Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools Photo of a girl at the chalkboard
April 20, 2004

Coalition Update
With the recent call of the special session on school finance, The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) look forward to working with Texas leadership, including Governor Rick Perry, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Speaker Tom Craddick, members of the Joint Committee on Public School Finance and other groups to arrive at solutions that provide increased funding for public education in order to meet growing demands and increased expectations. In addition, the Coalition believes that any new funding system must not diminish the many successes that equitable funding as provided for all Texas school children. Texas Public schools have demonstrated over time the ability to radically improve the performance of all students on rigorous state standards. Texas educators have the vision and the will to continue this story, this history of success, but success has a price.

For more updates on the Coalition’s activities, click here or visit www.investintexasschools.org.

Special Session on School Finance Starts Today
Today lawmakers return to Austin for the fourth special session of the 78th Legislature, called by Governor Perry to consider legislation regarding school finance and property tax reform. The Governor's plan, "Educational Excellence and Property Tax Relief," was unveiled last week and calls for cutting and capping residential property taxes and eliminating the current system of recapture (Robin Hood).

The Coalition is awaiting further details on the proposal; however, we remain concerned about the plan's implications for future capacity, equity and local responsibility. We are concerned that moving business taxes to the state tax rolls will severely limit school districts' abilities to raise dollars at the local level. In addition, the current system encourages businesses to have a vested interest and relationship with local school districts; removing this linkage could damage those relationships. Local control and responsibility ensure accountability to the community and are paramount to successful schools. The Coalition will continue to review the Governor's plan and legislation as it is drafted.

To view the full Proclamation, click here.

To review the Governor's education and property tax plan, click here.

Increasing Capacity and Improving Equity in Texas Public Schools
Two issues central to the Coalition’s position on the school finance debate are capacity and equity. What are these principles and why are they so important? For more information, click here.

Spotlight
This week’s Spotlight on Schools features Sarah Winkler, Trustee of Alief ISD and Member of the TASB Board of Directors. Click here to read more.

Stay Informed
The Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools will provide regular updates on topics relevant to the school finance issue. Governor Perry has pledged to call a special session of the legislature if consensus can be reached on how to repair the current system, which at present places more than 60 percent of the funding burden on local property taxes. About 70 percent of Texas’ 1,045 school districts are at or near the state-mandated property tax cap of $1.50 per $100 value, forcing many districts to cut programs, services and staff. We strongly encourage you to pass this newsletter along to others who may be interested in these issues. To subscribe, click here, type in your e-mail address and click Submit.

Thank you for your support!

Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools
The Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools is a coalition, of school board members, school superintendents, and other school leaders, parents and business leaders who support increased school funding. As we have seen throughout Texas, when schools are better funded, student performance goes up. Texas currently ranks 47th in average SAT scores and 40th in graduation rates. We can do better. For more information, please visit our web site.

“The Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools wants to ensure education excellence for all Texas public school students. There is a proven correlation between increased education spending and student academic performance. We believe this is vital if Texas is to keep pace in the increasingly competitive world economy.”

-TASB president Bonnie Longnion

“Enrollment in Texas public schools is growing at such a rate that, in effect, we’re adding a district the size of Fort Worth ISD every year. State demographic data also demonstrate that the needs of these students are quickly evolving, often requiring additional resources. As a state, we must enact a finance system with the capacity to grow and evolve as we continue to grow and evolve.”

-TASA President Dawson Orr

The results of a statewide survey of 800 registered voters showed that 73 percent of Texans support increased funding for K-12 education.

Additionally, 70% of Texans agree with the following statement, "When Texas ranks 47th in average SAT scores, and 40th in percentage of students graduating from high school, we simply cannot expect to improve significantly without investing more money in education."


“There appears to be a fundamental economic relationship among input prices, educational outcomes, and cost in Texas public schools. Other things being equal, the analyses suggest that it costs more to produce higher levels of educational outcomes.”

-School Outcomes and School Costs: The Cost Function Approach (Key Findings)

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This is legislative advertising contracted for by James Crow, Executive Director, Texas Association of School Boards, 7703 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78752, representing TASB.