Senator Says “We Can Do Better For Our Children.”
June 30, 2005
Senator Shapleigh votes against H.B. 2 in the Senate
Written by Senator Shapleigh, Press Release
AUSTIN - Texas Senator Eliot Shapleigh voted against H.B. 2, the school finance bill for the 79th First Called Special Session, in the Texas Senate today.
Senator Shapleigh’s concerns with the bill included:
• taking a step back from equity by creating an “enrichment tier” which allows wealthy districts to put much more money in their districts,
• the inadequate amount of education funding,
• the lack of a real teacher pay raise to the national average, and
• the potential for corporate take over by private companies of low-performing schools.
“While teacher pay moves up, we are far short of the national average,” Senator Shapleigh said referring to a salary survey by the American Federation of Teachers that shows Texas as $5,799 below the national average.
“Wealthy districts are no longer linked to poor districts and they are able to raise far more dollars in the enrichment tier,” Senator Shapleigh continued referring to the elimination of recapture, also know as Robin Hood payments, for wealthy districts in the enrichment tier.
Under the new system in H.B. 2, wealthy districts can access more money immediately, while poorer districts are “promised” some additional funding by the legislature in later years. In the new enrichment tier, Highland Park ISD could now access up to $1,845 per student, while El Paso ISD would only receive $600 per student.
“When Texas ranks 50th in graduation rates, 48th in average SAT scores, and 32nd in average teacher pay, we must and we can do better. State leaders have said this is the education session. If so, we have failed our kids. H.B. 2 falls short of what we can and should do for our children and teachers,” Senator Shapleigh said. “The level of equity, the formulas, and the framework of Robin Hood are all better than this bill, which will only get worse in conference committee. For these reasons, I cannot support H.B. 2.”
Next week a committee of Senators and House members will work to merge the two chambers' school finance bills into one. A final version must then be approved by both chambers before it is sent to Governor Rick Perry.
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