School funding falling behind / National report
by teacher union says Texas is only state to cut back,
slipping to 40th
By JANET ELLIOTT, Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
Staff
AUSTIN - Texas is the only state in the nation that
reduced education spending during the 2004-05 school
year, according to a report released Monday by the National
Education Association.
Per pupil expenditures fell by 1 percent from the previous
year, and Texas dropped from 36th to 40th relative to
other state's education investments.
The state's share of education costs hit a new low
of 35 percent, with local and federal funds making up
the balance, according to the study by the NEA, a national
teachers' union.
Texas now spends an estimated $7,142 per pupil annually,
according to the report's annual rankings. The national
average for the 2004-05 school year was $8,618.
Kathy Walt, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry, said the
Texas Education Agency reported actual per-student spending
at $7,358 for the 2004-2005 year. The teachers' group
said its report was based on the latest information
provided from state departments of education.
Although Texas teachers on average earned 1.3 percent
more in 2004-2005, their ranking among the 50 states
and District of Columbia fell from 32nd to 33rd because
other states gave bigger raises to their teachers.
"The Texas Supreme Court just warned the Legislature
that we are `drifting toward constitutional inadequacy,'
and this new data indicates that our state education
investments may have already failed to make the grade
and slipped into that category," said Donna New
Haschke, president of the NEA's state affiliate, the
Texas State Teachers Association.
The annual report comes as the Legislature faces a
June 1, 2006, deadline to rewrite school finance laws.
The Supreme Court ruled last month that local school
property taxes have become an unconstitutional statewide
property tax because districts effectively have no control
to set the rates.
However, the court reversed a trial judge's finding
that overall funding levels are inadequate for districts
to meet rising academic standards. The justices said
funding levels are fine for now but warned the system
soon could become inadequate without substantial changes.
Texas 3rd in spending
In overall education spending, Texas ranked third behind
California and New York. Total spending, including federal
funds, was nearly $38 billion.
Texas was No. 2 behind California in student population,
with nearly 4.4 million children. Student population
in Texas has grown by more than 70,000 students a year
for the past 10 years.
The Legislature in 2003 added $1 billion in new spending
above what was needed for enrollment growth, Walt said.
Perry in August ordered districts to spend at least
65 percent of their budgets in classrooms.
Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, said that in 2003,
the Legislature cut more than $3 billion from public
education programs that support classroom instruction,
including gifted and talented and after school programs,
math and reading initiatives, and textbook purchases.
"This data shows that failed Republican leadership
is taking Texas public schools in the wrong direction,"
said Coleman.
Walt said teacher groups worked against legislation
that would have given teachers a raise and boosted school
spending.
The unions opposed performance-based pay incentives
included in the bills, and said the across-the-board
raises proposed weren't enough to raise Texas to the
national average.
Salaries rank low
According to the NEA report, Texas teacher salaries
fell to 33rd, with the average teacher paid $41,009,
according to the report. The national average was $47,808.
Chris Patterson, research director for the Texas Public
Policy Foundation, said higher spending doesn't always
result in better student achievement.
"There's a lot of evidence that more money, higher
spending in public schools, even higher teacher salaries
does not correlate with better instruction," said
Patterson.
The foundation, which supports free markets and limited
government, last month released an extensive study on
teacher salaries. The report said when adjusted for
cost of living, the state's average pay "looks
almost right."
Patterson, author of the report, recommends phasing
out the state salary schedule and paying teachers based
on their performance and assignments.
"Reforming the teacher salary system promises
to serve as a reliable vehicle to improve teacher quality,
restore respect for the teaching profession, and, most
importantly, provide all students in Texas public schools
with the opportunity to acquire the academic skills
they need to be successful," her report concluded.
Haschke said she hopes when lawmakers meet next year
to write a new finance plan they will address long-range
funding issues.
"It's time to face the facts: Texas public schools
are seriously underfunded, and it's past time for the
Legislature to invest in Texas students who hold the
key to our future economic potential."
...
SPENDING
Texas rankings on education spending in 2004-05:
No. 40: In per-pupil spending ($7,142), down 1 percent
from previous year. National average is $8,618
No. 33: In average teacher salaries ($41,009), up 1.3
percent from previous year. National average is $47,808
No. 2: In enrollment (4.4 million), up 1.7 percent
from previous year. Total U.S. enrollment is 48.4 million
No. 26: In student-teacher ratio (15:1), down 0.1 percent
from previous year. National average is 16:1
Source: National Education Association |
