About School Finance Policy in Texas
Research in school finance typically examines topics of equity, efficiency or cost-effectiveness. We will briefly describe these
frameworks in our "Theoretical Framework"section. However, while we attempt to represent the various arguments and streams
of thought informing the conversation about school finance, funding and fiscal issues, we also want to shift the dialogue by
re-interpreting and re-analyzing political and historical interpretations of the school finance reality.
The main goal of the
School Finance link is to view school finance policy in Texas and the debate over equity, in particular, in a different light.
Why is the school finance structure based on a district's property wealth? How and why has property advantaged some
Texans rather than others? And how has the school funding system perpetuated inequitable funding along racial groups?
The School Finance Theoretical Framework section, as previously stated, provides the major streams of thought in the school finance
research. The History of School Finance section provides an overview of important events leading to Texas' current system. The Texas
Education Code section provides direct links to the chapters in Texas law that lay out the school finance system. The Proposed
Legislation section provides links to the Texas legislative committees and recent bills filed specifically related to school finance.
In the Issue Brief section, an alternative argument for debating school finance and equity is proposed. And finally, the section on
Frequently Used Websites provides users with a list of websites that may assist in further research in school finance-related projects.
We hope these links are helpful, informative and thought-provoking. We realize that our links do not provide the entirety of knowledge,
research and commentary regarding this massive subject area however we hope it will provide a starting point from which to question
school finance policies currently in effect, the political climate surrounding the school finance policy debate, and future legislative
implications for Latinos in Texas.
Questions? Danna Diaz BoricuainAustin@aol.com, Enrique Aleman ealeman@tea.state.tx.us , Sheila Guzman sguzman@austin.isd.tenet.edu
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