Week 1 Part 1
Event #1: One of the most significant events in Texas education finance history was when Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second President of the Republic of Texas, persuaded the legislature to establish land grants. This is particularly significant since it was the initial funding for higher education and school districts within the county in the early days of public education.
Event #2: Another event which significantly affected Texas school finance was in 1869 when a new state constitution was written which called for mandatory school attendance for students beginning at age eight through fourteen. With this new state constitution, a poll tax and ad valorem tax for education was created. The tax levied in 1871 resulted in an undeclared tax revolt and was the first finance debate in our state’s history and here we are in continued debate over school finance.
Event #3: Senate Bill 1, commonly known as the Robin Hood Plan, has significantly impacted Texas school finance. The idea behind Robin Hood was for property rich school districts (known as Chapter 41 districts) to help level the playing field by redistributing the recapture money to property poor districts (known as Chapter 42 districts). My district is a Chapter 41 district and our recapture payments have ranged from $4.1 billion in 2001-2002 to $8.9 billion in 2007-2008, $10.3 billion in 2008-2009, and $5.4 billion in 2009-2010. Robin Hood is supposed to create a system of financial equity, yet our district struggles financially because we do not have these funds. In light of the proposed budget shortfall in Texas, our district deals with budget deficits and is looking at ways to survive financially. I, along with other taxpayers in my school district, am a homeowner and a school district taxpayer. I choose to live in a community surrounded by refineries, and, as a result, am at a larger risk for cancer because of the refinery emissions. We put ourselves at risk by living in this community and as a result, we have a higher property values which qualifies us as a Chapter 41 district. I live with the risk and pay the high taxes, but my children and my school district cannot benefit from it. Those without that risk are the ones receiving the benefit from my risk.
Event #2: Another event which significantly affected Texas school finance was in 1869 when a new state constitution was written which called for mandatory school attendance for students beginning at age eight through fourteen. With this new state constitution, a poll tax and ad valorem tax for education was created. The tax levied in 1871 resulted in an undeclared tax revolt and was the first finance debate in our state’s history and here we are in continued debate over school finance.
Event #3: Senate Bill 1, commonly known as the Robin Hood Plan, has significantly impacted Texas school finance. The idea behind Robin Hood was for property rich school districts (known as Chapter 41 districts) to help level the playing field by redistributing the recapture money to property poor districts (known as Chapter 42 districts). My district is a Chapter 41 district and our recapture payments have ranged from $4.1 billion in 2001-2002 to $8.9 billion in 2007-2008, $10.3 billion in 2008-2009, and $5.4 billion in 2009-2010. Robin Hood is supposed to create a system of financial equity, yet our district struggles financially because we do not have these funds. In light of the proposed budget shortfall in Texas, our district deals with budget deficits and is looking at ways to survive financially. I, along with other taxpayers in my school district, am a homeowner and a school district taxpayer. I choose to live in a community surrounded by refineries, and, as a result, am at a larger risk for cancer because of the refinery emissions. We put ourselves at risk by living in this community and as a result, we have a higher property values which qualifies us as a Chapter 41 district. I live with the risk and pay the high taxes, but my children and my school district cannot benefit from it. Those without that risk are the ones receiving the benefit from my risk.
Week 1 Part 2
1) School districts do NOT get any new money if they don’t have an increase in the number of students. Likewise, you get less money if you lose students. It doesn’t matter if you have 20 students in the classroom or 25 students in the classroom, the district still has to deal with increases in electricity, etc. Not only that, districts have to deal with insurance increases each year and try to give raises to faculty/staff. Without new funds, you end up having to eliminate expenditures in other ways, like the elimination of programs or reduction of personnel.
2) Property values fluctuate and as demographics change so can property values. This falls into my previous discussion of Chapter 41 giving to Chapter 42 districts. As a Chapter 41 taxpayer, I do not think there is equity in giving my tax money to other districts.
3) State of the economy. Never has this issue been so relevant as it will be with this state’s bleak current financial picture. The state’s proposed budget dilemma will be our budget dilemma.
2) Property values fluctuate and as demographics change so can property values. This falls into my previous discussion of Chapter 41 giving to Chapter 42 districts. As a Chapter 41 taxpayer, I do not think there is equity in giving my tax money to other districts.
3) State of the economy. Never has this issue been so relevant as it will be with this state’s bleak current financial picture. The state’s proposed budget dilemma will be our budget dilemma.
Week 1 Part 3
Equality means that every student has the same access to the same type of basic educational program. Examples: all students have equal access to the core curriculum and to elective choices.
Equity means that the system is fair and responds to the needs of individuals. Examples include Title I and Special Education funding.
Adequacy means that the school district receives financial support sufficient to meet state accreditation standards. Examples include the state-mandated raise for teachers 2 years ago and recapture payments made by Chapter 42 districts to Chapter 41 districts.
Equity means that the system is fair and responds to the needs of individuals. Examples include Title I and Special Education funding.
Adequacy means that the school district receives financial support sufficient to meet state accreditation standards. Examples include the state-mandated raise for teachers 2 years ago and recapture payments made by Chapter 42 districts to Chapter 41 districts.
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