Education

Superintendent Wish List: FUND TEXAS SCHOOLS

On Friday, during the Texas Tribune Festival public schools took the center stage. At one of the panels, Superintendents talked about the issues their districts were facing and what the future of public education around the state would look like.

The issues spanned from accountability to teacher retention, but the discussion always ended at the same place: “Fund Texas Schools.” 

A recent KXAN analysis found that 65% of Central Texas school districts have adopted budgets with a deficit, ranging from $62,000 to $119 million. This trend extends beyond Central Texas, Houston ISD is grappling with a $211 million deficit, while Dallas ISD has confirmed a $187 million shortfall. Fort Worth ISD faces a $17 million gap, and El Paso ISD is contending with a $12 million shortfall. 

These financial challenges are starting to have tangible effects across the districts, forcing difficult decisions such as cutting school programs or laying off administrative staff. Bobby Ott, Temple ISD Superintendent, who is grappling with these tough choices, emphasizes the impact on student life. “Have you ever heard a student say ‘I can’t wait to go to math class’?” Ott said. “It’s not the right direction but that is what we have to do.” 

During the fourth special session, lawmakers had the chance to approve a bill that would have allocated approximately $6 billion to public schools. However, the bill failed to advance due to Governor Greg Abbott’s insistence on linking it to school voucher provisions.

Vouchers have become a contentious issue in the debate over public education. With the 89th Texas Legislature approaching and public education increasingly politicized, superintendents have shared their perspectives on the matter.

“It becomes a situation of again utilizing public schools to maybe be meeting the ends of someone else’s needs,” remarked Stephanie Elizalde, Dallas ISD Superintendent.

Ott, reflecting on his own experiences, noted, “I never considered school choice—at least not in Temple—options a threat, until it became the adversary of public education funding. If something is such a slam dunk, let it stand on its own. Make it its own bill.”

Ott also added the stark difference between choice and accessibility, noting a lot of the families in his district will not be able to have the accessibility to utilize vouchers.

Jovanka Palacios

Jovanka Palacios is Reform Austin's Interim Managing Editor and Managing Editor of RA's Gun Violence Watch, unveils the Capitol's inner workings. Focused on Public Education and Gun Policies, she passionately advocates for informed dialogue, delivering concise, impactful insights into the intricate political landscape.

Recent Posts

Texas Supreme Court Protects Judges Who Refuse Gay Marriage on Religious Beliefs

Texas judges who decline to perform wedding…

9 hours ago

Nearly 1 Million Children Across Texas Affected by Immigration Enforcement

Thousands of children across North Texas and…

10 hours ago

City of Dallas Faces Lawsuit Over Death Star Law

The City of Dallas is facing a…

14 hours ago

Trump Says He Will “Send More Than the National Guard” to Keep Cities Safe

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump told U.S.…

1 day ago

Cornyn Backs Bill to Keep SNAP Benefits Flowing During Shutdown

Texas Senator John Cornyn is backing new…

2 days ago

Fifth Circuit Reopens Case Over West Texas A&M Drag Show Ban

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will…

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.