March 19, 2019      5:47 PM

In moving HB 3, Texas House Public Education Committee reframes school finance discussion

Veterans calling HB3 the most significant school finance legislation in nearly 40 years

The House view of the school finance system in House Bill 3 is a subtle, yet significant shift away from the current rationale that has pitted poor against rich school districts.

The House school finance bill passed the House Public Education Committee on a 13-0 vote today, with lawmakers of both parties lavishing praise on the bill. Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, lamented the absence of Houston ISD at the hearing last week, but called HB 3 the most significant school finance legislation passed in his 18 terms in the House.

That current Robin Hood rationale behind school finance has been challenged on a number of fronts: School districts with high-dollar property often have low-wealth schoolchildren. Quirks in the code would show preference to property-wealthy districts, such as reducing recapture during disasters but leaving property-poor districts waiting for the state to dedicate dollars.

By Kimberly Reeves

Copyright March 19, 2019, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved