Closing the Gap in Public Education Spending

The 1836 Texas Declaration of Independence lists Mexico’s failure “to establish any public system of education” as one of the reasons for declaring independence and establishing a new government entity. In 1845 the state constitution provided that one-tenth of the annual state tax revenue be set aside as a perpetual fund to support free public schools. Obviously, education has been an important and pressing issue in the mind of Texans since our independence as a nation and later our admission into statehood. It seems strange then that despite protests from teachers and Texans, cuts to education spending are eating at the heart of our public education system. According to a recent Texas Tribune article, a 2011 poll of Texas educators found that 92% said that their district had eliminated positions – most reported between 10 and 50. 79% reported cuts to student programs, including pre-K, special education, electives, and athletics. 87% said that class sizes had increased at both the elementary and secondary level.

The Texas population has grown more rapidly than that of the U.S. has a whole in every decade since 1850. This is of course a benefit to the state, as a young population is a more effective work force, but it also means that we must be ever more cautious in ensuring that the education system provided for this burgeoning population must be adequate and up to the task. According to a report by the Texas Legislative Study Group, published after the recent 82^nd Legislature, our state (in comparison with others) currently ranks 45^th in scholastic assessment scores (SATs) and 50^th in the percent of the population 25 and older with a high school diploma. We also rank 43^rd in high school graduation rates. Not surprisingly, Texas also ranks 44^th in state and local expenditures per pupil in public schools. The correlation is obvious. How can we expect greatness of our state, and of our children, if we are not providing the resources?

According to the 2008 Texas Comptroller Susan Comb’s special report “Texas Works: Training and Education for All Texans,” official Texas population projections point to a less educated work force if the state continues on its current path. Former Comptroller and Austin mayor, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, once said, “Nothing is more important than education. Our state’s future tax base and fiscal well-being depend directly on a highly educated workforce.” Texas is in some ways facing a financial crisis, it’s true; however, continuing to cut education spending would be, in my opinion, penny wise and pound foolish and a cowardly thing for any Legislature or Governor to do. Pleasing crowds now by decreasing state spending, while passing the problem down to future decision-makers, is what has landed us in the dire emergency facing our system of state public education. I urge Texans to petition for reforms in education spending and policies. Closing the gap in our public education policies and funding must be number one priority if we want to ensure the success of our children in the future and guarantee our prosperity as a state.