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Fair Facilities Funding For All Public Schools

Fair Facilities Funding For All Public Schools

Fair Facilities Funding For All Public Schools

Fair Facilities Funding For All Public Schools

Fair Facilities Funding For All Public Schools

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All public school students deserve safe and secure school facilities designed for teaching and learning, but students in public charter schools are being left behind.

The Problem

Texas public charter schools receive an average of $1,621 less than ISDs in per-pupil funding. Unequal facilities funding drives the difference:

Most facilities funding for ISDs is from local property taxes, but public charter schools do not and cannot levy property taxes.

In 2017, HB 21 (85-1) provided public charter schools with facilities funding for the very first time, using a carefully crafted formula:
Calculated using the average tax rate levied by districts to pay for bond debt issued to fund facilities construction.
Restricted to allowable uses including facility purchase, lease, maintenance, and property taxes.
Restricted to schools rated “acceptable” under state accountability.
HOWEVER, the law also capped this facilities formula at $60 million. This limits public charter schools to just one-sixth of the funding they’d otherwise receive.

Since 2017, increasing enrollment and inflation have deeply eroded per pupil facilities funding. They now receive just $73 per student, adjusted for inflation.

HOWEVER, the law also capped this facilities formula at $60 million. This limits public charter schools to just one-sixth of the funding they’d otherwise receive.

Since 2017, increasing enrollment and inflation have deeply eroded per pupil facilities funding. They now receive just $73 per student, adjusted for inflation.

HOWEVER, the law also capped this facilities formula at $60 million. This limits public charter schools to just one-sixth of the funding they’d otherwise receive.

Since 2017, increasing enrollment and inflation have deeply eroded per pupil facilities funding. They now receive just $73 per student, adjusted for inflation.

HOWEVER, the law also capped this facilities formula at $60 million. This limits public charter schools to just one-sixth of the funding they’d otherwise receive.

Since 2017, increasing enrollment and inflation have deeply eroded per pupil facilities funding. They now receive just $73 per student, adjusted for inflation.

The Solution

Update public charter school facilities funding to increase the 2017 cap.

This will help public charter schools with the effects of inflation on security upgrades, maintenance, leases, and property taxes.

All students deserve parity in funding and school facilities that make them feel safe, proud, and excited to learn.

Other Provisions

Require certification that board members & employees do not personally financially benefit from real estate transactions
Provide funding for new-start schools
Prohibit schools with 2 years of failing academic AND/OR financial accountability from receiving funding
Match allowable uses to current law for ISD’s I&S

Public Charter School Facilities Funding: Then and Now

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