(Austin, TX) Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) is urging state lawmakers to support charter schools and end the meaningful funding gap. The Texas legislature far too often funds shiny new objects without focusing dollars on proven systems with superior results.
Across the state, families are choosing alternative methods of education, including public charter schools, because they work. High-performing public charter schools outperform many traditional ISDs in academic outcomes, graduation rates, and college and career readiness–all while operating with far fewer dollars.
Yet, when it comes to facilities funding, charter schools receive $1600 less per student than their ISD counterparts.
Currently the Texas Legislature in both the House and the Senate have proposals to close a small fraction of the charter school facilities funding gap even though they are planning the largest increase to traditional public schools in recent history.
“Fundamentally, any spending on public education should be done in a way that prioritizes Texas families and addresses antiquated funding formulas before adding new programs,” said Andrew McVeigh, President of TFR. “If lawmakers are going to spend more on education, they should prioritize the schools that parents believe are actually working best for their children.
TFR believes that if lawmakers are going to increase funding for public education, they should do so in a way that rewards results and gets rid of antiquated funding formulas that penalize our most successful public charter school networks.
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Texans for Fiscal Responsibility is an independent, educational non-profit organization seeking to illuminate the actions of government, educate and equip citizens to effectively advocate for pro-taxpayer and pro-family reforms, and hold lawmakers accountable for their actions.
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