Texas House Bill HB3392

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to funding for an open-enrollment charter school based on certain ad valorem taxes collected by school districts.

Impact

The proposed changes in HB3392 will significantly impact the distribution of funding between charter schools and traditional public schools. By basing charter school funding on local school district tax revenues, it aims to provide an additional revenue stream that may help bridge the gap in educational resources between charter and district-run schools. Supporters argue that this could enhance educational opportunities for students attending charter schools by allowing them to have access to similar funding levels as traditional schools, potentially leading to improved educational outcomes.

Summary

House Bill 3392 seeks to amend the Education Code to establish funding formulas for open-enrollment charter schools based on ad valorem taxes collected by independent school districts. The bill aims to ensure that charter schools receive an equitable amount of funding comparable to that of traditional public schools. Specifically, it stipulates that charter holders are entitled to receive per-student funding that mirrors the state average revenue collected by school districts under this tax. This legislative adjustment is significant in framing how charter schools are financed, as it directly ties funding to local tax revenues.

Contention

Notably, the bill may create points of contention regarding the redistribution of funding, with concerns from some traditional public school advocates. They worry that redirecting funds based on ad valorem taxes could detract from the resources available to independent school districts, thereby negatively impacting students enrolled in traditional public schools. Furthermore, critics may argue that charter schools should not rely on local tax revenues to the same extent as public schools, which could complicate discussions about fairness and equity in the funding models used across Texas's educational landscape.