[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-584354-105":59,"doc-detail-584354-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","pinching-pennies-texas-is-shortchanging-public-education","Pinching Pennies - Texas Is Shortchanging Public Education","","Pinching Pennies: Texas Is Shortchanging Public Education examines how Texas finances the Foundation School Program and how recent legislative changes are affecting funding levels. It explains the formula-based, weighted student funding structure, including recapture (“Robin Hood”) used to equalize district resources. The report details how the basic allotment has remained stagnant since 2019, how inflation-driven funding shortfalls are projected by 2027, and how responsibility has shifted toward local property taxes, driving distrust between taxpayers and public education systems.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/pinching-pennies-texas-is-shortchanging-public-education/584354/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/pinching-pennies-texas-is-shortchanging-public-education/584354.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"WPS_1786070896","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-01","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":34},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is the Foundation School Program (FSP) in Texas?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The Texas Education Agency administers the FSP, Texas’s school finance system. It routes nearly $63 billion in state and local funding through formula-based allocations to districts and charter schools.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How does weighted student funding affect district and charter allocations?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"The formula starts with a basic allotment per student based on average daily attendance, then increases funding for student demographics such as economically disadvantaged, emergent bilingual, and special education students.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What does recapture (“Robin Hood”) do in Texas school funding?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Recapture redistributes excess local revenue when one district exceeds its funding level, helping level funding between districts and charter schools as part of state aid.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},584354,1792189260,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":34,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145,"preview_page_count":4},549768072016,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","PINCHING PENNIES:  \ntexas Is Shortchanging  \npublic education  \nChandra Kring Villanueva • [villanueva@everytexan.org](villanueva@everytexan.org)  \nEducation is t he bedrock of an informed democracy and the bridge to lifelong opportunity. Texans rely on public education to develop a talented workforce and promote shared prosperity. To fulfill this promise to the next generation of Texans, the Legislature must ensure there is equitable and sufficient funding for all kids to get a quality public education, no matter where they live or their background.  \nTexas is responsible for the education of more than 5.5 million students across 1,207 traditional and charter school districts which operate 9,088 campuses. Our student body is diverse: 53% of students are Hispanic/Latino, 25% are white, and 13% are African American. Students’ needs are also diverse: 62% of students are economically disadvantaged, 24% are emergent bilingual, and 14% receive special education services.1  \nThis report explains how public education in Texas is funded and how recent legislative changes are shortchanging our teachers, schools, and putting our state at risk.  \nunderstanding the foundation school program  \nThe Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers the Foundation School Program ( FSP), which is Texas’ school finance system. In 2027, it is projected that nearly $63 billion in state and local funding (excluding facility funding) will flow through the FSP, or roughly $12,200 per student in average daily attendance.2  \nThe FSP is a complex set of formulas that determine how much funding each district or charter school is allowed for maintenance and operation. The formula starts with the basic allotment, a base level of funding per student in average daily attendance (ADA) .* This amount is increased based on student demographics, such as the number of economically disadvantaged, emergent bilingual, and special education students. This is called weighted student funding. Additional funding allotments are also provided for district characteristics such as small, midsized, or fast growth districts.  \nSchool district funding works like filling up a bucket. Local property tax dollars go in first. For an average property owner, the school district tax represents about half their property tax bill. If the district cannot reach its full funding level with local dollars, the state provides aid to fill the rest of t he bucket. If local revenue overflows the bucket, the excess is redistributed to other districts and charter schools as a part of their state aid.  \n*Most elements of the school finance system are based on students in average daily attendance (ADA).  \nThis is known as recapture or “Robin Hood”—an equity tool for leveling funding between school districts.  \n(recapture)  \n5900 Balcones Dr. Suite 21646 | Austin, TX 78731 | Phone [512.320.0222 | EveryTexan.org](512.320.0222 | EveryTexan.org)  \nthe basic allotment: the initial per student funding amount  \nThe basic allotment is the primary building block of the school finance system. The funding amount is set arbitrarily by the Legislature, when and if they feel moved to do so. It is not based on cost estimates, and it is also not adjusted for inflation.  \nThe basic allotment has not seen a true increase since 2019, when it was set at $6, 160 per student. Legislation passed in 2025 ( HB 2) created the Guaranteed Yield Increment Adjustment, a provision described later in detail, to supplement the basic allotment.  \nIf adjusted for inflation annually, the basic allotment would have been $7,756 in 2025, an increase of $1, 596 per student 3  \nBecause the Legislature keeps the basic allotment stagnant, school funding isnot keeping pace with growing inflation.  \nIn 2020, after funding changes from 2019 legislation went into effect, Texas allocated $11, 597 per student in local, state, and federal funding. By 2027, per student funding amounts are estimated to drop to $9,686 (adjusted for inflation using 2018 dolla","cbCaitle9qZe6Hcj","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitle9qZe6Hcj","pdf",2073230,17,"English","# Understanding the Foundation School Program\n## The Basic Allotment and Weighted Student Funding\n## Funding “Bucket” and Recapture (“Robin Hood”)\n# The Basic Allotment and Inflation\n## Stagnant Funding Since 2019\n## Projected Per-Student Funding Declines\n# Shifting Responsibility\n## Reliance on Local Property Tax Dollars\n## Tax Compression and HB 3","[{\"question\":\"What is the Foundation School Program (FSP) in Texas?\",\"answer\":\"The Texas Education Agency administers the FSP, Texas’s school finance system. It routes nearly $63 billion in state and local funding through formula-based allocations to districts and charter schools.\"},{\"question\":\"How does weighted student funding affect district and charter allocations?\",\"answer\":\"The formula starts with a basic allotment per student based on average daily attendance, then increases funding for student demographics such as economically disadvantaged, emergent bilingual, and special education students.\"},{\"question\":\"What does recapture (“Robin Hood”) do in Texas school funding?\",\"answer\":\"Recapture redistributes excess local revenue when one district exceeds its funding level, helping level funding between districts and charter schools as part of state aid.\"}]","Pinching Pennies - Texas Is Shortchanging Public Education | PDF",1792050759,43]