that would regulate or ban hemp-based THC. The House and Senate have different views on this, with the House favoring regulation and the Senate pushing for a ban. The deal still needs to go through the Senate and the House. If both agree, it then goes to the governor for final approval. It's a complex process, but the goal is clear: to improve education in Texas. However, critics argue that the deal doesn't go far enough in addressing the needs of the schools. They point out that the basic allotment needs to be much higher to keep up with inflation. Only time will tell if this deal is enough to make a real difference.