Legislative Sessions - capitol building with blue skies

The Texas Legislature meets in Austin from January through May of each odd-numbered year.

Search List of Filed Bills  

Tyler ISD encourages our legislators to make significant investments in public education.

Texas schools are underfunded by billions. Due to record inflation, public schools need more than $14 billion in new per-student funding to have the same buying power as in 2019.

Special Session

Governor Abbott announced a 30-day special session beginning October 9 to provide non-public school subsidies. Public schools are underfunded by billions, and any available funding should be prioritized for teacher raises and to help schools pay the bills.

The state expects record increases in revenue. There is MORE than enough to provide increased funding for schools AND property tax relief

The Comptroller is estimating a massive increase in state revenue over the next two years compared to the past two. There is enough money to fully fund public education! 

Texas is the world's 9th largest economy. Every dollar invested in Texas public schools generates $57 in economic benefit to the state

Public schools build the future workforce that powers the supercharged Texas economy. There is no better return on investment for the future of Texas!

Fund our schools Texas! With significant increases in revenue expected over the next two years, the legislature has a once-in-a-lifetime generation opportunity to fully fund public education!

Public schools educate more than 90% of students in Texas. Those students deserve full funding for their schools before any discussion of diverting taxpayer money for non-public school subsidies.

Vouchers do not improve student achievement. In many states, vouchers have led to a decline in student achievement.

According to the Brookings Institute, a decade of studies on non-public school subsidies shows they actually hurt student achievement. Public tax dollars should be used to advance a public good, like improving student achievement. Read the study

School Choice

School choice already exists in Texas. 

State law requires districts to allow students at low-performing public schools to transfer. Public school districts operate magnet schools, career and technical education campuses, virtual schools, and credit-recovery programs, among other programs. Public charter schools provide another form of existing choice. Legislators who want to expand choice should do so within the state’s system of transparent, accountable public schools.

Non-public School Subsidies

Important Facts:

Non-public schools are not publicly accountable for performance or finance.

Non-public school subsidies remove needed dollars from public schools.

Public schools already offer widespread choice to parents.

Only Public Schools Provide the Choice, Transparency, and Accountability That Texas Families Deserve

IT’S FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO GIVE BILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS TO SCHOOLS THAT LACK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE

School vouchers. No accountability. No protections for taxpayers. No benefits for Texas students.

Ways to Improve ESA and Non-public School Subsidies

Non-public schools taking taxpayer dollars should comply with the following requirements that the state puts on public schools:

  • Meet state safety standards

  • Undergo mandatory trainings for staff & Board

  • Follow Open Meetings Act & Public Information Act

  • Special education evaluations and services

  • Funding based on attendance

  • Teacher certification standards

  • Adopt a local grievance policy

  • A-F and FIRST financial ratings

  • Administer STAAR to gauge performance

School Cost Inflation 2019 vs 2022

Schools, just like our households and businesses, are seeing increased costs for fuel, energy, food, and supplies.

icons of school bus, paper with shield, wrench and screwdriver, circle with plus sign in it, and an apple.  Text reads: Fuel +36%m General insurance policies +2.4%, construction costs +40%, health insurance costs +9.5%, food service +8.8%

Schools no longer have the same buying power as they did in 2019 when the $6,160 basic allotment was set. Average inflation since August 2019 has increased by 17% according to the Consumer Price Index. That means in order to have the same buying power as they did after HB 3 was passed, the basic allotment would need to be over $7,100.

Public schools need every dollar.

Texas public schools are struggling to recover from the pandemic, which resulted in the need for additional funding to combat learning loss and provide wrap-around services. Schools are also grappling with unprecedented staffing shortages.

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY! Take 15 seconds to support your teachers and their students. Fully fund Texas public schools.

MAYDAY! Press Conference

School Leaders Sound Mayday Alert to Support Additional Funding to Pay Teachers

Supporters of public schools are encouraged to take 15 seconds to send an email to their individual state lawmakers seeking more funding for public education.

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Student Safety

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A-F Rating System

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Recruiting & Retention

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Taxpayer Dollars

Investing in Texas public schools is crucial to the success of our great state.

Legislative Links

To learn more about ballot issues, please refer to the following websites for information: