![]() ![]() “It’s something that we need built into our school finance formulas and something that can be built on in the future,” she said. Any step to take inflation into account when determining how much to increase the basic allotment is a step in the right direction, according to Chandra Villanueva, director of policy and advocacy at Every Texan, a left-leaning think tank. King’s measure increases the basic allotment by $90 in the first year and at least $50 in the next year, with some adjustment for inflation going forward. Ken King, R-Hemphill, is the author of House Bill 100, which will infuse $4.5 billion into public education. House members also passed legislation last week that would, among other things, make modest increases to the basic allotment. The Texas House and Senate are proposing state budgets that include $7.4 billion for public eduction, but school district officials say that’s not enough. “They are looking at a $32 billion surplus, so we are really hoping that they invest a big portion of that surplus in education,” he said. ![]() The proposed raises, including 7% salary increases for teachers and counselors, could result in a $54 million budget deficit.Īustin ISD Chief Financial Officer Ed Ramos said increasing the basic allotment by $900 or $1,000 dollars would cost the state about $14.5 billion. “As a result, many districts in our very own Central Texas region are being forced to cut back on essential programs, services, consider school closures, and adopt deficit budgets just to provide students with the education that they deserve,” Hutto ISD Trustee James Matlock said.Īustin ISD administrators announced last week they were recommending a compensation package for the 2023-2024 school year that is expected to lead to a budget deficit. District officials point out that, since then, inflation has risen about 17% while per student funding has remained stagnant. The last time lawmakers increased the basic allotment was 2019, when they raised it from $5,140 to $6,160. The basic allotment is the minimum amount the state must spend per student in Texas. ![]() “You can do this by raising the basic allotment by $1,000 per student, is my recommendation, across the state,” he said. Thrall ISD Superintendent Tommy Hooker said it is time for the governor and other elected officials to step up and show their commitment to the state’s more than five million public school students. At a news conference Monday, district officials, school board members, parents and educators from nearly a dozen districts said the proposed increases are falling short. School districts across Central Texas - from Austin and Del Valle to Dripping Springs and Thrall - are unifying around one message: State lawmakers need to invest a lot more money in public education before the legislative session ends. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |