How Texas lawmakers are approaching education spending
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Education is a major focus of the Texas Legislature this year, from teacher pay and training to tuition support for private education and homeschooling.
Why it matters: Republican lawmakers' approach to education could harm public schools even as the legislators look to direct more money toward classrooms.
The big picture: Almost 6.4 million Texas residents were between ages 4 and 18 in 2023, the most recent data available.
- Over 5.5 million were enrolled in Texas public schools in 2023-24.
State of politics: State lawmakers have filed hundreds of bills related to primary and secondary education this session.
- Gov. Greg Abbott has said passing a voucher program — public money for private school tuition — increasing teacher pay and expanding merit-based pay programs will be among his priorities this session. He also wants to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in grades K-12.
- The Texas House's budget for 2026-27 proposes $4.85 billion for "across-the-board" $4,000 raises for teachers and $1 billion for the voucher program. Both chambers have proposed $400 million for school safety upgrades, per the Texas Tribune.
- The Senate passed a voucher bill and House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, said this week there are enough votes to pass it in the House.
Zoom in: Senate Bill 2 would give families $10,000 to use toward private school tuition. Students with a disability would get $11,500 annually. Families homeschooling their children would get $2,000 per child per year.
- The program is estimated to cost Texas $1 billion in fiscal year 2027. By fiscal year 2030, the cost is estimated to surpass $4.5 billion.
- Critics say the program would deplete enrollment in public schools and divert money from those schools.
- Supporters argue parents shouldn't have to send their kids to their local public school if it's underperforming academically.
Zoom out: School districts are also calling on state lawmakers to increase per-student funding, which hasn't changed since 2019.
- School districts statewide have struggled to balance budgets amid rising costs, declining enrollment and stagnant state funding.
- Several North Texas districts, including Plano and Lewisville, have decided to close some campuses because of increasing operational costs and declining enrollment.
- Fort Worth ISD is considering closing up to 25 schools because of a $17 million deficit.
What's next: March 14 is the deadline for state lawmakers to file bills, with the exception of local and emergency bills.
- The regular session ends June 2, but the governor can call special sessions if the work he considers a priority doesn't get done during the regular session.