The latest school finance news from The Texas Tribune.
A law providing $8.5 billion in new funding for Texas public schools lacks the spending flexibility that previously let districts address their campuses’ needs as they saw fit. Full Story
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The spending package will give schools more money for staff pay raises, operational expenses, special education and more. Full Story
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An agenda driven by conservative priorities, schools’ financial duress and teacher needs led to an $8.5 billion boost, new discipline rules, more Christianity in classrooms and a DEI ban. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott has already said he intends to sign the bill, which will give schools funding for salary increases, special education, teacher preparation and operational costs. Full Story
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The deal appears to strike a face-saving compromise for both chambers over how to increase funds for the state’s public schools, with money earmarked for teacher pay and overhead costs. Full Story
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The proposal would heavily invest in teacher pay and special education. It includes a modest $55 increase to schools' base per-student funding, significantly lower than what the House had sought. Full Story
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Senators will hold a hearing Thursday on their counterproposal to the House's school funding bill. House Democrats and public education advocates have criticized the upper chamber for not moving faster to advance the legislation. Full Story
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The Teacher Incentive Allotment gives raises to teachers based on performance. But it leaves out many educators and school staff who contribute to students' success. Full Story
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Texas will give participating families about $10,000 to pay for their kids’ private schooling. Other details about the program, set to launch in 2026, are unclear. Full Story
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Get quick answers from our archive of school voucher reporting with our experimental AI assistant. Full Story
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The bill would let families use taxpayer dollars for their children’s private schooling. Lawmakers also signed off on a sweeping $7.7 billion package to boost public school funding. Full Story
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The Texas House also approved more money for schools in a bipartisan vote. Full Story
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A Tribune analysis also found the state’s share of the funds that schools receive per student significantly decreased in the last decade until recently. Full Story
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Next step will be action in the state House, where budget writers have different plans for distributing property tax help. Full Story
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Proponents say the changes would better serve special education students with widely varying needs — and help schools pay for it. Full Story
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Underprepared teachers have been tied to student learning losses. But amid a teacher shortage crisis, school leaders fear the restrictions will lead to fewer instructors in their classrooms. Full Story
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Lawmakers this week listened to testimony on House Bill 2, which would raise schools’ base funding per student by $220 — a figure that falls short of what many Texans say is needed. Full Story
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Neither of the Legislature’s voucher bills require private schools to accept certain students, which some warn could block the neediest children from access. Full Story
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The proposal, filed Thursday, comes well short of the increase school administrators and education advocates have been asking for. Full Story
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From teacher pay and preparation to special education and DEI, here are issues Texas lawmakers are prioritizing this legislative session. Full Story
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