In January, the Austin Independent School District announced a proposal to close nine schools as a result of a $100 million budget shortfall.
The proposal has generated a maelstrom of criticism and anger. Indeed, parents, teachers and others will mass at the State Capitol on March 12 to protest the move and to demand that the legislature fully fund schools.
Given that the legislature is facing a deficit of $15 to $27 billion, that’s probably not going to happen.
This likely has you wondering: how did we get to this point? And where do we go from here?
We wondered the same thing. So we asked some of the major players in Texas education to tell us.
We invited AISD, the Texas Association of School Boards, the Texas Association of School Administrators, the Texas State Teachers’ Association, and the Texas Parent PAC to tell us in their own words what they believe caused the current education funding situation, and what they believe must be done for Texas schools.
We also invited Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano), Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, and Rep. Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands), Chair of the House Committee on Public Education, to share their viewpoints. Both declined, however, citing busy committee meeting schedules.
The purpose of the following editorials is to present an unfiltered look at what the various educational organizations throughout the state are thinking. We hope this arms you with information as you watch the school funding process unfold.
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