In a recent government meeting, education officials outlined critical issues facing Texas public schools as they prepare for the upcoming legislative session. With the general election set for November 5 and the session beginning January 14, the focus is on two main priorities: adequate funding and sensible accountability.

Officials highlighted that a staggering 73% of Texas schools are currently underfunded, with the state historically spending about $4,000 less per student than the national average. This underfunding correlates with lower educational outcomes, prompting calls for increased financial support. The discussion emphasized the need to adjust the basic allotment for inflation, which would require raising it from approximately $6,100 to $7,200 per student to ensure sustainable funding.

Concerns were also raised regarding the implementation of House Bill 3, which mandates increased school safety measures but has resulted in significant costs—estimated at $2.2 million—leading to potential cuts in teacher pay and recruitment efforts. The meeting underscored the reliance on local property taxes for school funding, which has shifted the financial burden away from state support, now accounting for only 15% of total funding.

Additionally, the officials noted a troubling trend in student attendance, which has declined by over 2% since the COVID-19 pandemic. This drop in attendance directly impacts funding, as schools are compensated based on average daily attendance rather than enrollment numbers. Consequently, over half a million students are effectively unfunded due to this attendance-based funding model.

The meeting concluded with a call for legislative action to fully fund full-day pre-kindergarten programs, which are currently only funded for half days despite state mandates for full-day offerings. As the legislative session approaches, education leaders are advocating for reforms that address these pressing funding and accountability issues to improve the quality of education in Texas.