Texas ranks below 40 other states in public school funding. There are 5.5 million public school children in Texas. Those students are funded at approximately $6100 per student and that rate has not been adjusted since 2019 despite huge surpluses the last two session. The $8 billion you referenced has been approved?

Edit: Texas ranks 38

PGAG said:

---

Pretty good summary. Meanwhile he's starved public schools and basically treated the public school system as an afterthought.

---

Cripple the public school system. Replace with private schools owned by a hand full of individuals. Long term goals in the name of choice. Notice how the rhetoric has changed from helping the poor children in underperforming schools to religious freedom, DEI, etc. Anytime someone pushes for something this hard their motives should be in question. It's quite sinister.

As mentioned by another poster above, put it on the ballot. If it passes, I'll be done critiquing

Agree on putting it to a vote. But they won't. That's why Abbott goes on tours trying to sell the idea to families who already have their kids in private schools.

Logos Stick said:

---

PGAG said:

---

Pretty good summary. Meanwhile he's starved public schools and basically treated the public school system as an afterthought.

---

LOL

Funding for Texas public schools is at an all-time high of over $85 billion! The Texas Legislature will invest $8 billion more this session.

---

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/28/texas-school-funding-explainer/

PGAG said:

---

Texas ranks below 40 other states in public school funding. There are 5.5 million public school children in Texas. Those students are funded at approximately $6100 per student and that rate has not been adjusted since 2019 despite huge surpluses the last two session. The $8 billion you referenced has been approved?

Edit: Texas ranks 38

---

Total funding is about $15k per student with $12k provided by the state and local funding.


source: TEA's latest annual report (2024),

Those are inflated numbers (for the purposes of the voucher argument) which take local (bond) funding into account. The article posted above is a good read. Btw, how many private schools are limited to 15k, provide transportation to and from school, meals and extra curricular activities ?

Future of Funding: A proposed Texas House bill in 2025 would increase the basic state allotment per student by $220, from $6,160 to $6,380.

The System said:

---

Republicans in our great state don't even realize they've been played. The Gov got his campaign funding (big money) from the school choice super PACs, so now that's his pet issue. No other issue is as important to him. He then convinced other GOP hardliners that it's the most important issue.

So he's called multiple special sessions for vouchers, went on a primary war path going after any GOP rep that dared to listen to their constituents on the issue, and is trying to strong arm it again this session.

Once again, if it's such a popular issue with such widespread support…then put it on the freaking ballot and let the people of the state of Texas decide. I won't say another word about vouchers here if we pass a constitutional amendment, I'll accept the will of the people. But currently, it's the will of Abbott and his billionaire donors, along with the hardliners that he's either snowed or who are also on the take from the PACs.

---

Well said. His behavior is disgusting.

PGAG said:

---

Those are inflated numbers (for the purposes of the voucher argument) which take local (bond) funding into account. The article posted above is a good read. Btw, how many private schools are limited to 15k, provide transportation to and from school, meals and extra curricular activities ?

Future of Funding: A proposed Texas House bill in 2025 would increase the basic state allotment per student by $220, from $6,160 to $6,380.

---

Edit: going to stay put. Texas Tribune is not trustworthy.

As is your right. Texas Tribune is a little left imo. Btw, my numbers at the bottom are straight out of google. And I'm pretty informed on this subject.

PGAG said:

---

As is your right. Texas Tribune is a little left imo. Btw, my numbers at the bottom are straight out of google. And I'm pretty informed on this subject.

---

Right, but why take local bond funding out? Aren't maintenance and facilities necessary for educating students? You're also not using zero base budgeting. Why assume that all expenses presently are meaningful and beneficial?

The crazy part is yes, the state spends more on education than ever before. But at the same time, not an extra dollar has gone to the school district, campus or classroom since 2019. So yes and yes. Our district also has to pay over $2.5 million back to the state on top of that, due to robin hood / recapture. Some districts like Plano send over $100 million back in robin hood WHILE having a $27 mil operating budget deficit. Isn't that special?

