despite their needs. This limits the amount of resources available to each school, and student. However, the

bigger concern is in regards to safety. As we continue to grow and inflation rises, the school funding is

continuing to stay the same. School districts are unprepared and struggling to provide for students due to

the lack of funding. The State needs to do a better job of analyzing the needs of institutions, and providing appropriate funding that will allow for success. This impacts my field, as I’m a current teacher who is experiencing this first hand. Lastly, I chose this topic because it's a need that tends to not get discussed as it's a "touchy subject." I believe that it needs to be discussed and brought to the attention of others to spread awareness. If we can examine the importance of appropriate school funding, and how it leads to success then we as a Nation will see a rise in success.

The “Foundation School Program” oversees school funding. This is considered to be a finical department through Texas Education Agency, but the government is still over the program. According to to TEA,” The FSP determines the amount of state and local funding due to school districts under Texas school finance law and provides the state share of this funding to districts” (Texas Education Agency, 2023). They also produce reports and other data that reflects the financial state of the school.

https://tea.texas.gov/finance-and-grants/state-funding

“PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND. All funds, lands and other property heretofore set apart and

appropriated for the support of public schools; all the alternate sections of land reserved by the State out

of grants heretofore made or that may hereafter be made to railroads or other corporations of any

nature whatsoever; one half of the public domain of the State; and all sums of money that may come to

the State from the sale of any portion of the same, shall constitute a permanent school fund” (The Texas

Constitution Article 7, 2019). This goes to show how tedious the funding is for many school districts today.

• Public school only

• Specific requirements for the fund

• Multiple factors make up domains, resulting in the fund

State

"A school district or open-enrollment charter school is entitled to receive an annual

allotment for each student in average daily attendance in the amount equal to the difference,

if the difference is greater than zero, that results from subtracting the total maintenance and

operations revenue per student in average daily attendance for the current school year”

(Statures, 2001). This ties into my topic of choice as it reflects school funding. However, it’s important to note that the money allotment can vary depending on the

attendance of each student. This is inconsistent and unreliable for many districts.

• Allotment is based off of daily attendance

• Tedious and inconsistent due to the maintenance factors

• Revenue is per student

  
  

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/cn/htm/cn.7.htm#:~:text=All%20funds%2C%20lands%20and%20other,of%20the%20public%20domain%20of

https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/883/amendments/html/SB00002S2F6.HTM

"(Sec. 1002) This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to reauthorize through FY2020 the following programs: (1) state assessments; (2) education of migratory children; (3) prevention and intervention for children and youth who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk; and (4) federal evaluation activities.

(Sec. 1003) The bill consolidates funding for School Improvement Grants, which are aimed at turning around the lowest-performing schools, into the title I-A funding formula. (Title I-A funding supports the instructional needs of students from low-income families.) Specifically, the bill: (1) eliminates the standalone grant program, and (2) increases the proportion of title I-A funding that a state shall reserve for school improvement.

Of the amount reserved, a state shall: (1) allocate 95% to local educational agencies (LEAs), whether on a formula or competitive basis, for activities to support the improvement of the lowest-performing schools; or (2) with the LEA's approval, provide for these activities directly" (Texas Education Agency, 2023).

• Applied to all students

• Measure performance

• Reflects schools funding due to the % of success rate

Administrative

"Enable the district to enhance its

performance on the financial

accountability standard identified

under Subdivision” (EDU Code, 2023).

This reflects school funding and my

topic as all funding is under

subdivision, meaning it’s “restricted”

on what they can use it for.

• Finical well being is tied into performance

• Depending on the schools performance will depending on the amount of money allotted

• Funding is restricted rather then maintained/watched

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1177

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.11.htm

six and eighteen (younger with a high school diploma) to attend school. There are

exceptions to these regulations, including enrollment in a Texas Academy of Leadership

program, being expelled from school, and having a serious disability that makes school

enrollment infeasible” (Texas, 2024). In addition, there is an entire process on must go through in

order to determine if their disability prevents them from attending school. This impacts my

topics as individuals are required to go to school, despite their physical need but the funding

of an institution will vary, meaning their resources at school can vary. Again, we should keep

the students success and needs in mind.

• If the student doesn't have a disability, then they are required to attend school

• Their is a process to determined if one's disability prevents them from attending school

• Some schools resources for students (such as disabled) are limited due to funding.

https://www.findlaw.com/state/texas-law/texas-compulsory-education-laws.html

"Every Texas student needs a safe and healthy educational environment in order to

meet their full academic potential” (Policy, 2023).

This policy enforces that every child should have the opportunity for a free education, but

that should include the proper resources, and overall experience too.

• All students receive the same opportunities

• They are safe and healthy in the educational setting

• They are striving for academic success

https://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/policy/

• Goal statement

  "A goal statement identifies the reason you are seeking to develop a project and gain the support of your peers, administrators, the community, and a funding source" (Censter, 2023).

• Identify a team

  "Armed with your Goal Statement, you should first seek your administration’s support to put together a team to help you develop the project and seek funding" (Censter, 2023).

• Goals

  "Goals are broad, general statements. They’re not specific or measurable, but they do describe the planned outcome of the proposed project" (Censter, 2023).

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.pps.net/cms/lib8/OR01913224/Centricity/Domain/52/Finding%20the%20Funds.pdf

best for students, but in reality the resources are limited as a reflection and lack of funding. “The Texas

Permanent School Fund (PSF) is held in public trust for the benefit of the schoolchildren of Texas. All

those charged with the management of the PSF will aspire to the highest standards of ethical conduct.

The purpose of the PSF code of ethics is to assist and help guide all such persons in the proper discharge

of their duties and to assist them in avoiding even the appearance of impropriety” (Cobbi). Right now,

school’s are providing the resources for students, but to a certain extent due to funding. This is a problem

that we will continue to see across the Nation.

fiduciaries

(J) "Standard 1.10. The educator shall be of good moral character and be worthy to instruct or supervise the youth of this state" (Texas Education Agency, 2023).

• This is to ensure that the educator is acting appropriately, while keeping the students success in mind. The teacher is limited to the amount of resources he/she may have in regards to physical materials. However, the teacher can inspire, encourage, and motivate the student through worthy character and encouragement.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://tea.texas.gov/system/files/tues_2_ethics_training_2015_a1.pdf

https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=247&rl=2

"This case adjudicated a different sort of Establishment Clause challenge, where the controversy dealt with a statute providing financial support for teacher salaries and textbooks in parochial schools. The Burger Court unanimously decided that this financial aid scheme violated the Establishment Clause and delineated the governing precedent for Establishment Clause cases known as the Lemon test. Under Lemon, statutes (1) must have a secular legislative purpose; (2) must have primary effects that neither inhibit nor advance religion; and (3) cannot foster an “excessive government entanglement with religion.” The Court held that this scheme violated the third prong of the Lemon test" (National Constitution Center, 2024).

• Financial aid scheme violated the establishment clause

• Financial support for teacher salaries and other necessities

• two judges claimed the act gave "significant aid to a religious enterprise"

https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/10-important-supreme-court-cases-about-education