Advocacy for Public School Funding

I am committed to advocating for the State of Texas to fully fund our public schools. Currently, our schools face billions of dollars in unfunded and underfunded mandates from the state. These are critical services such as Special Education, Transportation, Safety & Security, and Early Education. We are legally required to provide these services, but the state does not fully fund them. In Frisco ISD these unfunded and underfunded mandates alone result in nearly $65 million in added costs each year.

Beyond these mandates, the basic allotment funding the state provides districts on a per student basis has not increased since 2019. As a result of inflationary pressures, this has led to a loss of $105 million in purchasing power. The combination of inflation and underfunded and unfunded mandates equates to a staggering 25% of FISD's annual operating expenditures. While the state may not fully absorb the inflationary pressures we’ve faced, that would take an increase of $1,360 to the Basic Allotment, we urgently need to increase the basic allotment and fully fund the mandated services that are critical to our students' success.

In addition, I believe that two key changes to the state funding formula could provide significant relief, not just for FISD, but for school districts across Texas:

1. Switching from Attendance-Based Funding to Enrollment-Based Funding
Texas is one of only six states that funds schools based on average daily attendance (ADA). This system fails to reflect the reality that schools must staff and allocate resources based on the total number of enrolled students, not just those who show up each day. Every 1% decrease in the ADA, FISD’s BA funding is  reduced by $3.5 million. While our ADA has rebounded to 95.2%, we are still missing out on over $17 million in funding. Shifting to an enrollment-based funding formula would ensure that districts receive adequate resources to support all students, educators, and programs, regardless of attendance variations.

2. Enacting an Inflation Trigger for the Basic Allotment
I’ll also advocate for an inflation-trigger mechanism that adjusts the basic allotment in line with the cost of living. This simple but powerful change would ensure that future generations of students, educators, and families are protected from the financial strain we have faced over the past five years.

The need for adequate and sustainable funding is not just a matter of financial stability. It is about ensuring our students receive the high-quality education they deserve. I am determined to work towards a fully funded public education system in Texas, where our public schools are given the resources they need to thrive, and current and future generations can flourish.