Equity Center News Feed

Texas' School Fund might invest in charter school facilities

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 CDT

For Texas' charter schools to secure permanent homes, they have long relied on friendly financial backers to buy into the education experiment. Someday soon, one of those backers might be the state's 155-year-old public school endowment.

H1N1 Outbreaks Leading to Hundreds of School Closures Nationwide - School Business Daily

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

In a story appearing on over 300 news Websites, the AP (10/29, Babwin) reports, "The number of students staying home sick with the flu is multiplying nationwide." Although the federal government urged closings only as a last resort, "schools are closing by the dozens as officials say they are being hit so hard and so fast by the H1N1 virus that they feel shutting down for a few days is the only feasible option."

Tax rate election continues in Millsap

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

MILLSAP – Millsap ISD inches closer to next Tuesdays election when the district finds out if voters will approve an additional 13 cents per $100 taxable valuation in a tax ratification election.

Despite turbulence in financial markets, PSF's value rebounds to $22 billion

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

AUSTIN – Despite turbulence in financial markets worldwide, the Permanent School Fund, which is overseen by the State Board of Education, has rebounded to a value of almost $22 billion, up from $15.9 billion this spring.

Editorial: Straus, Dewhurst must get cracking on interim charges

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

As noted above, insurance reform would be a dandy interim legislative charge. Worrying about these charges might not rank high on most Texans' list of anxieties, but if Austin's committees don't start working soon on such challenges, the 2011 Legislature can't fix the problems that confront Texans.

About those constitutional amendments ...

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

In the Nov. 3 constitutional amendment election, voters will be asked to vote on three property tax appraisal reforms: Propositions 2, 3 and 5. The Oct. 13 Star-Telegram editorial opposing these appraisal reforms failed to note that these propositions have been called the "most significant property tax appraisal reforms in over 30 years" by the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association.

Lawmaker battles claims of a proposed state property tax - Weekend highlights and the day ahead

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, is fighting back against a claim that two proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution on the Nov. 3 ballot create a state property tax. The source of the claim seems to be an e-mail circulating in various ...

Near Final Cost of Recapture Report Available at TEA Online

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

The "Near Final Cost of Recapture Report" for the 2008–09 school year. is now available on the Texas Education Agency's School Finance website.

Rep. Otto Sets the Record Straight on Propositions 2 and 3

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

(Austin) - In response to a stealth statewide email campaign claiming Propositions 2 and 3 will create a statewide property tax, State Representative John Otto (Dayton, TX) issued a clarification on the intent and effect of the measures. Representative Otto is the author of the legislation that created the propositions.

Texas voters should reject property tax proposals

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Gov. Rick Perrys major push for property tax appraisal caps failed in 2005, but the advocates of change did not give up. Theyve just adopted an approach to chip away at it bit by bit.

The Uneducated American

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

If you had to explain Americas economic success with one word, that word would be “education.” ...The rise of American education was, overwhelmingly, the rise of public education — and for the past 30 years our political scene has been dominated by the view that any and all government spending is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Education, as one of the largest components of public spending, has inevitably suffered.

Tax rate increase among options to help LISD

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Dr. Jerry Roy, Lewisville ISD superintendent, will be on tour in the coming months. Not to play music, but to sing the sad song of the state of school funding that is impacting LISD and other districts across Texas.

Our Bryan schools need a tax increase

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Like many school districts in Texas and around the country, Bryan is struggling to make ends meet in a soft economy. And, like many other districts, Bryan schools are being asked to do more and more without a significant infusion of money.... Oh, if only the Legislature would provide adequate funding for public education, as it is supposed to do. But that's an issue for another time.

Santo ISD officials seek voter-approved tax hike

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:00:00 CDT

SANTO – Santo ISD is asking taxpayers for more funds to run its schools through a tax ratification election...SISD is one of the Texas school districts receiving the lowest funding per weighted student, called WADA, and the district continues to perform well academically at the state level.

Luce: Texas must seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for education funding

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Texans have always accepted a challenge. One is at hand that we need to grab hold of with ferocity. Our state must compete to win federal Race to the Top funds so it can accelerate efforts to transform education.

AISD bond election: Voters to say if tax hike worth it

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Tough economic times bring a mixed bag for bond issues. ...On the other hand, financial gurus say the time is ripe to issue bonds. The federal government is offering school districts stimulus help that could save taxpayers in the Abilene Independent School District $5.2 million over the next 20 years. Also, the sluggish economy has brought down construction costs and interest rates on bond debt.

Editorial: Equal funding for California's schools - No one really understands the crazy quilt system now in place.

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:00:00 CDT

If there is one bright spot in the state's dismal funding of schools this year, it's that the Legislature is finally paying attention to long-standing and truly nonsensical disparities in the way that money is distributed. There is no particular pattern to the inequities, except that a handful of the wealthiest school districts receive far more money per student than others, and the differences have nothing to do with what those districts' relative needs are.

MALDEF - Top Ten Percent Facts

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:00:00 CDT

MALDEF is providing the following information on the Top Ten Percent Law and the changes made during the 2009 Legislative Session. They mailed a LETTER AND TOP TEN PERCENT ESSENTIAL FACTS DOCUMENT to over 160 high schools throughout Texas today and IDRA plans on a larger distribution. No student or school should be left out or prevented from attending the state university of his or her choice due to a lack of knowledge or inaccurate information about the Top Ten Percent law and the requirements for automatic admission.

Travis district offers settlements to appraisal protesters - Pilot program lets homeowners skip hearings.

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Travis Central Appraisal District officials, swamped by a record number of appraisal protests and looking for ways to modernize the system, are giving some homeowners a chance at a fast-track resolution of their property tax disputes.

Texas school districts to receive $62.8 million in disaster funds

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Texas will funnel more than $62.8 million in reimbursements to school districts for the cost of repairs incurred as a result of Hurricane Ike and for lost funding resulting from school closures due to the H1N1 outbreak in the spring.