As Tarrant County lawmakers prepare to open the Texas Legislature on January 14th, Fort Worth Report reporters examine policies set to take shape in Austin. Click here for more information on the law.
Arlington ISD School Board President Justin Chapa felt something was missing from the district’s draft legislative agenda.
Throughout the list, Arlington ISD called on the Texas Legislature to spend the 2025 legislative session approving more funding for public schools. But Chapa’s central request to Texas lawmakers was nowhere to be found. It was against vouchers.
The Arlington ISD School Board approved the legal priorities at its November meeting. These include opposing expanded private school options, supporting higher education funding, and calling for reform of the state’s academic accountability system.
“If there’s anyone in Austin who thinks we’re here to talk about something other than vouchers and to oppose it, I’d like to meet that person,” Chapa said. “This is something we will be talking about loud and clear throughout the spring.”
Gov. Greg Abbott supports expanding private school options through a voucher-like policy called Education Savings Accounts. The policy would give parents tax money to pay for education expenses such as private school tuition and home study.
Public school leaders have widely shunned education savings accounts because they believe the policy siphons funding and students.
Mr. Abbott is likely to win enough votes in Congress to pass an education savings account policy ahead of the 2025 legislative session, which begins in January.
While other school districts believe the voucher law is warranted, Chapa wants Arlington ISD to maintain its opposition for as long as possible, he said.
“This is going to be a major education policy item that Congress will consider. I don’t think there’s any question as to what our position is on this,” he said. “Let me just call you.”
Some board members were concerned that Arlington ISD’s strong opposition could have negative consequences. At a November meeting, Trustee David Wilbanks worried that Arlington ISD’s stance on education savings accounts would lead to lawmakers quickly ending discussions with the district.
“Given where we are post-election and how the numbers seem to be lined up to allow easy passage (of coupons), we need to be realistic and shift our attention to damage control. Yes,” Wilbanks said.
school funds
Beyond opposition to vouchers, school districts want lawmakers to increase per-pupil funding and base school funding on enrollment rather than days of attendance.
Currently, the district receives $6,160 for each student who attends classes. Lawmakers have not increased funding per student since 2019, and the country’s high inflation rate has significantly reduced their purchasing power.
school safety
Arlington ISD is asking Congress to fund “adequate, flexible and comprehensive” school safety measures, including funding to expand mental health services.
Security is at stake for Arlington ISD. In the past two years, the district has seen two shootings outside high schools, each resulting in the death of one student.
academic accountability
The Board of Education has lamented the state’s overreliance on the Texas State Assessment of Academic Achievement (STAAR) tests. The Texas Education Agency uses test scores to measure school and district performance in the state accountability system.
In Arlington ISD, like the rest of the state, student test scores are declining. The district lags behind the state-wide and regional averages. On the Spring 2024 STAAR test, there was no grade level or subject in which more than 45% of students met grade level.
Arlington ISD Superintendent Matt Smith has not been hesitant to admit that low test scores are a sign that the district needs improvement, but that testing does not fully determine the district’s success. I also feel that I am not expressing myself.
Echoing Smith’s concerns, Arlington ISD is asking lawmakers to create a more transparent district accountability system and not rely too heavily on state standardized tests as a measure of school effectiveness. .
Trustees are also asking lawmakers to support initiatives shown to promote student learning, such as more accessible full-day pre-K classes.
What is Arlington ISD’s recommendation to Texas legislators?
The district categorizes its policy wish list into three categories and provides recommendations for the bill.
school funds
Continue to allocate public funds to Texas public schools and oppose voucher laws. Recognizing the increase in classroom costs due to inflation, we will increase base per-student funding allocations to accommodate increases in educator compensation. Funding for schools is based on student enrollment, not attendance. Fund the identification and needs of the growing number of special education students and ensure they receive appropriate services and education. Ensure public school employees have access to affordable health insurance options.
safety
Strengthen student safety by increasing funding for school safety allocations. Stabilize the flow of safe funding to school districts and avoid reliance on grants. Prioritize and strengthen support for student and faculty mental health identification and services that are flexible to local needs. Stabilize the flow of safe funding to school districts and avoid reliance on grants. Prioritize and strengthen support for student and faculty mental health identification and services that are flexible to local needs. Fund a multidisciplinary threat assessment team in every school district to ensure adequate staffing and effective interventions to prevent violence.
academic growth
Utilize a fair and transparent accountability system for all Texas schools that receive public funding. Reduce over-reliance on STAAR as a measure of student and school success in accountability systems. Promote access to research-based early childhood education through enrollment-based funding for full-time preschool for all 4-year-olds. Continue to allow local school districts the autonomy to adapt educational resources to the TEKS that best reflects their student population.
Arlington ISD’s complete legislative agenda can be found here.
Drew Shaw is a reporter for The Arlington Report. Contact him at draw.shaw@fortworthreport.org or @shawlings601.
The Arlington Report’s coverage of the Texas Legislature is supported by Kelly Hart. At The Arlington Report, news decisions are made independent of board members and financial supporters. Learn more about our editorial independence policy.
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