Texas

funding priorities for p-12 By 2016, the system had 5.28 million public and public charter students, 59% of whom are economically disadvantaged, and 18.5% considered to be limited English proficient (Texas Education Agency, n.d.). A substantial Republican majority in the House and the Senate controlled the 85th legislative agenda which convened in the spring of 2017, followed by a special session in summer of 2017. Property tax reform, immigration, and transgender restroom use were major issues on the agenda. Education priorities included funding for early childhood, facility funding for charter schools, vouchers for special needs students, teacher retirement health insurance, and targeted funding to relieve specific formula issues with some districts. Approximately $560 million was added for the biennium which included $60 million for charter school facilities, $212 million for retired teachers’ health insurance, with most of the remainder dedicated to formula issues (TASA, 2017).