January 2016 Update
National Comparisons
Quality Counts Rankings
Chance for Success
School Finance
2013
36th
41st
2014
40th
41st
2015
39th
45th
2016
42nd
45th
K-12 Achievement
17th
21st
21st
24th
Quality Counts: Texas Report Card
Letter
Grade
Score
C
73.3
Early foundations
C
74.8
School years
C-
71.1
Adult outcomes
C
75.9
C-
70.9
Status
D
64.3
Change
D+
69.3
Equity
B
85.4
D
64.8
Equity
B
83.0
Spending
F
46.6
Category
Chance for Success
K-12 Achievement
School Finance
Quality Counts: Texas Report Card
Letter
Grade
Score
C
73.3
Early foundations
C
74.8
School years
C-
71.1
Adult outcomes
C
75.9
C-
70.9
Status
D
64.3
Change
D+
69.3
Equity
B
85.4
D
64.8
Equity
B
83.0
Spending
F
46.6
Category
Chance for Success
K-12 Achievement
School Finance
Quality Counts Finance Rankings
Ranking
Equity
Wealth-Neutrality
McLoone Index
(spending toward the median)
Spending Per-Pupil Expenditures
(adjusted for regional differences)
% State Spending on Education
23rd
18th
49th
38th
Quality Counts Finance Rankings
Ranking
Equity
Wealth-Neutrality
McLoone Index
(spending toward the median)
Spending Per-Pupil Expenditures
(adjusted for regional differences)
% State Spending on Education
23rd
18th
49th
38th
School Finance Litigation Update
What’s Changed since WOC II?
Total Enrollment
% Economically
Disadvantaged
Inflation Adjusted Total
Per-Student Funding
% Meeting Final Standard
Exit-Level Math Exam
% Meeting Final Standard
Exit-Level English Exam
WOC II
(2003-04)
4,328,028
Now
(2014-15)
5,232,065
53%
60%
$7,128
$6,816
67%
47%
83%
51%
Amicus Brief - Governor of Texas
Overall funding
Formula funding
State programmatic
funding
Annual, per student
2012-13
funding
$91.2 billion
$80.4 billion
2016-17
funding
$106.7 billion
$94.5 billion
%
increase
17%
18%
$1.0 billion
$1.8 billion
77%
$9,771
$10,672
9%
Plaintiff response to Governor Abbott
Instructional
Formula Funding
per student
State Programmatic
Funding
2010-11
Funding
2016-17
Funding
% Change
$8,366
$8,213
-2%
$2.4 billion
$1.8 billion
-25%
These numbers have not been adjusted to
account for inflation. The Texas Comptroller has
predicted 1.9% inflation per year for the next two
years.
School Finance Litigation Timeline
Final Judgment issued, declaring
system unconstitutional
Calhoun County ISD Plaintiffs file
claims against State, along with
3 other school district plaintiff
groups
8/28/2014
Texas Supreme Court takes the case
12/11/2011
2011
2011
2012
5/25/2011
Texas Legislature cuts
education funding
83rd Legislative Session
84th Legislative Session
1/23/2015
Judge Dietz announces
ruling declaring system
unconstitutional
Texas Primary Election (assuming
ruling to be issued after this date)
2/4/2013
3/1/2016
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
10/22/2012
9/26/2014
9/1/2015
1/10/2017
School Finance Trial
begins
Appeal of
Judgment is
filed
Oral Arguments
before the Texas
Supreme Court
85th Legislative
Session begins
1/21/2014
Supplemental Hearing begins to
address changes made by 83rd
Legislature
1/8/2013 - 5/27/2013
1/13/2015 - 6/1/2015
85th Legislative Session
1/10/2017 - 5/29/2017
2017
Texas State Supreme Court - 2015
Nathan L. Hecht
Jeffrey S. Boyd
© 2015 Haynes and Boone, LLP
John Devine
Paul W. Green
Phil Johnson
Debra H. Lehrmann
Jeffrey V. Brown
Don R. Willett
Eva Guzman
13
What’s next?
 Ruling
expected after March 1
Primary Election
 What
if remanded back to District
Court?
 If
favorable ruling, when will the
Legislature respond?
Election Update
Texas Senate

2 incumbents not returning:
 SD 1 (Eltife)
 SD 24 (Fraser)

3 incumbents with primary opponents:
 SD 19 (Uresti)
 SD 26 (Menendez)
 SD 27 (Lucio)

No seats expected to change party hands
Texas House of Representatives

150 seats up for election

60 incumbents with no major party
opposition

16 incumbents not returning (open seats)

28 incumbents with only primary opponent

33 incumbents with only general opponent

13 incumbents face opponents in both
Key Dates Relating to 2016 Elections
February 1
Last day to register to vote
February 16 First day of early voting
February 26 Last day of early voting
March 1
Primary Election Day
May 24
Primary Election Run-off Election
November 8 General Election Day
Chapter 41 & Recapture 2006-2016
400
$2,000,000,000
$1,800,000,000
350
$1,600,000,000
300
$1,400,000,000
250
$1,200,000,000
200
$1,000,000,000
$800,000,000
150
$600,000,000
100
$400,000,000
50
$200,000,000
0
$0
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Chapter 41 Districts
Ch 41 Districts Paying Recapture
Total Recapture Paid
The Real Jackpot for Texas
Expected Annual Revenue
Revenue Source
2015-16
Texas Lottery
$1.2 billion
Robin Hood Recapture
$1.8 billion
Robin Hood over Time
1st year of Robin Hood:
34 Chapter 41 districts
2013-2014:
395 Chapter 41 districts
Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR)

218 districts to receive
ASATR in 2015-16

For a total of $321 million

Average of $765 per WADA
(11.4% of M&O Revenue)
for qualifying districts

For some districts, ASATR
makes up 30-40% of M&O
Revenue
ASATR
September 1, 2017
Issues at play in 2017
 Budget
deficit due to drop in oil prices?
 Legislature
 School
hesitant to spend
finance ruling?
 Ongoing
shortfall from Medicaid needs
 Transportation
and water needs
 Calls
for further property tax relief
 Calls
for school choice/private school vouchers
Advocacy is important
o
181 Legislators
o
140 days
o
6,000 plus bills
o
10-15% relate to
public education
o
1,500 bills will pass
(5-10% related to
public education)
Seven Times
1. Meet legislator at ESC meeting
2. Follow-up with data responsive to their remarks
3. Call to offer assistance with school finance questions
4. Meeting in their district office
5. Send a thank-you note with follow-up from meeting
6. Invite legislator to visit your district/specific campus
7. You still have one more to go!
Thank you!