Abstract
This comment addresses the intersection between two discussions frequenting the Texas legislative floor – school safety and school finance. Following the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, Texas public schools are under political pressure to “harden” campuses rapidly and at great expense. Unsurprising, however, the high costs accompanying safety investment, coupled with the lack of financial backing from the state, puts districts in a challenging position. Any discussion of investment in Texas public schools also triggers questions of equity.
Debate over lack of equity across Texas public schools is no stranger to the Texas Supreme Court. Nonetheless, inequity persists in the system, especially in facilities funding. Funding for facilities remains disregarded in education reform efforts and is given insufficient consideration by the Texas Supreme Court. This leads to detrimental results considering the school safety push and the need to invest in enhanced facilities.
To finance school safety reform, bond packages are often vital. However, districts that fail to pass a bond are forced to furlough investment until a bond passes or redirect monies used to fund educational resources to safety reform efforts. In Texas, property-poor districts cannot have it all. To fund general education or safety reform, what will they choose?
Last Page
448
First Page
407
Journal Title
The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice
Recommended Citation
Emily Mann,
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul: In the Absence of School Finance Equity, Texas School Districts Forced to Choose Between Funding Academics or Safety Reform,
26
The Scholar
407
(2024).
Available at:
https://commons.stmarytx.edu/thescholar/vol26/iss3/5
Volume Number
26
Issue Number
3
Publisher
St. Mary's University School of Law
ISSN
1537-405X
Included in
Education Law Commons, Law and Society Commons, Public Interest Commons, State and Local Government Law Commons
