Good afternoon PTA leader,

We hope your 2025 is off to a great start. There is already a lot of talk about vouchers, but sadly not as much about fully funding public education. In fact, this week, the Texas PTA President-elect and Vice President Advocacy joined us for meetings with nine Representatives and one Senator, while staff briefed all 181 legislators on our  legislative priorities. We also represented you in the Senate Education K-16 Committee hearing, where Jennifer testified in opposition to SB 2. 

We want you to stay informed, have opportunities to weigh in, and have a positive influence on the process. So, here is what you can do.

Thank you for all you do in ensure that in your community, and across the state, every child’s potential is a reality!

Sincerely,

Lawmakers have been filing bills since Nov. 12, 2024. Texas PTA is already tracking over 450 bills that affect education and Texas schoolchildren.

In general, lawmakers can continue filing bills during the first 60 calendar days of the legislative session. After that point, only bills related to local matters or emergency items and appropriations can be filed, unless four-fifths of lawmakers are present in a chamber vote to suspend the rule.

While thousands of bills are filed — more than 8,000 bills were filed in the last regular session — only around a thousand will pass. Bills of high priority are typically given a low number, and as of this writing, bills 1-150 have not yet been filed in the House, and bills 1-40 have not yet been filed in the Senate.

Representative Dustin Burrows, Republican from Lubbock, was elected speaker of the Texas House on the opening day of the 89th Session. It was the first Speaker’s race in many sessions that was decided on the House floor, and it took two ballots for the winner to be determined.

Burrows won by a vote of 85-55, edging out Rep. David Cook, Republican of Mansfield. Burrows’ coalition included 36 Republicans and 49 Democrats. Ten Democrats were present but did not vote for either.

Burrows is an ally of former speaker Dade Phelan of Beaumont, who will remain in the House.  Speculation is that Burrows’s election indicates that a similar House leadership team will probably stay in place.

Some members of the Republican Party advocated for a speaker chosen by a majority of Republican votes. This process has highlighted differing perspectives within the party, which may influence the dynamics of the session.

Last session, lawmakers had to return to Austin for a record four special sessions after disagreeing on legislation to cut property taxes, restrict immigration, boost teacher pay, and enact a school voucher program.

Gov. Greg Abbott has said that he has 79 “hardcore school choice proponents” in the House, and voucher supporters are confident that a voucher bill can be passed. Speaker Burrows has been a school voucher supporter in the past, but as the new leader of the House, it is possible that he may choose the path of former Speakers and let “the will of the House” determine the fate of vouchers.

Interestingly for supporters of public education, in his bid for Speaker, and to appeal to Democratic House members, Representative Cook pitched enrollment-based funding in a letter to members, stating:

“It is also crucial for the House to carefully examine how we fund our public schools—specifically, transitioning to enrollment-based funding versus attendance-based funding. While I remain mindful of the potential impact of enrollment growth as a long-term cost driver to the state, this issue deserves thoughtful consideration and could serve as a point of common ground in the upcoming legislative session.”

Enrollment-based funding is an alternative to the current Texas school funding method. It means funding our schools based on the number of actual students served instead of basing it on attendance. Average Daily Attendance (ADA) is calculated by adding attendance counts throughout the year and dividing that by the number of instructional days. Under that method, if a student misses school, they aren’t counted for funding purposes that day.

Enrollment-based funding mirrors the actual cost to schools, since school districts still have the same expenses, even when students are absent. Teacher salaries, utilities, and other expenses do not change based on attendance. Only five other states use attendance-based funding.

So, even though Rep. Cook didn’t become Speaker, enrollment-based funding is a worthwhile effort that has bipartisan support. Enrollment-based funding makes good fiscal sense for all students, whether they attend charter, rural, small, or large schools.

As required by the Texas Constitution, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar presented the Biennial Revenue Estimate to the 89th Legislature on Monday, Jan. 13. The Biennial Revenue Estimate reports the amount of revenue that is available to spend for the fiscal 2026-27 state budget.  

The BRE is a formal statement that outlines the state’s financial standing along with the available revenue the state can expect to have during the next two-year budget period.  

To put it in context, if your family sat down at your kitchen table in January of every odd-numbered year to plan a two-year budget, then in any spending decisions you make for the next two years, the total could not be greater than the amount you set that January. Not easy to do, but it’s important to know how much money you have to spend! Legislators use the BRE as a key resource in drafting a state budget for the next two years.

This year, the Comptroller predicted that the state should have $194.6 billion in revenue available for general-purpose spending during the 2026-27 biennium. There is a projected surplus of $24 billion from the 2024-25 budget cycle, which includes, among other things, unspent contingent appropriations of $4.5 billion for public education and education savings accounts for which the required legislation was never enacted.

Stories from the ❤️

Public education has faced some big battles. It's time our schools hear a different message! 

#TYTXPubEd

Join us in celebrating Texas PTA's remarkable 115-year legacy by taking on the Presidents' Membership Challenge to grow your PTA by 115% - every new member represents another voice dedicated to making every child's potential a reality.

As we approach our Founders' Day celebration in February 2025, your leadership in driving membership growth will help ensure Texas PTA remains a powerful force for children and families for the next 115 years and beyond. Together, we can honor our founders' vision by building an even stronger community of advocates committed to transforming the lives of all Texas children.

How are your membership efforts going? What about others in your community? Check the Local Roster!

#EveryMemberCounts

Feb. 24 - Rally Day 2025: Legacy in Action!