Earlier this week, the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) issued a comprehensive paper titled ‘Texas School Finance: Basics and Reform.’ The paper articulates both where Texas’ educational system currently stands, as well as a path to better success.
“Texas’ school finance system is surrounded by confusion,” said Michael Barba in a press release issued by TPPF. “The first purpose of this work is to bring clarity to this issue so that we can all improve the system for generations to come.”
The paper reinforces through argument and concrete data positions what conservatives have been advocating for quite a long time: simple reforms that would benefit both children and taxpayers along with the expansion of school choice. Though the latter measure is in place at some level in 29 of 50 states, school choice has yet to gain any codified foothold in the Lone Star State.
Both Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as well as TPPF made school choice policy goals in the last legislative session, but fell short of enacting such reforms into law. Over the interim Patrick charged the Senate Education Committee to investigate school choice with an eye toward next session.
“The Education Committee will continue our work to make Texas’ schools the best in the nation,” said Patrick. “I have asked the committee to study the implementation of school choice options in other states including the impact on student performance and local district budgets in order to determine the best school choice plan to serve Texas students.”
The entire TPPF report can be viewed here.