The funding formula is so complicated both sides of this funding issue can actually be somewhat accurate while arguing opposite sides. So messed up.

Im Gipper said:

---

He literally says he'd vote Dem. Read.

---

Quote:

---

Btw: I will be voting against Abbot even if I have to vote democrat for the first time in my life.

---

Bold for emphasis.

Voting against Abbott is the important part to him.

I know you guys have settled the issue, but would you have called him a RINO if he followed the preamble with "even if I have to vote third party"?

The issue is you tried to turn his anti-Abbott stance into anti-Republican, and that isn't the issue here.

Engaging in such purity tests are exactly what the leftists do. You have to be better than that.

oldag941 said:

---

The crazy part is yes, the state spends more on education than ever before. But at the same time, not an extra dollar has gone to the school district, campus or classroom since 2019. So yes and yes. Our district also has to pay over $2.5 million back to the state on top of that, due to robin hood / recapture. Some districts like Plano send over $100 million back in robin hood WHILE having a $27 mil operating budget deficit. Isn't that special?

The funding formula is so complicated both sides of this funding issue can actually be somewhat accurate while arguing opposite sides. So messed up.

---

The Robinhood plan is still the dumbest thing in Texas politics in a long time. If anything proves that school funding is not the issue when it comes to education, Robinhood is it, yet people still fall for the same old arguments.

Robinhood is a prime example of the open-ended fallacy, yet we continue with this flawed policy.

This is an excellent question. My answer would be that local voters approve the extra debt and subsequent taxes that go along with it. They are not required to do so. In fact, I've seen many bond issues fail. The state exercises no control over local debt and it costs nothing from state coffers.

As an aside, this is my opinion on the current state of public education. We are not attracting quality teaching candidates for two reasons. One is most definitely pay. Teacher salary is no longer a good living wage. Second and maybe most importantly, the general public would be shocked to see the red tape, behaviors and parent issues that teachers are required to navigate. If you want better public schools, fix pay and working conditions. You'll attract better teachers and better results will follow.

oldag941 said:

---

The crazy part is yes, the state spends more on education than ever before. But at the same time, not an extra dollar has gone to the school district, campus or classroom since 2019. So yes and yes. Our district also has to pay over $2.5 million back to the state on top of that, due to robin hood / recapture. Some districts like Plano send over $100 million back in robin hood WHILE having a $27 mil operating budget deficit. Isn't that special?

The funding formula is so complicated both sides of this funding issue can actually be somewhat accurate while arguing opposite sides. So messed up.

---

And despite this fact, kids in Plano are probably doing just fine. I grew up in one of the poorer school districts in Texas and my kids go to one that is on the sending side of Robin Hood. For me personally, that's just paying it forward. I don't see how this helps the average kid in Plano and I know for sure it's going to hurt either the taxpayer or the kids on the receiving end of Robin Hood.

PGAG said:

---

This is an excellent question. My answer would be that local voters approve the extra debt and subsequent taxes that go along with it. They are not required to do so. In fact, I've seen many bond issues fail. The state exercises no control over local debt and it costs nothing from state coffers.

---

So you're of the opinion that the state should be responsible for every aspect of education, from facilities, to maintenance, to salaries, etc.?

Well, I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Honestly, I think that could lead to some poor outcomes. Local public pressure on schools can be a good thing. Especially when people feel they are paying for a the district to exhibit excellence

PGAG said:

---

As an aside, this is my opinion on the current state of public education. We are not attracting quality teaching candidates for two reasons. One is most definitely pay. Teacher salary is no longer a good living wage. Second and maybe most importantly, the general public would be shocked to see the red tape, behaviors and parent issues that teachers are required to navigate. If you want better public schools, fix pay and working conditions. You'll attract better teachers and better results will follow.

