Resources for the Current Texas School Finance System

Learn more about the current lawsuits addressing Texas school funding as well as the local impact of school funding cuts in the state.

TASB resources

Texas school finance video

Several Texas school districts have declared financial exigency, and others are considering major cutbacks due to lack of funds. What is the problem with the Texas school finance system? TASB Associate Executive Director Catherine Clark takes a look at the funding challenges facing local districts and provides a brief overview of the school funding system currently in place.

TASB resources

• Articles
  • "An Eroding System: School Finance Equity, Adequacy Challenges Magnified by State Budget Shortfall," Texas Lone Star, August/September 2010
  • "Relief vs. Revenue: A Summary of the Target Revenue Approach in TASB Series on Texas Public School Finance," Texas Lone Star, July 2010
  • "Fixing School Finance: TASB Works to Develop Texas School Finance Plan for 82nd Legislative Session," Texas Lone Star, March 2010
• Issue papers
  • Issue Paper: Target Revenue (pdf). An explanation of how most school districts in Texas are funded. 
  • Issue Paper: Weights and Allotments (pdf). A brief explanation of how policymakers have sought to improve equity within the school finance system by modifying district funding.
  • Issue Paper: Proration (pdf). A method policymakers have considered in the past for addressing budget shortfalls.
  • Issue Paper: Funding School Facilities (pdf). A look at the way schools pay for their facilties.
  • At a Glance: School District Fund Balances (pdf). A brief explanation of what school district fund balances are and why districts maintain them.
• Reports and guides
  • Tracking the Education Dollar: 2011 Update (pdf, 209 KB) 
  • A Cost Analysis for Texas Public Schools: 2008 Update (pdf, 287 KB) 
  • Report on School District Mandates (pdf): Cost Drivers in Public Education 
  • Guide to School Finance. A Guide to Texas School Finance was updated in January 2012 and available in the TASB Bookstore.  
• Tools
  • School Finance Overview Presentation (ppt): A customizable slide presentation of the public school finance system in Texas.
  • Talking to the Neighbors About School Finance (2011 revision; pdf)
• Training
  • TASB Online Learning Center: "Introduction to Texas School Finance in the Current Biennium"
    This course is designed to provide board members with both a brief introduction to the Texas school finance system and information about changes to the system from the 2009 Legislative session. Participants will receive basic information about how Texas funds schools relative to other states; how the Texas system has evolved in recent years; and what the evolution means for local board members.
    Log in to the Online Learning Center to take this course.
• 2006 Supreme Court Ruling on School Finance   
  • Brief summary of ruling (doc)
  • Summary of ruling (doc), TASB

Other resources

• Texas Education Agency's School Finance
• Texas Education Agency's School Finance 101: Funding of Texas Public Schools (pdf)
• Basics of Texas Property Taxes. A resource from the Texas Comptroller explaining the property tax system in Texas.
• Education Funding: "Money Does Matter." Texas Equity Center
• An Introduction to School Finance in Texas (pdf; May 2010). Texas Taxpayers and Research Foundation
• Center for Public Education: "Cutting to the Bone: How the Economic Crisis Affects Schools"