---

The state doesn't control local school district hiring, does it? You can't blame them for everything and ask for more money. Local school districts will not change their structure or discipline with more money from the state. Fire every doctorate and masters in Ed and hire people who know how to make real choices when it comes to budgeting, spending, and achieving results.

PGAG said:

---

Well, I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Honestly, I think that could lead to some poor outcomes. Local public pressure on schools can be a good thing. Especially when people feel they are paying for a the district to exhibit excellence

---

So local school bonds will continue to support infrastructure for educating students and need to be included then.

PGAG said:

---

As an aside, this is my opinion on the current state of public education. We are not attracting quality teaching candidates for two reasons. One is most definitely pay. Teacher salary is no longer a good living wage. Second and maybe most importantly, the general public would be shocked to see the red tape, behaviors and parent issues that teachers are required to navigate. If you want better public schools, fix pay and working conditions. You'll attract better teachers and better results will follow.

---

Some rural west Texas schools have had to import teachers from the Philippines because they can't get any American teachers to work there. The low pay, old/poor facilities, and isolated location are all turn offs.
These teachers get salary, school funded housing, insurance, and since they can't/don't drive they have to have someone else from the district drive them for any school related functions.

Most of the regulations and discipline issues are rooted in state top down policies. There isn't as much local control as people think.

Some will, some won't. Bond funds cannot be used for teacher salaries btw.

PGAG said:

---

We'll see. I think he's pushed voters too far. He's sitting on a massive surplus again and likely will get nothing of substance done. I say that as a lifelong republican

---

Might want to blame those responsible. You know, the cabal that has completely obstructed the House. Again.

And my understanding that original intent of Robin Hood was to collect from the "property wealthy" districts and distribute to the "property poor" districts. My understanding now is that does not happen. The state collects and it goes to the general fund. There is no guarantee that the funds go to the "poor" districts. That seems like a major break in the process and a break in the intent and "contract" the state made with taxpayers.

A district like Dallas ISD has about a 90% economic disadvantaged student population. Just FYI that population typically take more $ to get similar results (meaning more time with teachers or tutors or teaching aids or 1:1 time etc). Dallas ISD also is required to send $140 million back to the state in Robin Hood due to them being a huge "property wealthy" district. Meaning some districts with the greatest needs have to send back a greater amount to Austin.

Anyway, sometimes it doesn't seem logical.

It's ridiculous. They get nothing done

The House just passed HB 6 about an hour ago. That's the "discipline bill".

Supposedly Abbott is meeting with House Republicans in the morning…wonder what threats and strong-arming will occur.

Teacher pay is relative I believe. We are in the metroplex and starting new teachers at $62k. Yes, the downside is the pay increase over 25 years etc. Not like the private sector or even state and other public careers. But that starting salary is probably not all that bad for an education major out of public college. I know civil engineers at work are starting at $75k and also some accountants.

The next 2 days are devoted to funding and vouchers. He doesn't want to lose. He's going to have a "come to Jesus" meeting with leadership before the house takes it up on the floor. He's scared, based on what he is hearing from the hill.

PGAG said:

---

It's ridiculous. They get nothing done

---

By design. The democrats run the House.

They never intended to pass a serious school choice bill, IMO.

PGAG said:

---

Those are inflated numbers (for the purposes of the voucher argument) which take local (bond) funding into account. The article posted above is a good read. Btw, how many private schools are limited to 15k, provide transportation to and from school, meals and extra curricular activities ?

Future of Funding: A proposed Texas House bill in 2025 would increase the basic state allotment per student by $220, from $6,160 to $6,380.

---

Let's do away with bond spending then. Let's see if that works since you don't want to count it. I guess the students can sit on the grass and learn.

70% of states are within one standard deviation on per student spend, which is like $5k per student. Texas is in that group and the delta between most states is not significant.

To claim that Texas public schools are being starved of funding is nonsense.

Admittedly, I have not read it. I hope they are providing some relief to schools, teachers and administrators

Well, that's your opinion and you're welcome to it. I completely disagree. I'm sure you've done your research and support your right to your opinion